Banh Mi cart on St. Marks Place/2nd Avenue

When I was walking home with my fiancé Patrick last night, I happened upon a new banh mi cart on St. Marks and 2nd Avenue. Banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich prepared on a soft baguette with a hard outer crust. Each sandwich came with one meat–either Vietnamese meatball, chicken, roasted eel, tuna, beef or pork– and sweet pickled carrots and cucumber, cilantro and optional jalapeños for an added kick.

We started out with an order of summer rolls, which were delicate on the outside and filled with shrimp, mint and rice noodles. The slightly sweet peanut sauce and crushed peanut topping made my day, but what can I say? I’m partial to anything peanut-ty.

Patrick and I ordered one sandwich each. I chose the traditional bahn mi, which came with pork, and he went with the roasted eel. My sandwich was delicious, the bread the right combo of soft and hard, but Patrick felt that they may be skimping a little on the meat. But at $6 a pop, the price is not bad. The sandwiches are long enough to satisfy even someone with a big appetite, like Patrick. I was full after half a sandwich.

The service at the cart was friendly and came with a smile. When handing me back my change the young man asked, “Have you tried the green tea waffle? They’re really good.” I hadn’t, but for only $1.50, I think I will on my next visit.

The man said his cart is on the corner everyday from about 4 or 5 on. But if you get a mid-morning craving for bahn mi, the menu says before 11 a.m. call 646-996-8990 for pick-up.