Silver Lake: Pig Roast Goodness at Ô Bánh Mì

Ever since finding out that Ô Bánh Mì offers pig roast sandwiches every Friday, I’ve been surreptitiously plotting and patiently waiting for a day I could escape my downtown desk and head to Silver Lake for lunch. That day finally came last week.

Ô Bánh Mì is a tiny storefront, tucked behind a stretch of trees on Hyperion Avenue. You can easily drive past and completely miss the neon “O” above the front door (which I did on Friday. Twice.). I arrived promptly at noon, just before Jens, one of the owners, pulled up in his truck, bringing with him the pig that he’d roasted for several hours that morning.

Once inside, I was lucky enough to get a preview of the deliciousness to come, when one of the employees brought over pieces of the pork for my friend and me to try. The meat was tender and juicy, wonderfully enhanced by the crackle of golden skin and permeated with the garlic and herbs that had covered it in the roasting box.

But the fireworks truly started when the sandwich arrived. The crunch of the baguette gave way to a soft, chewy interior containing a layer of sliced cucumbers, spicy chili peppers, cilantro, both raw and fried green onions, and an ample amount of the star ingredient. The contrast of the uncooked onions against the slightly caramelized onions was a winning detail, and the coolness of the cucumber was the perfect counterpoint to the succulent pork and the charred green onion.

In lieu of mayonnaise or pâté, the sandwich can come with a side of seriously savory gravy, made of the pork drippings, fish sauce, and herbs. My lunch companion aptly called it “umami soup.” Adding the gravy and some sriracha resulted in a pretty ideal and intensely flavorful sandwich, and, against my better judgment, I polished off the whole thing.

I can’t wait to come back for the bánh mì with shredded lemongrass chicken and, if I get a little more adventurous, the sardine.

Hours: 12:00-3:00 p.m. daily. Sandwich price: $7.50, cash only. A bit more expensive than your typical bánh mì, but worth every penny.

-Jessica Raymond

Jessica is new contributor to Eastside Food Bites.

Ô Bánh Mì
1997 Hyperion Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 665-1941