Banh Mi Cafe - Bandar Puteri (Puchong)

By chance, I stumbled upon Banh Mi Cafe while at trying to needle out if there's any worthy Vietnamese eatery, somewhere within my reach, not too far from Shah Alam. All turned out as exciting and trilling as I expected. Unbelievable true, as though the owner read my mind for me to come over for a complimentary on-the-house food blast. Thank you. Roping in my Chinese friend, I actually arrived way earlier before they were ready to welcome customers. So, I decided to have a hot drink at one of the eateries within this few rows of shop-lots, prior to walking into Banh Mi Cafe at about 11.15am.  

Banh Mi Cafe is a corner lot, decked up as a typical Vietnamese eatery. In fact, you will feel as if you have walked into one of those eateries in real time Vietnam. How aptly are the dark tables and stools and giving you option between dining outside or inside. Once we were seated, since there was some sort difficulty due to the different communication lingo between my language and the staff who attended to us, I went along by agreeing that my lunch partner should do the calling of the dishes. Quite an extensive menu, sincerely, and if you are first timer in Banh Mi Cafe, you will, I believe, flip the pages of the menu over and over before deciding on which dishes you should opt for. Ban Mi Cafe, mind you, has already been featured by the press, they sure have made their name and presence known amongst near and far away customers.

Our early lunch started off with a rice dish. Fluffy rice teamed alongside stir fried beans, leafy vegetable minced pork soup and braised lemongrass chicken (RM7.00). Simply stir fried beans garlic was a simple delightful crunch, whereas minced pork and leafy veggie soup was another pleasing simple slurp and chicken in claypot, tender chicken in tadbit of light runny dark and lemongrass scented sauce was a genuine representation of a home style humble dish.

Next we tackled the sweet and sour pork ribs (RM8.00). Succulent and easily chewable pork pieces, cooked in a similar style as the claypot chicken, can't be faulted. Honestly, for me, not to say I didn't enjoy the earlier chicken dish, pork ribs however made a lasting impact. Nothing over the top, just mild tastes, yet it did tickle my tastebuds.

Consequently, we tucked into the mini pancakes, paired with a tangy sweet light chilli dip and salad leaves (RM7.00). Impressively attractive and impressively elevated as well, I just so love this Vietnamese style of eating. Pancakes wrapped in salad leaves, a little drizzle of sauce atop and then, you just take bites of its crunchy and munchy texture.

Of course, any Vietnamese meal for the matter can't be complete without their customary authentic Vietnamese rolls. Tucked/filled with vegetables and fresh prawns, eaten after dipping into the sweet-spicy thick brown sauce, peanuts and chopped red chillies atop, who in the right frame of mind, tell me please, will debate on this authentic, akin must have Vietnamese dish. Vietnamese roll is definitely a genuine and healthy true calling appetizer or starter.

By the time the French baguette (Banh Mi Thit Heo Nuang (RM7.00) arrived, I was stuffed to the maximum. Still, such a waste if I don't take at least a mouthful. An assortment of ingredients, including bacon, coriander leaves and a special light soy dressing in French bread, the first few bites revealed that this dish its the hearty and filling pride of Banh Mi Cafe.

Sipping into the Vietnamese coffee which was raved by my lunch partner, she appreciated its bitter-sweet tastes, whereas I got busy with digging into Vietnamese Che Ba Ba/Ice Kacang. A concoction of coconut milk, red beans, peanuts, black glass jelly and pandan jelly noodles. Not overly sweet, this Vietnamese chilled dessert-cum-drink was a soothing burst for ending my meal.

In summary, Banh Mi Cafe must be reckoned for their reasonably priced, favourable authentic Vietnamese cuisine, also for their attentive customer service and I bet you won't have any issue locating it. Make a left turn once you notice Columbia Hospital, but parking can be quite messy if you come over during peak time. Maybe, park a little further and walk up?

Thank you Banh Mi Cafe.