Tuesday Ten Dolla Holla: Local Pho

Unpopular opinion alert: I’m not the biggest fan of banh mi sandwiches. The Vietnamese sandwich that rose from French colonialism consists of a baguette (understandably) that’s filled with some parts of a pig, cucumber, cilantro and pickled carrots. I usually find there isn’t enough protein or veggies to offset the too-crunchy bread. Still, I’m willing to give almost anything a shot on the recommendation of a friend (this friend is a fan of the tofu-filled option), so with optimism I threw down on Local Pho’s pork banh mi.

The dinner price for the pork banh mi is $6.50 while the lunch version (exactly the same portions) goes for $5.50. At this point, one might think that a veil is being pulled over one’s eyes, but no, out of the kitchen comes a meat- and veggie-filled submarine.

The long cuts of pork are tender, plentiful and doused in salty/sweet hoison sauce. The vegetables are a wanted palate cleanser with large slices of moisture-rich cucumbers injecting a needed counterbalance to each bite. Most importantly to me, is how soft the bread was. No more having to power through a stale baguette. No more constant sips of liquid to wash out the exploded sawdust powder inside your mouth from overly-crunchy edges. 

This sandwich had just a lovely, soft, supportive base for its plentiful collection of meat and veggies.

And one more “no more”: No more non-Local Pho banh mis for this guy. Now, in addition to my loyalty to Levi’s jeans, Vans sneakers and Mandy Moore, I’m declaring my loyalty to Local Pho’s banh mi. When something’s that good, you have to stick by it.

Local Pho, 2230 3rd Ave.; 206.441.5995