Pho So 1’s sandwiches are a satisfying steal

I had many aspirations for my weeklong staycation, but on my final day off, I found myself having done almost nothing on my to-do list. I’d managed to get groceries that morning but couldn’t bring myself to actually make anything. I decided to treat myself one more time, after a week of treating myself, because isn’t that what vacation is for?

Treat-yourself weeks are expensive, so I initially wanted to be budget conscious. I decided on one of the radically low-priced banh mi sandwiches from Pho So 1 in Hannah Plaza. At the last minute, however, I added an order of pho in which to dip my sandwich. Because I’d already decided to treat myself one last time, I might as well.

A banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich traditionally consisting of French bread filled with pork, pickled vegetables, cucumber, cilantro, mayo and pâté. The bread and pâté come from the French colonization of Vietnam, which ended after the Second World War. There are many variations — the one I chose from Pho So 1 had tofu instead of pork, no pâté and bread that was more like a grocery store “French” loaf than a fresh baguette. That aside, I’m pretty sure it’s the best sandwich you can get in the area for under $6.

The golden-brown fried tofu provided a satisfying, dense texture and an earthy flavor that was accentuated by the tang of pickled daikon radish and carrot, the bright-green bite of cilantro and the crunchy spice of fresh jalapeño slices. Adding a richness to tie everything together was a generous smear of mayo on the toasty bread, which, though not a baguette, was not without its charms.

This sandwich was perfectly satisfying on its own, but when dipped in the aromatic, beefy pho, another level of perfection was reached, like when Remy bites into the cheese and the strawberry in “Ratatouille.” The warm, broth-soaked bread caused all of the disparate flavors to meld together, and it made me wish that every banh mi came with a cup of pho, like a French dip, so I wouldn’t have to get a whole order just to get my fix.

All’s well that ends well, though, since I was able to have the pho for dinner, allowing me to push off real-life responsibilities for one more meal. Check out Pho So 1’s banh mi sandwiches the next time you want a delicious treat at a price that’s incredibly easy to justify.