Baguette Delite in Edison. Photo by Chris Gennone
As I continue to search for the perfect sandwich, I stopped in at Baguette Delite in Edison. Open since 2011, this Vietnamese deli is mostly known for its banh mis, but also offers pho, Asian-style barbecue, and bubble tea.
If there’s any silver lining to these strange times of social distancing, it’s enjoying the small comforts that we always take for granted, like sharing a meal with your friends. There’s nothing like sitting around on old patio furniture in the hot sun, talking over the cicadas, waiting outside an unassuming haven for Vietnamese cuisine. Down a quiet road off of the much busier Route 1, and away from all of the big chains and strip malls, Baguette Delite is easy to miss. It’s more of a roadside stand than a restaurant. But places like this are hidden gems.
Everything at Baguette Delite feels homemade, and to no surprise, most of it is. The glass refrigerated-cabinet at the front counter is filled with pork buns, little jellied cakes and other assorted desserts. Atop the menu board is the restaurant’s banh mi sandwiches, which include traditional combinations like ham and bologna and more exciting options like lemongrass beef. For this visit however, I opted for the barbecue pork and the grilled chicken sandwich.
The first thing I noticed was the toasted homemade bread, which was soft, flaky, and delicious. The barbecue pork banh mi is topped with traditional Vietnamese accoutrements like pickled carrots and daikon, jalapeño slices, a large sprig of cilantro and a cucumber spear on the bottom. The pork itself was slightly dry, but really came to life with a little drizzle of hoisin sauce and Sriracha. It tasted so delicate as crumbles of pork fell onto the wax paper with each bite. But the barbecue glaze had that distinct tang and sweetness which was so satisfying that I didn’t waste any scraps.
Barbecue Pork Sandwich:
Bread: 5/5
Filling: 4/5
Toppings: 4/5
Overall: 4.4/5
Barbecue pork banh mi, left, and grilled chicken banh mi. Photos by Chris Gennone
Next, I tried the grilled chicken sandwich, which included grilled chicken and the all of the same toppings as the barbecue pork. But with this sandwich, the bread is lightly spread with homemade butter, which added a pleasant creamy element. Again, the bread is the real star here. It just has the perfect texture for holding together all of the ingredients. The chicken was smoky and tasty, but also a bit dry as well. But the sauces brought the flavors together beautifully.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich:
Bread: 5/5
Filling: 3.7
Toppings: 4/5
Overall: 3.9/5
Among all of the other Vietnamese restaurants Edison has to offer, Baguette Delite really stands out. I’m a firm believer that the bread is the most important part of any sandwich, and the bread at Baguette Delite is top notch. While the meats were a little dry, they were still tasty and I forgot all about it after adding some hoisin and sriracha. This spot currently offers take out and delivery, but don’t pass up on the opportunity to sit outside and have a meal with your friends, safely of course. Sandwiched between Edison High School and a wide open field, Baguette Delite is hard to find. But hidden gems like these were made to be found.
Between Two Slices Overall Score: 4.3/5
Baguette Delite, 381 Old Post Road, Edison; 732-626-554. Open daily. Currently open for delivery and take out until 8pm Mon-Thurs and open until 9pm Fri-Sun.