Banh mi in Austin, where can I get one?
I am a NY transplant to Austin. I want a banh mi, badly. Know anywhere I could get one? I haven't tried cruising the Anderson area yet, because I don't want to cause a 5 car pileup when I pop a Uie when I catch a sniff. So a real address or at least a name would be appreciated.
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9 Comments:
drive up North Lamar past 183,
sorry no name
just search chowhound.
intheyearofthepig at 6:29PM on 01/30/08
Thanks I looked there but it is somewhat dated. Do you know if Tam deli on N lamar is still open?
SkinnyFatty at 6:36PM on 01/30/08
i would recommend going back to chowhound and asking if the info is current. there are folks there who might be able to tell you about every spot in town.
renzata at 8:07PM on 01/30/08
I haven't been in a couple years (I moved out of Austin 5 years ago but I was born and raised there [in Zilker in South Austin though, so North Lamar was a trek] and go back a couple times a year) but 2 years ago Tam was still open, I had forgotten about that place. I loved it in the late 90s. Hope it is there for you.
intheyearofthepig at 12:13PM on 02/01/08
I feel sorry for anyone craving decent Vietnamese food in Austin. It simpy doesn't exist. :(
Centelleo at 12:53PM on 02/01/08
really? doesn't exist?
where have you gone?
I ate good Vietnamese on the aforementioned N. Lamar and I used to enjoy a place attached to the Best Western just east of I-35 south of Ben White.
doesn't compare to Houston, but I feel pretty sure there is good Vietnamese in Austin somewhere.
intheyearofthepig at 5:44PM on 02/01/08
I am an Austin transplant to New York City. Vietnamese not only exists there — beyond Mexican it's one of the best ethnic cuisines to be had, primarily in the North Lamar / 183 area.
That said, I was unaware of the banh mi during most of my years growing up there (discovered it in Houston), and have had two mediocre sandwiches, but in South Austin. I hear Tam Deli is good (I believe it's still open), but chances are that you won't find Saigon Bakery or Ba Xuyen quality, though I couldn't give you a good answer why. Chowhound is your best friend for these matters; they have an active Austin community.
Perhaps consider making the two-and-a-half hour drive to Houston — Viet food there is some of the greatest in the states.
cmballa at 3:33AM on 02/04/08
Tam Deli is exactly the place to go--I had a very good banh mi there recently. It's on North Lamar, north of 183. It's teeny and unprepossessing (you may miss it at first; it's next to a jeweler's) but chock full of delicious.
Christina at 7:52AM on 02/04/08
I'm Vietnamese and while I do agree that Houston probably has the best banh mi's there are two places in Austin that I highly recommend if you're craving some:
1) Cafe de Bella--down Research Blvd.
2) I'm not sure what this place is called but it's in the chinatown center on Lamar. It's located on the strip that the MT supermarket is located on and it's on the very right end next to the hair salon. Best banh mi's in my opinion!
audiooooo at 11:07PM on 02/21/09