The bread is key— 163 Bahn Mi

163 Vietnamese Sandwich opens at 7:30 in the morning. Why would a sandwich shop need to open so early? To prepare fresh rolls, crunchy on the outside, like a pillow in the middle.

They're stuffed with Vietnamese-style barbecue chicken. Dark meat only that’s salty but cut by the sweet sauce. Most sub-shops get their vegetables pre-sliced and packaged, 163 cuts them fresh—A quarter-cucumber, shaved carrots, onions, and raw cilantro.

The owner of a business may tell you a beautiful story of its creation. How one person risked their livelihood because they believed in their product. When I asked about the opening of the restaurant, the owner told me, “it’s a long time ago,” and walked off to complete a more important task.

Some days ring out in history. July 4, 1776, the birth of a country. January 27, 1880, the invention of the lightbulb. May 8, 1945, V-E Day. 

And some days we remember for the worse—September 13, 2018, the death of the five-dollar footlong.

It was a beautiful thing, a sandwich that rivaled the price of the subway ride to pick it up. Unfortunately, it tasted like you’d trade it for a subway ride. Enter 163 Vietnamese Sandwich.

A quality sandwich at Subway’s price point, and you don’t even have to support a pedophile. 

Cash only. A trip to 163 could turn into a hellscape in a heartbeat if you forget cash, watching your friends enjoy the sandwich without you.

66 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02111