A Fresh Bite of Nostalgia at Bánh Mì Kitchen - SM City Iloilo

Bánh Mì Kitchen - SM City Iloilo. Flickr|Jep

I was genuinely excited to see that Bánh Mì Kitchen has recently opened a branch at SM City Iloilo. While I wouldn’t call myself a bánh mì connoisseur, I do have a fond memory of my first encounter with this Vietnamese sandwich. A few years ago, a good friend treated me to a classic bánh mì at their SM City Fairview location. It was delicious!

Unfortunately, the exact variant I had back then wasn’t available this time around, so I opted for the Classic Saigon Bánh Mì. From the first bite, it was everything I hoped for: a crusty, golden baguette filled with crisp, fresh vegetables and savory fillings that brought back the same satisfaction I remembered.

Before digging in, I gave my friend a heads-up about the cilantro, which plays a starring role in the sandwich. He’s always had mixed feelings about it, and true enough, his verdict was: “It’s really good, but maybe a little less cilantro would’ve made it better.” Personally, I thought the balance was just right. The cilantro added that bright, herbaceous flavor that makes a bánh mì feel truly authentic.

I am looking forward to trying other items on their menu. I heard that their coffee options are also nice.