I love hole in the walls. I’ve always been told the wors it look the bes it tase (obviously that makes more sense said in an Asian accent). I was craving Banh Mi, which is a Vietnamese Sandwich so I jumped into my Prius and made the trek to Alhambra called Banh Mi My-Tho. It’s a little Vietnamese sandwich shop in the middle of a shopping plaza. I considered this a one stop shop. It’s a sandwich shop and a coffee shop and a little grocery store and a deli food mart…and they sell chili garlic sauce plus a variety of American and Asian drinks.
Banh Mi My-Tho is super small. I highly recommend checking out the website first and familiarizing yourself with the different sandwiches. It can be a bit intimidating ordering when there are a ton of people that all speak a different language and know exactly what they want. Asians aren’t necessarily known for being patient so having your order ready to go is highly appreciated.
I was really surprised at the variety of goodies. I have a weakness for Asian sweets so I grabbed a little bit of purple colored sticky rice that came with a sugar/salt/peanut mixture that you sprinkle on top before eating, a few mung bean cakes (soft and hard) and a green colored sweet rice cake with mung bean in the middle.
Finally it was time to get what I came for. Bunh Mi’s.
I grabbed not one, but six charbroiled pork bunh mi. The baguettes are lightly toasted so there is a little crunch followed by a soft warm middle. The flavors of pickled daikon and carrots are so refreshing. The charbroiled pork was cooked perfectly. All the flavors blend so well together that not one stands out. I was surprised that it didn’t come with liverwurst so I had them add it. When my mom and I make Banh mi we always added liverwurst but the owner told me that in most sandwich shops you have to ask them to add it. Little sandwich shops like this are very inexpensive. The sandwiches range from $2.50 to $3.00 and and you can pick ham, chicken, beef, shredded beef and veggie.
Okay folks this footlong is cheaper than subway during their “special” days promotions.
Here’s the Banh Mi Unstacked
While I was waiting for my banh mi’s I started chatting with an Asian guy standing next to me. He was drinking his coffee and making the “mmmmm this is so good” sound with his mouth. I asked him if I could see what he was drinking. His coffee looked so creamy and tasty in his styrofoam cup that I was just curious enough to try one. Okay so Vietnamese coffee consists of a shot of espresso or whatever dark roast they are using combined with condensed milk. OMG of course it’s going to be good cause anything with condensed milk is going to be good. Before I new it I was making the same sounds “mmmmm this is so good”.
Next time your are in Alhambra or want to do a little exploring head on over to Banh Mi My Tho.
BANH MI MY THO
304 W. Valley Blvd.
Alhambra, CA 91803
7 AM – 7 PM / Closed Mondays
THINGS TO KNOW:
It’s super cheap and they only take cash.
There are a ton of banks up and down Valley Blvd so finding an ATM is pretty easy.
Written by Kimlai
Creator of EatinAsian.com