Exploring Ethnic Foods
Vietnamese
The roots of the Vietnamese community in Lincoln go all the way back to 1975 when 5,500 immigrants settled in Lincoln. Their arrival started the growth of a community that is now thriving. There are several Vietnamese and oriental restaurants and grocery stores in Lincoln, the oldest of which is the Oriental Market on 27th Street.
Báhn Mi
(Bun-Mee)
Banh Mi is the Vietnamese term for bread. The sandwich is a Vietnamese take on the traditional French sandwich. The sandwich replaces butter with mayonnaise and introduces cilantro, fresh chilies and pickled vegetables.
The sandwich gained popularity in the streets of Saigon. Once Saigon fell in 1975, Vietnamese refugees brought the sandwich to Europe and the Americas where it grew popular and became an international sensation.
Our Recreation
Bánhwich Café
Bánhwich Cafe specializes in Vietnamese sandwiches (Báhn Mi) and Bubble Tea. They have more than 17 styles of sandwiches, such as Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai and vegetarian. It is located in the Saigon Plaza, right next to Pho Factory (north of 27th and Vine).
Little Saigon Asian Grocery Store
Located along North 27th Street in Lincoln, Nebraska, Little Saigon is a family-owned Asian market that has catered to the culinary needs of the community for the past 25 years. Walking into the store is like taking a trip to another continent. One look around reveals a variety of unique snacks, sauces and treats. Ever tried shrimp-flavored chips or needed some fresh chicken feet? Little Saigon has you covered.
One could spend hours exploring the shelves of this unique store. The store has a huge variety of products including an aisle for dishware and cooking utensils used in Asian cuisine. During our trip to Little Saigon, the store received a shipment of fresh produce. The employees all rushed to help unload mountains of boxes, embodying the saying that “many hands make light work.” We waited with the rest of the market regulars as the fresh produce was loaded into the bins. The employees helped us find our ingredients, going as far as to search out the boxes with the daikon to help us complete our ingredient list.
