Banh Mi Boys

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Peter Nguyen opened this little gem adjacent to his parents’ gas station in 2015.  When I first heard of this place, I assumed two brothers opened up a Vietnamese restaurant.  Nope, it is a combination of Banh Mi and Po Boys so it makes sense that the menu has both Vietnamese and American specialties (and some items have aspects of both).

They have the traditional items you would expect like the Grilled Pork Banh Mi on a Vietnamese pistolette and the Fried Shrimp Po Boy on Leidenheimer bread.  (The Vietnemese know the importance of having the right bread for the right sandwich.)  But, if you are feeling a bit more adventurous, he has created dishes like the Braised Pork Belly Banh Mi and the Bang Bang Shrimp Banh Mi.  You can’t go wrong whichever route you choose.  Everything here is so fresh, I would not be surprised if they had a garden out back!

A nice surprise is his take on fries.  Of course, you can go the traditional route and get regular seasoned fries or cheese fries.  But, if you are looking for something different, you may want to try his Oyster Rockefeller Fries or Cajun Cracklin Fries.  They do not disappoint.

If bread is not your thing (or you are on one of those crazy diets), he has rice and vermicelli bowls as well as salads.  For the vegetarians out there, he has a portabella mushroom banh mi and a tofu banh mi.

This is a “counter service” place so don’t expect table service and cloth napkins.  The staff is friendly and efficient and are always willing to answer any questions or make suggestions.  A while back, they added a few picnic tables outside for people who couldn’t wait to get home to dive into their spring rolls or crab rangoon.   They have a couple of desserts on their menu but I am always so full after eating my meal, I never have room to try them. Note:  They do not have a liquor license so the strongest beverage you will get here is tea. — Karen Decker McCrossen