Banh Mi My Tho has become famous as one of the most prolific Vietnamese sandwich restaurants with affordable and delicious banh mi. Celebrities, news outlets, and food critics have praised the restaurant for its authentic and tasty cuisine.

However, if you’re not lucky enough to live in Los Angeles near one of Banh Mi My Tho’s locations, you may feel like you’re missing out. This quick recipe will guide you on how to make your own banh mi my-tho Vietnamese sandwich.

What Is Banh Mi My Tho?

Banh Mi My Tho is a Vietnamese sandwich restaurant with three locations in Los Angeles. The restaurant is one of the most popular places to get Vietnamese sandwiches, also called banh mi.

The restaurant has locations across LA, including Banh Mi My Tho Alhambra, West Rosemead, and East Rosemead. 

What Is Banh Mi?

Banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich created after baguettes were introduced to Vietnam under French colonial rule in the 19th century. The baguette sandwich was originally a fancy food for the upper class but quickly adapted into the famous street food sandwich banh mi after colonial rule subsided. The baguette is sliced and filled with roasted meat, cilantro, pickled vegetables, pate, red chili, and mayonnaise.

Along with the term “banh mi,” this dish is also often referred to as a “Vietnamese sandwich” or “Saigon roll.”

Vietnamese immigrants traveled to the United States and Europe, opening shops that brought the wonder and popularity of banh mi to new heights. The sandwich is generally very cheap and offers a good amount of calories in one convenient vessel, so it’s popular with people looking for delicious food and a quick bite to eat all in one. 

Different Types of Banh Mi

Similar to sandwiches, there are near-endless possibilities for banh mi. Different combinations and variations can help broaden your options when buying or making banh mi.

Here are the most traditional types of banh mi and their basic composition:

• Banh mi cha lua: a pork loaf or pork sausage sandwich made with  (similar to meatloaf) and pork liver pate.

• Banh mi thit nguoi: a cold cut sandwich made with sliced ham, roasted pork, and sliced pork loaf.
• Banh mi bi: a shredded pork sandwich typically made with shredded pork skin and fish sauce.
• Banh mi xiu mai: a Chinese-influenced sandwich that uses minced pork meatballs and a tomato-based sauce.

• Banh mi ga nuong: a grilled chicken sandwich .

Unique Banh Mi Types

These types of banh mi are a bit less common than the typical pork or chicken-based sandwiches you’ll often find.

• Banh mi trung op-la: a fried egg banh mi with grilled onions and soy sauce that is also referred to as “breakfast banh mi” because people typically eat it as a breakfast option in Vietnam.

• Banh mi bo: this sandwich is closer to a classic buttered French baguette, and people sometimes top it with fruit jelly as well.
• Banh mi chay: a vegetarian option that uses shredded tofu in place of roasted meat or sliced cold cuts.

Banh mi kep kem: a dessert banh mi that contains ice cream scoops (typically vanilla or strawberry) and has crushed peanuts or chocolate sauce as toppings.

Banh Mi My Tho Recipe

Banh Mi My Tho is a Vietnamese sandwich restaurant with three locations in Los Angeles. The restaurant is one of the most popular places to get Vietnamese sandwiches, also called banh mi.

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 1 hr

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Vietnamese

Calories 480 kcal

Ingredients

  

For Pickled Vegetables:

• 1 cup Shredded carrots
• 1 cup Shredded daikon radish
• 1 cup Lukewarm water
• ½ cups Sugar
• ½ cups Vinegar
• ½ teaspoons Salt

For Sandwich Assembly:

• 1 French baguette (or Vietnamese bread roll)
• Vietnamese pork loaf (Cha Lua), sliced
• Pork liver pate
• Mayonnaise
• 2 slices Jalapeno
• 3-4 Cilantro sprigs
• 1 Cucumber, sliced lengthwise

Instructions

 

Pickle the Vegetables:

• Make sure your carrots and daikon radish are sliced fairly thin. You can use a potato peeler first to shave the vegetables, then use a knife to cut them into uniform pieces to go along with the julienne pork. Place the sliced vegetables into a medium bowl.
• Combine sugar, salt, vinegar, and water in a separate medium bowl. Stir the liquid until the sugar has dissolved completely.
• Pour the vinegar mixture over the sliced vegetables. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and let sit for at least 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, you should have a bowl of crispy pickled vegetables!

Assemble the Sandwich:

• Slice your bread roll horizontally so you can fill it lengthwise. Spread mayo on half of the bread and then spread the pork live pate on top of the mayo.
• Place three to five slices of Vietnamese pork loaf inside the bread roll. Place some pickled carrots and daikon radishes on the pork loaf slices.
• Add some sliced cucumber, cilantro, and your jalapeno slices.

Keyword banh mi cha lua, banh mi my tho, vietnamese pork roll, vietnamese sandwich

Tips & Tricks for Banh Mi My Tho Recipe

Here are a few tips to make your homemade Banh Mi My Tho sandwich exactly to your liking.

• Swap the pork for grilled chicken, sardines, shredded tofu, a fried egg, or even peanut butter and jelly.
• Visit your local Asian grocery store to pick up authentic banh mi rolls and Vietnamese pork loaf.
• Try using an Asian mayonnaise brand (like Kewpie) for an authentic flavor.
• Store the pickled carrots and pickled daikon radish for up to two weeks in the fridge.

Nutrition Information of Banh Mi My Tho Recipe

Here is the nutrition information for banh mi cha lua or Vietnamese pork loaf sandwich. As for banh mi calories, pork and bread are the sources of most of them.

• Serving Size: 1 sandwich
• Calories: 480
• Carbs: 34 grams
  • Dietary Fiber: 2 grams
  • Sugars: 8 grams
• Fat: 31 grams
  • Saturated Fat: 10 grams
  • Trans Fat: 2.5 grams
• Protein: 15 grams
  • Sodium: 770 milligrams
  • Cholesterol: 60 milligrams

Conclusion

Banh mi is a classic Vietnamese staple that is surprisingly easy (and cheap) to make at home. This Vietnamese sandwich was created under French colonial rule but has maintained its status as famous street food for decades.

If you’re hoping to make a banh mi that can stand up to the amazing sandwiches Banh Mi My Tho offers, this recipe should have you set. Chúc ngon miệng!