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| - Was it all just a dream? I don't recall Banh Mi Cao Thang ever being lesser than the average banh mi. Sure, it's not the most incredible Vietnamese sandwich I've ever had, but it's definitely far from the worst. When it comes to the checklist that is how I evaluate banh mi, the meats, the prices, the spreads, and the bread were all definitely solid.
Each time I've been here has always been on the road before I head back to New York. They make for great snacks / meals on the go and beats the highway side fast food options any day (Yes, I'm talking about you - Harvey's). The price is usually just right. My first banh mi here was roughly $2.50CAD a few years ago, now it's around $3.50-3.75CAD for each sandwich.
The sandwiches themselves aren't massive, but they're packed with a good amount of fixens. A serious banh mi lover (#1) will usually shoot for the ultimate combination - dac biet (house special) - which has a little bit of everything. It can be a little sweet but is usually a lot of savory, something Cao Thang does fairly well.
Like any solid Vietnamese bakery / sandwich shop, they sell much more than just banh mi. There is guoi cuon (summer rolls), banh xeo (meat crepes?), and a nice serving of goi du du tom tet (shrimp papaya salad). All of these are nice takeaways when a sandwich doesn't fit the appetizing bill.
One last tidbit: Don't ever approach a Viet sammy joint toward the end of the day expecting incredible bread. Similarly to people who complain about subpar Dim Sum at 2-3pm, ought to know to show up before noon like the locals. Apply this concept to Viet sandwiches and the difference is noticeable right away. Fresh is how we roll.
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(#1) Also, a serious banh mi lover won't spell it "bahn mi." That's okay, I write "sandwitches" to see if anyone is paying attention sometimes.
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