t rave le rf o o die .wo rdpre ss.co m http://travelerfo o die.wo rdpress.

co m/2013/04/09/disco ver-central-vietnams-nha-trang-subs-in-o rlando /

Discover Central Vietnams Nha Trang Subs in Orlando

by Traveler Fo o die

Nha Trang Subs. Have you ever wondered what is the in the little courtyard on the south side of Hwy 50, between Mills and Shine Ave.? Wonder no more. Swing in and drive along Hillcrest St, look f or the Golden Harvest Vietnamese Restaurant sign and pull into that parking lot. Caution: this is a one way in and out parking lot. Do not drive in f ull speed, another car could be backing out. Walk towards the building, pass a row of upturn chairs and tables take the alleyway and approach the courtyard. T here are many small Vietnamese businesses through almost every door. To the lef t is Banh Mi Nha Trang Subs. T he space is modestly decorated with a glass cooler on the right, serving counter next, and assembly/kitchen towards the back. A tall f reezer stands on the lef t. T here is seating and a table f or about 6 people. T hats it. Well, no not really. T he magic in this place lies in the authenticity of its sandwiches. How do I know it is the real deal? Did you think I would visit a hole in the wall Vietnamese place without my trusted sources? T hink again. My sources f ather was the Police Chief of Nha Trang Beach bef ore the war. I would trust anyone who lived in the region to recognize the local f lavor. Apart f or its nod to a specif ic region, there is the adorable owner. Ive wondered into many restaurants where the of f icial language is not English, some welcoming, others not so much. Here is like the f olds of a warm homecoming no matter who walks in the door. T he order taker, spoke f luent English and was more than diligent in answering my wandering mind. While I was grilling the order taker, the delightf ul owner kept my taste buds occupy by handing over little treats. I am not saying that there is a tasting f or everyone, everytime someone walks in, but you never know what can happen when you strike up a conversation. T he common language being f ood. Bread T his bread is made f resh daily on location. Notice the dif f erent shape of this bread compared to other local Banh Mi stores. T he ends are rather rounded which gives more space to stuf f the sandwich. T he crust is crisp with a sof t slightly chewy core. I am told that the recipe caters to ref rigerating and reheating the sandwich to the same f reshness and texture as if it was f irst served. I am yet to test this since I ate all the sandwiches. BBQ Pork ALL of their sandwich f illings are made in house. T his BBQ Pork is marinated with tof u. T he f lavor is mild and sweet with a noted absence of soy sauce. One of the f ounding principles of this restaurant was avoiding the use of soy sauce. T he owners f elt that soy sauce pronounced Chinese f lavors. While in Central Vietnam the use of chilies and f ish sauce is used as f lavoring ingredients. As in most places of tropical climate, heat f rom chilies along with other seasonings is a staple in their recipes. T heir pork liver pate, one of the staple ingredients in a Banh Mi, is also made in house. Bnh M Cha C Chin Fried Fish Patty Sandwich Fish is cooked, seasoned and made into a cake, then sliced and served. T he accompanying chili sauce in this sandwich gives that extra burst that ignites the vegetables and herbs. Bnh M G Nuong Grilled Chicken Sandwich Season grilled chicken was of good texture and f lavor. A great try f or the less adventurous. Bnh M Dac Biet House Special Sandwich T his Banh Mi had hints of smoked f ish, meats, herbs and

chilies. T he many textures and f lavors melted in a harmonious melody that one would experience on a beach. T he gentle sway of a hammock with sea breeze, slight whif f s of sea air and tropical vegetation is captured in this Banh Mi. Bnh M Nem Chua Sour Ham Sandwich Yes, the ham is cured in house. T his was a top notch combination. T he ham was ever so sour but not overtly scalding. On my next visit, I may order a chunk of ham. Remember the tall f reezer on the lef t in the dining room? T hat is where they store all prepared meats f or resale. Yep, everything that is in the sandwich can be purchased f rozen and taken home; you can then boast your international culinary talents. It is very encouraging that this restaurant has stood by their sense of pride and authenticity in bringing their cultural cuisine to Orlando. Here is a great example where location may actually work with our pocket. A less than popular location transf ers to lower overhead which the owners pass on to you in the f orm of lower prices. However, lower prices still maintains a very high f ood quality. I urge you to take the plunge and venture out to f ind this place, you might end up on a beach in a hammock.