Celeste recommended Pho Tau Bay, which I remembered having good poboys, but I haven't had sandwiches from there since I was a little kid.
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Juvu Jan 15, 2008 08:48PM
re: Juvu Yes, Dong Phuong is the best (and by far the cheapest) around, but PTB is closer to my usual travel patterns, so I probably go there most often. A new one (not open last time I looked just before Christmas) is located just across the side street from Hong Kong Market on Behrman Highway on the Westbank in a spiffy new strip mall (which also houses a viet seafood restaurant & a liquor store)--can't recall the name, though.
Hong Kong Market has bahn mi, too; sold from a counter on the far side of the store from the entrance, next to the BBQ ducks, quail, pork, etc. hanging from hooks.
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Hungry Celeste Jan 16, 2008 07:30AM
re: Juvu Dong Phuong has a location on Lafayette Street in Gretna--turn left after you get off the Expressway, and the restaurant will be on the left. I think they're as good as Pho Tau Bay, with a completely different, less homey feeling. Since the two restaurants are so close to each other, you can do your own taste test and report back.
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marthasway Jan 16, 2008 12:30PM
re: marthasway Now THIS is the best single piece of information on CH in many months. Oh thank you!
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Hungry Celeste Jan 16, 2008 03:43PM
re: marthasway I hope it can live up to the legacy of it's versailles counterpart.
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Juvu Jan 16, 2008 04:08PM
I like the bubble tea / vietnamese po boy shop that's right across the parking lot from Dong Khanh market on the Westbank. It's in Harvey, get off at Manhattan, go through the tunnel, and it's on the right just past the tunnel.
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Chris Martel Jan 16, 2008 06:35AM
Banh Mi Sao Mai
14321 Chef Menteur Hwy.
New Orleans, LA 70129
this is a little take out place just down chef menteur from don phuong. i've never tried dong phuong, because whenever i'm in the area i can't make myself go anywhere but banh mi sao mai. there's only a few things on the menu, but the best banh mi is the one with pork and meatballs. i ask for it spicy, which means a dash or two of chili paste. good stuff.
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Shiloh Jan 16, 2008 06:52AM
re: Shiloh this place really is the best place ever. when i lived in new orleans, they use to operate out of a house. but i am so glad that they were able to move to bigger operations. i think they get their bread from dong phuong. so it will still be the best.
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vttp926 Jan 16, 2008 08:38AM
Pho Tay Bay. Its on the westbank. Its right off the westbank expressway on the right side...right before the Lafayette Exit. Its got great vietnamese food.
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cereed007 Jan 16, 2008 08:09AM
re: cereed007 Speaking of, I've tried to go to Pho Tao Bay on at least three seperate occasions, twice for lunch and once for dinner, in the last few weeks, and on different days of the week. Are they closed for some reason unbeknownst to me, or do I just have phenomenally bad luck? As long as they aren't closing closing, because for a local vegitarian (i know, i know, my dad rolls in his grave) getting those tofu bahn mi are akin to religious pilgrimage.
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swampsue Jan 17, 2008 10:07PM
re: swampsue Well, they're now closed on Thursdays & Sundays, plus PTB was closed for an extended Christmas break, plus grandma passed away just before Christmas (leukemia, in PA). So you might have had a string of bad luck with regard to closing times. The regular hours are 9-9 M-W and Fri-Sat.
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Hungry Celeste Jan 18, 2008 07:17AM
re: Hungry Celeste Ah, that's relieving (not the passing of course). Thank you very much. Think I'll go get me a tofu poboy today!
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swampsue Jan 18, 2008 07:34AM
Um, just what is it that seperates a Vietnamese poboy from any other poboy- why would someone seek them out?
Color me confused...
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Clarkafella Jan 16, 2008 02:17PM
re: Clarkafella You're not confused, just not yet initiated into the joys of bahn mi. Vietnam was a French colony, and the Vietnamese people make excellent french bread and have a great charcuterie tradition as a result...bahn mi are sublime, thin crusted, airy poboy loaves stuffed with a variety of asian ingredients: pate thit (pork pate), homemade pork sliced rolled pork, char siu chinese style barbecue, meatballs, grilled chicken or beef or pork, garnished with crisp picked daikon & carrot, cucumber slices, mayo (often homemade), sliced jalapenos, cilantro, sliced onions, etc. The overall taste impression is savory and rich while simultaneously light and fresh...crispy, crunchy, hot and cool. One of the world's great sandwiches, esp when you consider that most bahn mi in this town are in the $2.50 to $5.00 price range.
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Hungry Celeste Jan 16, 2008 03:42PM
re: Hungry Celeste Celeste, I'm curious to know if you have a favorite variant of Banh Mi, or if you usually get Dac Biet (special/everything).
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Juvu Jan 16, 2008 04:10PM
re: Juvu I'm partial to anything grilled as a filling; my better half likes all the porky fillings best.
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Hungry Celeste Jan 17, 2008 07:12AM
If any of you get the chance, (and some of you may view this as a travesty, but I swear I love it), you should try dipping Banh Mi in pho. Purists may say, "But no! It makes the bread soggy, etc!" But in all honesty, the taste is pretty good. At least I think so. Again, this is just a matter of convenience, if you happen to order a bowl of pho, and think to yourself, "this simply isn't enough." Try ordering a vietnamese sandwich in addition, and dipping it in your pho.
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Juvu Jan 17, 2008 09:05AM
re: Juvu Dipping isn't a travesty (well, maybe dipping in pho IS, but back to my original assertion)....the bahn mi dishes on the menu at Tan Dinh aren't poboy-style sandwiches, but rather hearty bowls of stew served with french loaves on the side for dipping.
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Hungry Celeste Jan 17, 2008 09:50AM
re: Hungry Celeste Thank you for all the listings, and all the new places to investigate.
My favorite Pho joint, Pho Hoa on Manhattan, between the Burlington and Universal stores has closed, hoping to relocate in a new building.
I have new places to try, and will give progress reports on Pho Hao (which had broken from the chain, and has been making their broth for a few years now)
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JerseyNOLA Jan 18, 2008 08:18AM
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