In Vietnam, there is an app called Grab. It has a feature similar to Uber Eats, and I ordered a Bánh Mì (Vietnamese sandwich) through it. For an incredibly low price, they delivered a freshly made, warm, and delicious Bánh Mì right to my hotel. I was feeling tired and didn’t want to go out much, so I was amazed by how cheap, tasty, and convenient it was!
Vietnamese Bánh Mì bread is soft and crispy at the same time. In Japan, it’s quite difficult to find a baguette with that same quality, so this time, I made a toasty sandwich using regular sandwich bread inspired by the flavors of Vietnam.
Ingredients
| Sandwich bread (6 slices per loaf) | 2 slices |
| Thinly sliced beef (chuck, shoulder, brisket—any thin cut is okay) | 150g / 5.3 oz |
| Garlic paste | 1 tsp |
| Soy sauce (Kikkoman) | 2 tsp |
| Fish sauce (Yamamori) | 1 tsp |
| Cilantro | as desired |
| Mayonnaise (Kewpie) | as desired |
| Sesame oi | 1 tsp |
(*I listed the brands I used in parentheses, but any brand will work.)
How to Make
1⃣ Heat 1 tsp of sesame oil in a frying pan, then add the beef, garlic paste, soy sauce, and fish sauce. Stir-fry until the meat is fully cooked.
2⃣ Spread mayonnaise on the sandwich bread as desired. Finely chop the cilantro.
3⃣ Place the cooked beef and cilantro on the bread, then toast it in a hot sandwich maker for 3-4 minutes. (The heating power may vary depending on the sandwich maker, so be careful not to burn it.) Also, watch out for burns!
On my first day in Vietnam, I went to a nail salon. A professional nail artist beautifully did my hands and feet. However, what caught my attention was that three other employees gathered around my nails, watching closely while chatting for about an hour! I was surrounded by four people while getting my nails done!
Maybe they were observing and learning while chatting? Since they seemed to be having fun, I didn’t mind, but it was a cultural difference that I found fascinating. In Japan, this kind of scene would be quite unusual! The nails turned out very cute, and I was really satisfied.
If it looks delicious, feel free to share it on Twitter/X! And if you try making it, I’d be even happier if you tag me in your post!
