Xe May Sandwich Shop
“Super Cub Classic, you have ruined me for all future banh mi's. Bread was warm, crusty, toasty and not too thick.”
“Not exactly traditional as compared to sandwiches I've had at small sandwich shops in chinatown but still delicious–especially the Hog.”
“The lemongrass chicken Bon Me sandwich on wheat baguette was delicious and I had lamb taco as the appetizer.”
Xe May Sandwich Shop
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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I really needed some fresh air to clear my head so I took a walk down to Xe May to grab a quick dinner. The storefront is easy to miss since it's in the basement level of an apartment building and the stairs are quite steep; there is no storefront sign either, so after double checking the address I had to double check the sandwich board too just in case.
There isn't much of a place to dine-in, so I'd definitely recommend ordering your food to go, or to just get it delivered. Also, the ventilation in the store isn't great, so you'll probably end up leaving smelling like grease anyway.
I asked the guy behind the counter for a recommendation and he suggested the Super Club Sandwich, which was excellent! I was pleasantly surprised by how big the sandwich was (about 12 inches from end to end), and it was stuffed to the brim with pickled veggies and BBQ pork. The pork was flavorful and tender, the veggies were crisp and fresh (as fresh as pickled veggies could taste anyway), and the pate was literally the perfect icing on the proverbial cake. I can't even tell you how quickly I devoured the entire sandwich…and I didn't regret it one bit.
Next time I'll make sure to stop by around lunch to grab the lunch special!
Tried the Lam'bretta, which is a Banh Mi varietal with lamb coconut curry instead of the traditional pork. All of their sandwiches come topped with delicious pickled carrots, a lightly spiced cucumber, and daikon, plus a spicy mix-in of jalapenos +/- sriracha +/- chili garlic (all 3 is called extra spicy and if you like spicy, I recommend it- not overwhelming but definitely a kick).
Having been to Vietnam, I still have yet to fine the soft baguette banh mi I fell in love with there, but this is nonetheless a delicious substitute with some added variety. I also recommend going from 12-4 on the weekdays for the lunch special where you can add a snack (wish it was something Vietnamese- it's just Nature Valley or Lays) and a drink (major plus- can get Basil Limeade Fizz, Cold or Hot Coffee, amongst others). The guy who took my order didn't even offer the lunch special or even let me know that I could have gotten a fresh drink instead of a canned one- was kind of annoyed and also glad I read the Yelp reviews in advance.
Yummy banh mi sandwiches. I thought the highlight of their sandwiches were the quality of their meats. They tasted fresh, homemade and higher quality than other banh mi's that I have had. Their pickled cucumber slices were interesting, and yummy. I love their spicy sauce, which added a wonderful punch to the sandwiches. My main suggestion would be to have more pickled vegetables in the sandwich. Considering how rich and flavorful the meats in their classic sandwich are, more vegetables would balance it out.
Other thing to note is that their sandwiches keep pretty well. I have had it both freshly made and 9 hours after a flight to the west coast. The bread didn't get soggy. I would, however, recommend toasting it in the oven if you wait to eat it later.
It's still good, and the flavors persist well.
One of the best banh mi sandwiches I've had! Xe May is an unassuming little shop in the E Village and I mean little. There were three stools and a couple of sections of short countertop for eating in. The girl working the counter was very friendly. She suggested her favorite, The Hog, which I ordered. My wife ordered the Super Cub Classic. We also got an order of Summer Rolls. They have a $10 lunch special that includes a sandwich, drink and snack. The snacks were a granola bar or a bag of chips, not exactly traditional Vietnamese, but a good price considering the sandwiches alone are $7-8.
The Summer Rolls were what I would normally call shrimp spring rolls. They were very fresh ingredients wrapped in rice paper, on the small side but very fresh and tasted great.
The sandwiches are huge. The Hog is made with grilled pork. The Super Cub Classic has BBQ pork, head cheese, pork roll and pate. It's basically what most banh mi places call the special with traditional cold cuts. One of my main criteria for banh mi is a high veggie to meat ratio. The wonderful flavors of picked carrot and daikon combined with cilantro and cucumber are what I look for. The banh mi at Xe May nailed the ratio. They shred their carrots, instead of the usual matchstick cut, so they are more 'pickley.' And they put on a lot. I posted a picture of my sandwich in cross section. As much or more veggies as meat! I ordered my sandwich what they called Spicy, which means they add Sriracha and jalapeños. It was perfect, on the spicy side so no need to add Sriracha. I had a bite of my wife's Super Cub and it was also excellent.
The sandwiches were very reasonably priced at $8 for The Hog, $7.50 for the Super Cub. They were excellent tasting. The fact that they are pretty big is a bonus because most of my favorite places serve them smaller and cheaper. My daughter lives in the E Village and I'm sure to return to Xe May on my next trip here.
3.5 stars.
The place is tiny, and has only a handful of stools to sit down. However, helpful Kim makes you feel home, and is willing to patiently describe the different sandwiches and favorites. Very good service. 🙂
I got here with a friend and tried:
Super club classic: ok, but the pate taste is just a hint; not my favorite combo of flavors.
Hog: very good indeed; the grilled pork is mouthwatering, and goes well with the fried scallions and scallion oil.
Overall, I could see myself going back. 🙂
Wow… I truly f*cked up my initial review of this place from 4 years ago. I'm sorry Xe May; but that's just life, being misjudged on but one facet in your repertoire, resulting in banishment… to never be given a chance to prove yourself and show that you do indeed possess the right "stuff." Whew… don't those sentiments hit close to home.
*ahem*
Now that that's out of the way… honestly, I've been here a number of times in that span, opting only to go with the classic "cub" sandwich. After all, when I want banh mi and I'm in that part of town, I usually want the old standard (with the cub being the closest version this joint has, as far as OG banh mi are concerned). However, this past Sunday, I decided to do something different. I went down the menu, and decided to treat myself to "The Hog." It was truly a beautiful thing.
What's to say about "The Hog.." well, if the name wasn't blunt enough, it contains pork. Succulent grilled pork, between the two crispy pieces of bread, and dripping pork fat/scallion oil/grease from the fried shallots. Pretty much the masterwork of this place. And they made it spicy with some strategically placed jalapeno slices. The joy I felt after I took the first bite… and the sorrow that consumed me upon finishing the sandwich… *sigh*
At least this writer can take solace in the fact that "The Hog" is just a subway/car/bicycle ride and $8 (plus tax) away. Just take my money now.
I was around the area, and was craving for bahn mi so badly. Did a Yelp search and this one was the nearest and had a lot of good reviews. I ordered the super classic bahn mi & a viet coffee. The bread was spectacular, but I thought the sandwich was alright (not authentic). It was lacking in ingredients (not much meat or veggies). I was so use to eating the usual good bahn mi's (Ba XuYen, Thanh Da, Bahn Mi Saigon, etc) that I was very disappointed after eating here. The sandwich also was not that flavorful – felt like eating a lighter version of bahn mi as it had limited meat w/ lots of shredded carrots. The viet coffee was not the best I have tried also. However, their customer service is outstanding.
Being Vietnamese myself, I do hold my Banh Mi sandwiches to a higher standard. I've ordered from Xe May several times more specifically the Super Club Sandwich.
Bread – When it comes to the Banh Mi Bread, I'm looking for a crispy fresh crunch. I would say this came to a B+ on that criteria. The bread was a tiny stale in certain places and it wasn't consistent each time I ordered.
Filling – The special meat that was used in the filling of the sandwich wasn't bad. I could use a little more of the pickled vegetables.
Overall, Xe May will satisfy people who are not familiar with how a Banh Mi is supposed to taste but it will do. I would recommend for a quick bite with my non Vietnamese friends but I wouldn't recommend for the natives.