Bánh Mì enters World’s best street food list

Photograph: Rebecca Skinner/Lonely Planet

Bánh mì (Bread) ranks second in a recent story run in Guardian about the World's Best Street Food and written by foodie Richard Johnson.

Bành mì is described with a light baguette grilled over coals. After a smear of mayonnaise and a dollop of pâté, the crispy shell is filled with meat, crunchy pickled vegetables and fresh herbs. It is then typically seasoned with a few drops of soy sauce and a spicy chili condiment.

An early example of fusion food, bánh mì shows an obvious link with the French, rulers of Vietnam in the early 20th century. Other ingredients, including xá xíu, the barbecued pork better known as char siu, have Chinese origins, while the herbs and seasonings are distinctively south-east Asian.

Bánh mì is the epitome of street food: the sandwiches are sold almost exclusively from stalls and vendors. Seating usually takes the form of tiny plastic stools, and the sandwiches are generally served to go, wrapped in recycled paper. Pâté? Meatballs or grilled pork? Chilli? Mayonnaise? Diners choose their meats, toppings and condiments. A collection of the best of south-east Asian cuisine in a western package.

 (The guardian)