Banh mi is one of my favorite sandwiches and the version I had at Nguyen Houng Food was as good and as cheap as any I've had all around the US. The Spadina Chinatown area is jam packed with banh mi houses but from the reviews this was a must stop during my eat around afternoon. A little more confusing to order than the Americanized Banh Mi Boys down the street since the servers don't speak strong English, but, after some pointing, I got it across that I wanted a dac biet (assorted cold cuts) and the BBQ pork sandwich to go.
Both the meat combinations were versions that I would love to have in Rochester and the bread was top notch as well. The cold cuts included both head cheese and white pork lunchmeat and had a solid helping of pate which made for a great combo. Cold BBQ pork that was rich without being overly greasy and had solid texture. Crisp, crunchy exterior and chewy interior that held up well to the seasonings and meats. The veggies were pickled properly and helped add some acidity to the richness. The best part, other than the high level of execution, was that the two sandwiches came to a total of just over $5. What a damn deal!