Oh my god, there's another bánh mì spot on Bloor — right between Rustle & Still and Lamhan, sitting on the opposite side of the street. You can imagine the anticipation I felt waiting for my sandwich, wondering if it could possibly live up to the two benchmark-setting spots just a block away.
It shares a space with a takeout Japanese maki bowl restaurant. You head up some stairs to find a counter with a few comfortable stools to eat at. I ordered the egg with pâté and pork floss — part of my ongoing egg phase. It takes time to prepare, as it should.
There's a bánh mì mural on the wall to study while you wait, and honestly, just the fact that they've put it there tells you these people take this seriously.
The sandwich arrives on a little wooden tray and looks like a work of art. The first thing you notice is that the egg-and-pork-floss bánh mì comes on a red bun — they use beet juice in the dough. It's stunning.
The bun is warm and very light, with a good crunch giving way to airy dough. The bread is flavourful but gentle. Underneath, there's a generous layer of pâté that makes everything smooth.
The opening bite is a touch bready, but once I reached the heart of the sandwich, we were in bánh mì heaven. There isn't a ton of pickled carrot or cilantro, but there's just enough to add crunch to the soft, creamy, wildly flavourful egg-and-pork-floss carnival going on in my mouth. I can't begin to describe how much I enjoyed it, or how badly I didn't want it to end.
Apparently Bánh Mì Journey is part of a chain, though I have no idea how many locations there are.
Now for the analysis. Does it belong on Bloor Street? Yes, owns its place on Bloor — maybe even sits at the top of the list. I'll hold my verdict until a second visit. But it just might.
Verdict: Maybe Better Than Bloor Street. Pending a Second Visit.
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