Banh Mi Bistro

Banh Mi Bistro

2340 W. Bell Road

Phoenix

Three of us went for lunch at this restaurant. It is located in a small strip center right near the freeway. Arriving early, we were able to get a table immediately, and spent some time perusing the menu.

Companion #1 ordered egg rolls (3 to an order), a meatball banh mi with tomato sauce, and a taro boba.

Companion #2 ordered a Hong Kong style pork banh mi and a drink.

I ordered the spring roll appetizer with peanut sauce, rib steak pieces, pepper & onions banh mi, and peach/ginger iced tea.

In a reasonable amount of time our orders were ready to be picked up at the counter.

Comments:

Companion #1: egg rolls were crisp but on the small side. Came with enough lettuce and assorted veggies to make an entire lunch instead of just and appetizer. The meatball banh mi had little flavor but had so much jalapeno (possibly serrano) pepper as to make it inedible. Companion did not eat the rest of the sandwich. Taro boba was excellent.

Companion #2: Only ate ½ of sandwich because of burn from all the peppers on the sandwich. Gave me other half of sandwich and I gave companion ½ of my sandwich after opening it up and removing all peppers from it. Hong Kong pork was severely lacking in flavor.

My spring rolls were properly made, but the peanut sauce was almost flavorless. It looked proper, but the flavor just was not there. My sandwich was fair in flavor but lacking in meat. I added both soy sauce and a healthy squirt of chili/garlic sauce to the sandwich but it did not do much for it. Even the chili/garlic sauce was watered down in flavor. The ginger iced tea was very nice, but all teas are pre-sweetened, which can be a real problem for a diabetic.

Overall, the food seemed to lack flavor and assertiveness with the exception of heat from peppers. While I personally enjoy hot peppers, what was on the sandwiches was over powering of the flavor.

This was the first time I have ever had a banh mi that was so lacking in flavor. I would suggest that the restaurant reexamine their flavor profile and do some work on it.

The restaurant was clean and service was spot on.

2 stars for cleanliness and service.