Cheap Date? How About a Vietnamese Sandwich

There's nothing that screams romance and love like a delicious, tantalizing, six-inch, two-dollar Vietnamese sandwich. For this Valentine's day, take that special someone to your neighborhood 'Banh Mi' shop and splurge! Go ahead. Skip the toll road to save up for this special occasion. Go all out and order some spring rolls and (gasp!) a beverage with your sandwich for a whopping five bucks.

For those of you new to the wonderful world of Banh Mi (Vietnamese for 'bread' or 'sandwich'), you've been missing out. Banh Mi is the genius fusion of French and Vietnamese flavors. When the French occupied Vietnam, they not only changed street names, they introduced the baguette. The Vietnamese, resourceful as they are, stuffed the baguette with french mayonnaise, cucumbers, pickled carrots and jicama, cilantro, chili peppers, soy sauce and an assortment of hams and meats. Though the French soon left Vietnam, the Banh Mi stayed. And our culinary world is better for it.

For the beginner, try the shredded chicken (Banh Mi Ga) or the barbeque pork (Banh Mi Thit Nuong). For the adventurous, try the Vietnamese cold cuts or the fully loaded (Banh Mi Dac Biet) with everything on it. A few tips as you tenderly feed your loved one your six-inch: if Shmoopy Woopy is sensitive to spicy food, take out the chili peppers or order the Banh Mi without them. Otherwise, the day might be ruined by tears and fire out the ears (it wouldn't be the first Valentines like this for Houstonist, though completely unrelated to chili peppers). If you are ordering to-go and would like to heat up the sandwich later for that candlelit dinner, ask for the veggies to be packed separately. When you get home, toast up the baguette with mayo and meat and then add the fresh veggies.

Where to find Banh Mi in Houston? They are inconspicuously hidden all over, but here are some notable ones, recommended for their location, quality and/or price:
* Givrals: 2704 Milam St. (located in Midtown, service not always consistent)
* Parisian Bakery: 8200 Wilcrest (well outside the loop, but they have the best bread, buy 4 get the fifth free)
* Banh Mi Hoang: 1005 St. Emanuel (across the street from Givrals, a true hole-in-the-wall but sandwiches are fresh and good)
* Hong Kong Mall: Corner of Boone and Bellaire, a few shops down from the Hong Kong Supermarket (consistently good and cheap)

Sandwiches cost from $1.50 to $3.00. Now, that's true love.