Food Truck Love: Nom Nom's Impressive Banh Mi

When I lived in Alhambra, I ate my fair share of Vietnamese sandwiches. I tried Lee’s Sandwiches (pretty un-remarkable), Mr. Baguette (much better), and a few others up and down Valley Blvd. until I eventually settled on Baguette Du Jour as my Bánh mì haunt of choice. They make a beautiful baguette, and if you eat the chicken sandwich even once, I swear you’ll crave its spicy/tangy flavor forever….like those vampires on True Blood.

Naturally, I didn’t think I’d ever find a worthy rival for my Bánh mì affections, but The Nom Nom Truck fits the bill. I’m not saying it’s better that du Jour, but it’s on par for sure.I can’t wait to work my way through their menu.

I had the Grilled Pork sandwich per Nom Nom co-owner Misa Chien’s urging. I opted not to dress it with any Sriracha in order to get the pure flavor, and even without the spice, it was so delicious. The sandwiches are huge and stuffed fat with marinated pork, cilantro and pickled carrots and daikon. Plus, it’s slathered with mayo, which usually scares me away, but I loved the way it mixed with the run-off marinade.

The baguette was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, which is rather essential for a good Bánh mì experience. The pork was exceptionally tender, and you even get a bite of fat once in a while—also essential. It’s a fine-tuned sandwich, no doubt. All the important pieces were in place.

I also ordered the Basil Mint Lemonade. Very refreshing, but it would have been better with a little carbonation. Okay, maybe I’m asking too much. Still, very nice.

I’m anxious to try the tacos, which I’ve read mixed things about. However, they were given the green light by Bandini from The Great Taco Hunt, and he ranks high on my trust meter, so it’s safe to say that Vietnamese tacos loom brightly in my future.

-Valentina