The story below is from our May/June 2015 issue. For the full story download our FREE iOS app or view our digital edition for FREE today!
With four fine dining rooms featuring distinct and distinctive offerings, there appears to be a trend around Roanoke. Here’s the take on Viet Sub.
It’s time for me to make a mid-year prediction: 2015 is and will remain the year of Vietnamese cuisine in Roanoke. It’s been a slow storm brewing, with new restaurants opening every year since 2011, but the Star City is now home to four different diverse and delicious Vietnamese restaurants. Whether you’re looking for a steaming bowl of phở on a chilly evening or a quick lunch sandwich during the work week, whether you live in Vinton or Northeast Roanoke, options abound for a gustatory trip to Southeast Asia – all without hopping on a plane.
Taking the Plunge with Viet Sub
In September 2014, I sang the praises of New Yorker Delicatessen’s traditional deli sandwiches. This time, however, I’m going to introduce you to your new favorite (and lighter) sub sandwich: the bánh mì. If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed by layers upon layers of meat and just wanted a more summery, less elastic-pants-required sandwich, then the bánh mì is just the thing for you.
Viet Sub’s very authentic options feature pillowy homemade baguette (which lack the hard crust of a traditional baguette so it’s easier to bite into) stuffed with chicken liver pate, mayonnaise, your choice of meat, quick pickled carrots and daikon radish, cucumber, cilantro, and fresh jalapeno. If the chicken liver pate sounds a tad exotic, don’t worry, you wouldn’t even notice it except for the creamy, earthly flavor it lends to the sandwich. My favorite variation is the BBQ Pork with its sweet, tangy sauce, but the Roasted Chicken is another homerun with its tender, juicy white meat. For the full bánh mì experience, opt for the Special with its salami-like Vietnames ham and sliced smoked ham.
Not only are the sandwiches generous but not over-filled, they cost only $4 and can be paired with a drink and a side for just a tad more. Fast service, incredibly fresh bread and ingredients, and a price you can’t beat – you’ll never find yourself heading to a Subway again once you’ve tried Viet Sub’s bánh mì.
Viet Sub | 1403 Williamson Rd NE, Roanoke
540-342-3300; facebook.com/roanokevietsub
