San Antonio is still reeling from the major loss of a cherished Vietnamese staple, but somehow, someway, a comfort banh mi was in the cards for this local food reporter. Banh Mi 102 drew me in with the low prices, but by the end of the experience, I was convinced that this spot was worth revisiting several times over.
Getting there was as easy as it could’ve been driving from downtown to the Leon Valley area, and there was plenty of parking when I arrived. Had I been in a rush, I’d have simply gone through Banh Mi 102’s drive-thru, where the full menu is available, but this time around, I was free to dine in. The counter-service restaurant is bright and accented by marble details, menu screens and a mural that nodded to the restaurant’s Vietnamese origins.
Most of the banh mi offerings at Banh Mi 102 were priced at $7.95, including the grilled pork banh mi, which I ended up ordering. For that price, the sandwich came stuffed with grilled pork, cucumber, cilantro, pickled carrots and slices of jalapeños inside of a baguette. I also said “what the heck?” and ordered a Vietnamese coffee to pair with the meal for $6.25, bringing the total to about $14 before taxes and tip.
The banh mi’s bread had a crispy exterior with a soft inner fluffiness that wrapped each bite in buttery goodness. The grilled meat was seasoned to perfection, with a balance of sweet, spicy and savory flavors in each bite. I am hankering to purchase several pounds of whatever combination of spices were used to give the meat its almost floral, herbaceous notes.
All the fresh ingredients in the banh mi were just that — fresh and crunchy and aromatic — providing color, texture and taste to the dish. The slices of jalapeños were also no joke, so definitely consider how much spice you can take when biting into one of these Vietnamese tortas. When it came to the coffee drink, things leaned a little more in the sweet direction, but that evened out as some of the ice melted.
Banh Mi 102 is a cute, easy place to grab a loaded up sandwich for under $10, and you can even tack on a sweet treat if you so choose. With the option to drive-thru or order online, this San Antonio spot makes it easy to grab a banh mi on days when you must find comfort in something beautiful and delicious.
Find it: 7531 Bandera Road, Suite 106, San Antonio, TX 78238