Eating on the Cheap: Banh Mi Dac Biet at Nhu Lan Vietnamese Food Truck


January 20, 2020
a man wearing a hat
By Jackie Tran
By Jackie Tran

House-made bread and cold cuts make all the difference.

As a Vietnamese-American growing up in Tucson, I have two favorite sandwiches. Both selections are heavily biased.

The Mexican food-loving side of me adores the cemita from El Antojo Poblano. The Vietnamese side of me cherishes the banh mi dac biet ($4.50) from Nhu Lan Vietnamese Food Truck.

Banh Mi Dac Biet from Nhu Lan Vietnamese Food Truck (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Banh Mi Dac Biet from Nhu Lan Vietnamese Food Truck (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Like the cemita or Sonoran hot dog, the bread is crucial to the experience. The Vietnamese baguette features a light, crisp crust that won’t scratch your palate. Like a potato bun for a smashburger, the soft and fluffy interior doesn’t overpower the fillings.

Of course, the fillings are the other crucial components — but not the protein. The cool, crisp cucumber and cilantro help balance the sharp grassy heat of raw jalapeño slices. The sweet-and-sour daikon and carrot pickles add moist crunch and balance the saltiness of the proteins. The spread of lightly sweet, buttery Vietnamese mayo and a dash of soy sauce brings it all together.

While I opt for the fatty Vietnamese cold cut combo of the banh mi dac biet, any of Nhu Lan’s other proteins will serve you well. Their house-made bread and veggie-protein ratio are what help propel them in a ocean of food trucks.

Nhu Lan Vietnamese Food Truck also has a location at The Boxyard at 238 N. Fourth Ave. Keep up with Nhu Lan Vietnamese Food Truck on Facebook.

Upcoming Events

View all events
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.

Article By

Jackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon...

Related Stories