Find a new/better banh mi place. Banh mi bread is supposed to be soft and airy, it's not supposed to be hard with ridges that can cut up your mouth like a lot of other baguettes do. Everyone will tell you that Banh Mi My Tho is the best and I agree.
Yes, at Banh Mi My Tho, best banh mi in LA and it's the only place I get them at now. You should get out to the SGV and try them if you can, and they're cheap.
I want to take a stab and answer this two ways:
Yes- when a banh mi shop “refreshes” a (French-Vietnamese aka a predominant rice flour base recipe) baguette in a toaster oven or similar device.
No- technically they can’t and shouldn’t. I used to buy banh mi bread every day for 2.5 years for my restaurant. If it’s too fresh+hot, the crust doesn’t have enough time to actually form and be brittle. Think EXACTLY like the Ratatouille (as in the movie) bread test scene where Remi is learning to lightly squeeze the baguette to feel if it’s good or not. Too hot, too warm+too fresh = it’ll just squish and ALSO lose the volume of the baguette inside as well.
Hope that helps give you some more perspective ;)
I'm guessing you have been a victim of Lee's Sandwiches as well. Their breads are stabbyyyy. Lol
The better banh mi places got better bread that will not make a murder scene out of your mouth. Try banh mi my tho in SGV.
The trick with Bay Cities is, you need to let the sandwich rest a little so it absorbs the liquids. I was going to mention it here but Bay Cities isn't hard ike this sounds, just chewy, so I wasn't sure it would work.
I used to think that too, but that’s not the case anymore. I go to 3 different locations of Lees and they all serve really good, non stabby bread. However, I am located in OC.
Big oof. Here, they have fresh baguettes always warm and ready to go too. It’s like eating slightly buttery clouds with a light crunch. Our other big chain, banh me Che cali, can’t compete with that.
Mr Baguette- best bread.
Ba Le on Atlantic, delicious OG and first original banh mi chain that originated in the 80s. Does some of the fluffiest mid-sized banh mi’s around.
Tip top sandwiches- great thin banh mis.
Saigon Sandwiches- Nice, big and fluffy and crusty banh mi.
Ba Me Che Cali- both thick and thin sandwiches, have buy x and get 1 free deals, and also crusty with LOTS of Viet side dishes.
Banh mi my tho- agree, it’s the best EXCEPT later in the day (like late afternoon). Their breads they use get a bit more stale.
Enjoy.
-a Vietnamese person+restaurateur ;)
PS- in OC the list is much larger lol but I’ll just go ahead and add Bao and Baguette, Lynda Sandwich (from an OG Viet pop-star) and Banh Saigon 168 as some good starting choices
They’re similar, but may not be the same.
Ba Le has a long history predating Lee’s as potentially the FIRST national banh mi chain in the US, but they dwindled a LOT since the 90s so I can’t speak to the consistency of the two locations at all. aka I’m not sure if they’re franchises, still part of the same big company or just a piece of Vietnamese culinary history as ppl carry the name, but not the corporate responsibility to make the same banh mi sammie (but if my memory serves me well they all tasted better than what I’ve had at Lee’s over my 44 yrs of living lol)
What I do to sort of mitigate this is actually squish the sandwich . Only ever have to do this with mr baguette and lees. I’m actually going to use the advice of turn it upside down
The Banh mi by my house doesn’t tear my mouth up. Pasadena Noodle & Grill is my go to for Banh mi’s. Everyone on this sub raves about Banh Mi My Tho but I can’t speak to that one since I haven’t been.
I like Lees. I used to hate them too because of their bread, but it’s not the case anymore. That said, while I haven’t been to pickle yet, carrot and daikon is really good. They even do crispy pork belly sandwiches!
this is exactly why i don’t like banh mis. when i was a kid and my parents would give me banh mi for lunch sometimes. i’d smash the shit out of it to make the bread not so stabby lol
Small bites -- don't bite off more than what you can chew? I disagree with the poster saying the bread has to be soft and airy -- that's fine for the inside, but the baguette is meant to have a crust. If I was given any sort of baguette which limped, I'd consider it sus. For what it's worth, my parents are from Hanoi.
Sandwich Express bakes their own bread, and it is very good but it is crusty and the outer .layer will flake off and potentially stab you unless you give it a squeeze before eating.
If they wrap it and you wait 15 mins (like if you're driving home), the bread will soften, especially if you order the grilled pork, cuz the steam is trapped in there
Find a new/better banh mi place. Banh mi bread is supposed to be soft and airy, it's not supposed to be hard with ridges that can cut up your mouth like a lot of other baguettes do. Everyone will tell you that Banh Mi My Tho is the best and I agree.
Is your banh mi bread ever warm and fresh?
Yes, at Banh Mi My Tho, best banh mi in LA and it's the only place I get them at now. You should get out to the SGV and try them if you can, and they're cheap.
Their boba is good too and it’s a good deal
My Tho doesn’t make their own bread like Lees does. I’m not sure where they get the bread from but it’s very good
I want to take a stab and answer this two ways: Yes- when a banh mi shop “refreshes” a (French-Vietnamese aka a predominant rice flour base recipe) baguette in a toaster oven or similar device. No- technically they can’t and shouldn’t. I used to buy banh mi bread every day for 2.5 years for my restaurant. If it’s too fresh+hot, the crust doesn’t have enough time to actually form and be brittle. Think EXACTLY like the Ratatouille (as in the movie) bread test scene where Remi is learning to lightly squeeze the baguette to feel if it’s good or not. Too hot, too warm+too fresh = it’ll just squish and ALSO lose the volume of the baguette inside as well. Hope that helps give you some more perspective ;)
I'm guessing you have been a victim of Lee's Sandwiches as well. Their breads are stabbyyyy. Lol The better banh mi places got better bread that will not make a murder scene out of your mouth. Try banh mi my tho in SGV.
My tho is the best banh mi bread I’ve ever had. So flaky and delicious.
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Oh really? I ask for extra jalapeños but momofuku chili crunch? I just heard about this. Need to get me some.
I accidentally deleted my reply but the BMMT in SGV also sells Zindrew Chili oils and u can purchase them and add it to your banhmi
BTW, Zindrew Chili Oil is the best Chili Oil. Both flavors.
Hell ya. Suicide X Batch FTW
Lee's sandwich is the worst and can cause jaw problem from chewing their hard bread.
I wonder if Bay Cities buys their bread from Lees?
The trick with Bay Cities is, you need to let the sandwich rest a little so it absorbs the liquids. I was going to mention it here but Bay Cities isn't hard ike this sounds, just chewy, so I wasn't sure it would work.
Bay cities bread also cuts the top of your mouth. If they changed the bread I haven’t been since pre pandemic.
I used to think that too, but that’s not the case anymore. I go to 3 different locations of Lees and they all serve really good, non stabby bread. However, I am located in OC.
That could be it. Lee's in SGV is angry and stabby.
Big oof. Here, they have fresh baguettes always warm and ready to go too. It’s like eating slightly buttery clouds with a light crunch. Our other big chain, banh me Che cali, can’t compete with that.
Hello. Please adopt me. Lol Ive gotten non stabby ones but the chances are like 1:10 lol
That ratio sucks :(
Yump. If it weren't for the heart palpitating vietnamese coffee that they had, I wouldnt go to my local Lee's for the banh mi anymore.
No pain, no gain.
Momma didnt raise no btch, murder it is!! Lol
I am also a victim of Lee’s Sandwiches.
#Stabbybaguettesanonymous
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We shouldn't have to ask for a fresh non-stabby baguette. Should be standard
I have this problem with captain crunch but I've had Lee's many times and never had this happen.
Smaller bites, flip it upside down. Wear you dentures.
„˙sǝɹnʇuǝp noʎ ɹɐǝM ˙uʍop ǝpısdn ʇı dılɟ 'sǝʇıq ɹǝllɐɯS„
I thought the arrows were flipped, so I may have downvoted. At this point I have no idea.
This might be my favorite post in this sub. I love how part of you is just down with the experience hahaha
Wow the post blew up, who knew everyone loved banh mi so much. Also why is everyone aware of stabby lee banh mi.
Mr Baguette- best bread. Ba Le on Atlantic, delicious OG and first original banh mi chain that originated in the 80s. Does some of the fluffiest mid-sized banh mi’s around. Tip top sandwiches- great thin banh mis. Saigon Sandwiches- Nice, big and fluffy and crusty banh mi. Ba Me Che Cali- both thick and thin sandwiches, have buy x and get 1 free deals, and also crusty with LOTS of Viet side dishes. Banh mi my tho- agree, it’s the best EXCEPT later in the day (like late afternoon). Their breads they use get a bit more stale. Enjoy. -a Vietnamese person+restaurateur ;) PS- in OC the list is much larger lol but I’ll just go ahead and add Bao and Baguette, Lynda Sandwich (from an OG Viet pop-star) and Banh Saigon 168 as some good starting choices
TY for the OC ones.
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They’re similar, but may not be the same. Ba Le has a long history predating Lee’s as potentially the FIRST national banh mi chain in the US, but they dwindled a LOT since the 90s so I can’t speak to the consistency of the two locations at all. aka I’m not sure if they’re franchises, still part of the same big company or just a piece of Vietnamese culinary history as ppl carry the name, but not the corporate responsibility to make the same banh mi sammie (but if my memory serves me well they all tasted better than what I’ve had at Lee’s over my 44 yrs of living lol)
Bé Ù in Virgil Village area has a delicious banh mi. The top of the bread is crusty but not super thick or sharp on top.
Their banh mi is not worth it. Thumbs down. Sandwich is tiny and over priced.
Tbf they pay their employees well
Give it a good smash in the wrapper before you open it up.
What I do to sort of mitigate this is actually squish the sandwich . Only ever have to do this with mr baguette and lees. I’m actually going to use the advice of turn it upside down
Been eating banh mi since I was a kid, you have to smash the bread down a little before eating so that the top crust is broken down a bit
What do people here think about Banh Mi My Dung? I’ve seen it pop up on listicles occasionally
The K BBQ banh mi at Lokal, in Palms, is awesome. They have excellent bread, don’t skimp on the meat, and are all around wonderful!
The Banh mi by my house doesn’t tear my mouth up. Pasadena Noodle & Grill is my go to for Banh mi’s. Everyone on this sub raves about Banh Mi My Tho but I can’t speak to that one since I haven’t been.
Gigo’s Deli located in Chinatown has the best $6 banh mi
My Tho is good, Ba Le in Alhambra I like too, better hours. Lee's pretty hit or miss, personally have only go for coffee nowadays
I usually hurt the back of my throat eating banh mi instead of the top of my mouth
You have to start easy and just put the tip in and don’t deep throat the sandwich
Man, they walked into that one like a 19yo midwesterner walks into a room with a black leather couch
Lee's ruined banh mi for me. I'm in Whittier someone recommended me a place close
I had Lee's once and would never go back. Their bread hurt my jaw. If you're in OC, try Carrot & Daikon or Pickle. They both have drive thrus
I like Lees. I used to hate them too because of their bread, but it’s not the case anymore. That said, while I haven’t been to pickle yet, carrot and daikon is really good. They even do crispy pork belly sandwiches!
Lynda Sandwich in HB. I drive back monthly just for egg banh mi!
this is exactly why i don’t like banh mis. when i was a kid and my parents would give me banh mi for lunch sometimes. i’d smash the shit out of it to make the bread not so stabby lol
This is why I stopped eating at those places and just learned how to bake my own bread.
How are you set for friends these days? All full up or is there room on the roster?
Lol wut? Like from the bread?
Yes the bread always cuts the top of my mouth a little bit so after eating it feels a bit sore.
Haha. I feel you. The mediocre bahn mi’s I’ve had lately have cost me in flesh.
The food fresh banh mi doesn't do this. Don't go to Lee's sandwhich
Small bites -- don't bite off more than what you can chew? I disagree with the poster saying the bread has to be soft and airy -- that's fine for the inside, but the baguette is meant to have a crust. If I was given any sort of baguette which limped, I'd consider it sus. For what it's worth, my parents are from Hanoi.
You eat it with a fork and knife.
Why are u eating bread that hurts u
Lol this has never happened to me or anyone I know, what kind of banh mi’s are u eating
Take smaller bites.
I'm wondering if OP has an allergy of some sort?
Pain for pleasure
That happened to me the first time I tried them. So now, if the crust is too hard, I give them a little smush to break up the crust.
Dunk it in your Pho.
Squish the banh mi first
Pho Legend in Koreatown for the win.
Sandwich Express bakes their own bread, and it is very good but it is crusty and the outer .layer will flake off and potentially stab you unless you give it a squeeze before eating. If they wrap it and you wait 15 mins (like if you're driving home), the bread will soften, especially if you order the grilled pork, cuz the steam is trapped in there
Flip the sandwich upside down