Move over Marrickville Pork Roll and hit the road Hong Ha, there’s a new bánh mì in town vying for the crown of Sydney’s best. Phuong18 in Bankstown is one of those spots where the sandwich is so good, you’ll be planning your next visit before you’ve finished your first roll. The fillings are what we know and love about a bánh mì but with a couple of choice differences that make all the difference. 

The pickled carrots and daikon are shredded thicker than the usual bánh mì for an extra vinegary kick, and the Maggi Seasoning sauce is slightly thickened to cling to your tastebuds for longer. Instead of gnawing on a long strand of spring onion, the team at Phuong 18 chop their shallots for even distribution. Famously generous on the pâté, this is a bánh mì for the big kids.

Sydneysiders’ bánh mì allegiances run deep, and nowhere is that more fierce than in Bankstown where customers either flock to Phuong 18 or directly across the road to Bánh Mì Bay Ngo. Members of the super serious Facebook group, Vietnamese Bánh Mì Appreciation Society, have gone as far as conducting side-by-side comparisons to determine who does the best banh mi in Bankstown, with the comments section showing how fiery the debate is.

“Phuong18, this shouldn’t even be a contest.”
“Soft rolls should be binned.”
“There’s a new sheriff in town.”

Even celebrated chef Khanh Nguyen weighed in on the debate, taking to Instagram to sing the sandwich’s praises.

Related story: Hoi An, Vietnam: 8 foods you must try

 

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A post shared by Khanh Nguyen | Chef (@genghiskhanh)

Broad stroke here, but we’re convinced that the banh mi is the perfect sandwich. Sure, you might wind up looking like you lost a fight with a bread roll but Australians can’t get enough of the salty, sweet, spicy, chewy, creamy, vibrance of a Vietnamese pork roll – crumbs and all. So when one comes along that threatens to test our alliances, it’s worth a crack.

You be the judge.

Phuong18 is located at Shop 1/335 Chapel Rd, Bankstown.

What is bánh mì?

A blend of Vietnamese cold cuts and veggies on a French-style baguette with pate and butter, the bánh mì is a sandwich unique to Vietnam that symbolises a complicated colonial history as well as Vietnamese tradition and resilience. It’s also a darn good sandwich. Cold pork, pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber, onions, coriander, chilli and pate are the usual suspects. Find the best bánh mì in Australia here.

Related story: Travel through Vietnam in 6 dishes with Matt Preston