There are a number of things you need to know when opening any sort of restaurant in Ann Arbor. It is a highly competitive and diverse culinary environment sure, but you can maximize your chances of success by finding a niche within a niche – which Paris Banh Mi does very well.
Paris Banh Mi provides just enough of a difference in taste, texture and combination to be a nice breath of fresh air to keep Ann Arbor’s scene vibrant and interesting. The Pate and Pork Roll for example is a sandwich that is super filling. Their strawberry tea is worth trying too — sweet but not too sweet.
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This alternative does a great job in bringing a decidedly Southeast Asian sensibility to a neighborhood where so many other culinary traditions – Mexican, American, Chinese, Korean – have multiple representatives. You can see that in their table setup.
The tables themselves are sturdy and unremarkable. But you can forget about the usual condiments – salt and pepper, soy sauce, salsa. Instead, hoisin sauce, chili pepper and siracha are the complimentary condiments, which both sets the tone for Paris Banh Mi and gives you a good sense of the culture.
The hoisin sauce and siracha are both very welcome editions to the vermicelli noodle bowl. It is good on its own – a familiarly spicy mix of rice noodles, beef, cucumbers and cilantro — which you can chow down on if you aren’t that into spicy food. But if you are, the tabletop condiments are a very welcome edition.
Paris Banh Mi is part of a chain, so this is not exactly a truly indie alternative. However, it provides a great option if you are craving a sandwhich and want to stray from your typical deli order.
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!
