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| - There is a reason why this place is so popular. Le's is cornering the Charlotte market on one of the most popular sandwiches ever made: the Banh Mi.
Not only is it complex, has an interesting history and is overall delicious, but it also has an underground cult following. From "Battle of the Banh Mi", celebrity chefs devoting entire episodes of their shows to the banh mi, and numerous shops in any China Town producing only banh mi, this is one of the most complex and versatile sandwiches there is... also one of the most delicious.
Whenever I went to Boston, I would always go to one shop in China Town and stock up about 7 banh mi to take home with me (not including the one I ate there). It didn't have any sign out front, and was about as big inside as a large walk-in closet. I had been to multiple Vietnamese restaurants in the Charlotte area in hopes of finding Banh Mi or asking if they knew of a place that made them, and all I would receive is a sad shake of the head.
Then... there was Le's. I saw it on the top restaurants in Charlotte, checked it out.... and went that day. I got three. They are delicious, the people who own the shop are great, and the sandwiches are cheap as usual. They also make delicious bubble tea (my favorite) and have some bulk items you can purchase. I just wish I lived closer so I could satisfy my cravings regularly. This is a sandwich worthy of obsession, and I've compiled a neat little history lesson, ingredients, and link to best illustrate why:
Bánh mì [bn mi / mî] (noun):
Arguably the best sandwich in the world, banh mi literally means bread in Vietnamese. The baguette, more specifically, was introduced to Vietnam by the French during their colonial occupation. The Vietnamese created a delicious fusion of the bread with their local flavors, much to the delight of all.
You typical banh mi includes:
Seasoned grilled pork belly, a vinegar-based slaw made with julienned carrot, daikon, cucumber, cilantro, and an amazing sauce comprised of an amalgam of mayo, fish sauces, and spices. Other main proteins are available, such as beef, chicken, and meatball.
More complex banh mi includes the above as well as jalapenos, a special ham made with pigs ear for crunch, cha lua (steamed pork roll seasoned with fish sauce), nem nuong (minced bbq pork with sweet glaze), pickled carrots and daikon, and pork liver pate.
A pictorial to a better understanding of the banh mi:
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/04/07/dining/08banh.5.ready.html
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