Worth Leaving Town For: District 1 Banh Mi and Bar
You might think with the second Banh Meetup happening soon, I might cool it on banh mi for a while so I don't get sick of it.
Not possible.
I ate banh mi for dinner five nights a week for a year and really only stopped because my work situation changed and I no longer need to eat dinner at my desk. Banh mi are great and I still love finding new places to try them.
Saigon Gardens in Marysville had become a regular pre-movie spot and it was a bummer when it changed owners and cuisines. Nothing against the new Chinese restaurant Good Taste—a worthy successor—but Vietnamese will always be my favorite. That's why I was thrilled to learn the restaurant's former bar was built out as a separate space, completely remodeled, and is now District 1 Banh Mi and Bar. Saigon Gardens owner, Kathy, said that a fire in her bar was a setback she was able to turn into an opportunity by creating a new, unique concept.
District 1 from the parking lot // Christopher Bragg
You can't really see in from the parking lot and the space is a wonderful surprise when you walk in.
The dining room // Christopher Bragg
If everyone in your group is 21, you can sit in the spacious bar.
Darts, pull tabs, pool tables, Golden Tee, and board games await // Christopher Bragg
I stopped in on my way to see Happy Death Day 2U (so good!) and was excited to find fries on the menu. Lots of Vietnamese places have fried appetizers, but I'd never seen fries on a menu before. (I know Pochi has them, but I haven't been there yet.) I had a tequila and coke, garlic fries, and the signature District 1 Special banh mi.
Generous portions of Vietnamese ham and bologna plus Chinese BBQ pork stuffed into warm, toasty bread // Christopher Bragg
Whenever there's a signature dish, I order it. They made it difficult to stick to that policy, with so many other great choices like pork belly, Spam and eggs. It was incredible, with a bun toasted just enough, fillings and toppings spilling over, and a great variety of flavor from the three meats. The garlic fries have sweet chili oil and lots of cilantro and taste great with or without ketchup.
Unable to stay away long, I asked my pal Kristen if she could go and was back for more five days later. This time I ordered bún thịt nướng, the vermicelli salad bowl with pork. Surprisingly it came as a bún thịt nướng chả giò, the same thing with an egg roll on top. That's not actually on the menu, but it's what I would have ordered if it was.
The nước chấm (dipping sauce) was on the mild side, but this bountiful bowl is still bangin' // Christopher Bragg
I like to order phở and bún with less noodles, but forgot, and there were lots of them. And lots of pork, too. It was a huge, delicious bowl of food that I could barely make a dent in because I helped Kristen with her fries.
Kristen's tasty chicken banh mi // Christopher Bragg
We packed up our leftovers and got tasty drinks at the counter to enjoy on the way home. Vietnamese coffee for her, honeydew milk tea with popping lychee bubbles for me. I originally asked for watermelon and Kathy warned me it's not very good as milk tea. That honesty and product knowledge is invaluable and highly appreciated.
Tragically, we got a flat tire on the way back and I didn't get home for several hours, so I tossed my leftovers. At least that's an excuse to go back.
Not that I need one.
Christopher Bragg works from home in Everett and loves walking, swimming, and cats. You can find him all over town, but only if you keep weird hours and avoid crowds like he does.