Tomorrow (Wednesday) is Banh Mi Day at Yushi
Yushi (on 47th btw. Park+Lex) seems to add a new thing every month (like boozy ramen) but when Lunch’er “Jason” told me they had added banh mi, I took a second lunch break and ran there. Since you don’t know I’ll tell you now – one of my life goals is to eat every Vietnamese baguette in New York City (my favorite so far is Nicky’s in the EV, but I admit I’m only just getting started.) Sadly it was a Thursday, and I was informed banh mi day is on Wednesdays! So began the six-day countdown to the following Wednesday. Luckily the wait was worth it.
The following Wednesday, I was greeted by a trio of 10-inch banh mi on display. Pork is your only option (no problem here!) and the sandwiches on display exploded with cilantro, pickled veggies, and three kinds of pork: BBQ, sliced pork roll, and pâté.
So, I cannot tell a lie. I was stuck in a meeting and didn’t get to eat the sandwich til three hours after I bought it! I know, what kind of food blogger am I? By 3PM, the poor thing was damp from their “special pho sauce” (which I’m pretty sure is just hoisin), various veggies, and moist meat components.
Still, it was utterly satisfying although I must warn it was a bit more sweet than a traditional banh mi (thanks to the sauce). Maybe the fact that I was ravenous helped this baguette’s cause, but I don’t remember the last time so much pork and pâté starred in a banh mi. The sweetness might be an issue for some (hoisin belongs in pho, siracha belongs on banh mi!) but I still enjoyed it. And for Midtown, where bread can be a major issue (Boi Sandwich I’m looking at you) it was downright great. Plus Yushi didn’t skimp on the stuffing at all. For $7.95, I’ll be going back tomorrow. And this time no meeting is going to stop me from eating it right away!
Yushi, 245 Park Ave. (on 47th btw. Park+Lex), 212-687-1900
Posted by Amy Cao at 3:00 pm, April 6th, 2010 under Yushi.
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I have a similar goal. I had Ma Peche’s today, it was ok, very earthy-tasting like it had chicken liver but the bread was great. I didn’t care much for Nicky’s when I had it. My favorite is Viet-Nam Banh Mi So 1 (http://www.yelp.com/biz/viet-nam-banh-mi-so-1-new-york) but Baoguette is actually a close second. Banh Mi Zon on 6th St between 1st & A is also pretty good.