LEE’S BAKERY // ATLANTA
RESTAURANT // LEE’S BAKERY
LOCATION // ATLANTA, GEORGIA
MEAL // LUNCH, 2.30pm
THE LOW-DOWN
Delayed flights usually exacerbate the cravings you’ve been anticipating at your final destination, at least in my experience. Lee’s Bakery’s banh mi was no exception to that, and a trip back to Atlanta meant I was able to satisfy that craving. You’ll find Lee’s Bakery amongst the plethora of authentic ethnic cuisines on Buford Highway. It’s nothing fancy. You come for the food. You’ll get your order ASAP. Simple as that.
The grilled pork banh mi (#10)
$5.95 to dine in, $5.25 for take-out. The contents: baguette, marinated pork, cilantro, cucumber, pickled veggies (daikon, carrot), mayonnaise, optional jalapeno.
Now the commentary. The freshly baked baguette is nicely hollowed to hold the contents, which simplifies the eating process given everything is compactly contained. The bread comes out slightly warmed so that it’s just crunchy enough and just soft enough, without being too hard or doughy. The optional jalapeno slice served on the side gives the option for a kick but is also considerate to those that can’t handle it. Honestly I’d recommend putting the jalapeno in regardless; it wasn’t crazy spicy and gave another dimension of flavor.
The menu states the pork is BBQ-grilled, but I needed more detail so I inquired. It’s marinated in several ingredients, such as salt, sugar, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and more (ambigious and high-level, obviously to preserve the mysticism). The pork could have been a bit juicier but the flavor was very right.
Adding sriracha might have jeopardized the authenticity of the banh mi (unsure what is traditional), but without it, the experience wouldn’t have been the same. The pot of the house-made sauce was fragrant and you could smell the freshness of the ingredients. The spice wasn’t overwhelming, but the flavors absolutely made a difference in the banh mi.
Some mayo includes the whole egg, but when I asked whether the mayo was house-made (it is), the waitress specified that it’s made only with the egg yolk. She said that this helps the mayo maintain a certain creamy consistency that doesn’t separate, which is also good for once it’s in the warm, toasty environment of its baguette home. I personally could have done with more mayo, but I think the overall trend is that I was looking for a bit more juiciness in the sandwich. It was delicious nevertheless, and it satisfied the craving.
WHAT I WORE
Striped cotton shorts, ribbed baby tee, green suede sandals (the suede later proved to be a mistake. Thank you for the sudden rain, Atlanta. I forgot how moody you were).
WOULD I GO BACK
It’s a no-fuss spot and you’ll be perfectly full upon your exit. Satisfy your next grilled pork banh mi craving at Lee’s Bakery, and if you’re a larger group, there’s a Buy 5, Get 1 Free special. Which I guess doesn’t necessarily require a larger group…
