food
jan 28
2007

Bahn Mi

When I moved to Seattle, I assumed every corner market would offer fresh options for my favorite hand-food delicacy: bahn mi. These little sandwiches, which I occasionally describe as "the delicious side of colonialism" or "history visualized as food," are basically a mashup of French bread and Vietnamese nummies, invented during the French occupation of Vietnam. Alas, you might think this delectable wonder would be readily available in culture-rich Seattle, but the bahn mi is actually segregated to the International District, which is one of those neighborhoods you never end up being near. Anyway, a Seattlest post got me started on this rant, which leads me to only one conclusion: I must start a bahn mi shop in Belltown.

6 comments

I was stationed in Vietnam for nearly 4 years. My duties required me to live with my Vietnamese counterparts. To this day I still love Vietnamese food. I get Banh Mi
Tit from a local Vietnamese store made fresh every Wednesday.

posted by Ron at 1:06 PM on January 28, 2007

The bahn mi in Seattle is indeed unparalleled. I've been searching for the equivalent in NY since I visited and it does not exist.

posted by Sean at 1:37 PM on January 28, 2007

I happen to think you are crazy, there are plenty of Bahn Mi places out side of the I Dist. Granted none of them are close to bell town, but there are good ones on C. Hill, 1st hill, U District....just to name a few.

posted by Kevin at 3:30 PM on January 28, 2007

Thanks Kevin. Can you recommend one? (I haven't even lived in Seattle for a year, so maybe I've missed something.)

posted by Rex at 3:39 PM on January 28, 2007

I've heard good things about the bahn mi at Bambuza's cafe and Baguette Box on Capitol Hill has a fancy version that's awfully delicious.

posted by josh at 5:32 PM on January 28, 2007

Rock. Thanks, I'll check 'em out. (In Minneapolis, I lived 10 blocks from a place that had delicious bahn mi. It was a Sunday ritual to use them as hangover food.)

posted by Rex at 6:42 PM on January 28, 2007




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