The Perfect Sandwich

Jan 13, 2011 (first visit)
Greensboro, NC

To define a perfect sandwich is a difficult task. There is no one characteristic that can elevate a sandwich to perfection because, like so many things in life, a sandwich is both wonderfully simple yet drastically complicated at the same time. If there is one constant, however, in the search of the perfect sandwich, it is that the perfect sandwich must be made by someone else. That's just sandwich law. The rest is completely left to individual interpretation. 

My search led me to Banh mi Saigon Sandwiches and Bakery on High Point Rd in Greensboro, NC on an icy day in early January. I had specifically scheduled a sales call in the area because, having read a blog that was written about this restaurant the same month a year earlier, I was dying to sample their crafts. 

Ban mi is located, as I have found so many awesome restaurant finds to be, in a non-discript strip mall that I, for any other reason, would have never entered. This one along bustling High Point Rd that I had passed without noticing countless times. 

You realize immediately upon entering that the owners are strictly there to serve food. No decorations, posters or flamboyant murals on the walls. No mood music droning on in the back ground. A cooler on the right with a mix of American sodas and Asian canned fruit beverages. Straight ahead, the counter where you order is flanked by a refrigerated case holding various pre-made items like sausages, desserts and pickled vegetables, half of which I have never seen before - though I do hope that by my next visit I have built enough courage to buy and try the frozen durian that sat taunting me from inside. The menu on the wall has about ten items. I  take all of this as a good sign, "we don't do much, so we can focus on what we do and make it great." Which is exactly what they do. 

I order the #2, a Banh mi Saigon dac biet (Special Saigon style sandwich). My search was over. I have had this sandwich before, from two separate locations in Charlotte, and always enjoy them very much. But this sandwich, in this restaurant, on this day...

First of all, these things are beautiful. The bright greens and orange against that earthy backdrop. As simple as it sounds, and we have already touched on the simplicity of a sandwich, it just looks delicious. 

As soon as you sit in front of it you breathe in the aroma of fresh cilantro and the jalapeños. 

Every texture imaginable is felt - warm, freshly baked baguette is crispy on the outside yet soft and giving inside. The crunchy vegetables - perfectly twangy pickled carrot and daikon, slightly hot jalapeños, cooling cucumber and a little shaved onion - not overpowering, just in the background somewhere. The lovely, chewy give of the pork roll, vietnamese ham and pate. The “special” mayo adds a creamy, sweet note. 

Thats all 5 senses involved in eating a simple sandwich! Think I left out hearing? I already mentioned the lack of elevator music, leaving just the crunch of the Banh mi Saigon ringing in your ears.

All of the ingredients, all of the flavors compliment each other in a perfect balance. No one is fighting against another. That sounds like a trite, over-stated comment, but its actually true. I believe it was Alton Brown who said that a good sandwich must have “a perfect balance of texture and a perfect balance of flavor.” This sandwich scores a perfect 10 in all categories. 

Lets quickly review, shall we. This sandwich is crunchy, soft, crispy, chewy, sweet, salty, tangy, creamy, spicy, refreshing and layered with OFFAL-LADEN SLICED MEAT! 

And after all of that complicated explanation and description, all I can say its that it was simply the perfect sandwich.

Banh mi Saigon Sandwiches and Bakery 

3808 High Point Rd

Greensboro, NC


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