My favorite place to eat in Manhattan is a Cambodian sandwich shop that's taking over the city - here's what it's like
I headed over to Num Pang's NoMad location at 1129 Broadway, which is dangerously close to our offices. Such proximity is a gift and a curse.
It's typically pretty busy, and I headed in around prime lunch time. The space is no-frills and small, but comfortable, with some wild graffiti art on some of the walls.
Despite the crowd, the line moves shockingly fast. It's a good thing I know the menu so well, or I would've been stumped when I got to the register. They offer six regular sandwiches plus a bunch of seasonal specials, along with soups, salads, and both noodle and rice bowls.
Their drink selection is pretty extensive, too – wine, beer, soda, and their amazing freshly-squeezed juices and specialty drinks.
They bottle their own juice drinks, with delicious options like lemon gingerade, sweet mango, blood orange lemonade, black tea, and a lemonade and tea half-and-half.
The wait was just as short, maybe five minutes if that. Depending on the rush and the order, it can take anywhere from four to eight minutes. I chose the peppercorn catfish sandwich and the spicy grilled pork rice bowl. And you have to grab their special hot sauce, too.
And of course, I can never resist the drinks. I went with sweet mango and blood orange lemonade to balance out the tangy and the sweet. The sweet mango juice is smooth and fruity, and it actually tastes like real mango – likely because it really is mango. The blood orange lemonade is refreshingly sour and a touch sweet.
First, the classic Num Pang sandwich. It's why the sandwich mini-empire is celebrated the whole city over. Apart from the meat or protein, the recipe is essentially the same with each sandwich. Every one is encased in a freshly baked semolina baguette with a perfectly crunchy shell and fluffy inside. There is also a quinoa bread option for those who wish it.
I can't have any of their sandwiches without Num Pang's wicked hot sauce. It's vinegary and acidic, but not unpleasantly so. It has a light chili flavor with a sharp and cutting heat that's the perfect addition to every sandwich on the menu. It's delicious as is, but their hot sauce takes the sandwich to the next level.
To see the simple beauty of Num Pang's sandwich, just open it up. Their signature chili mayo is cool yet holds a slow heat tempered by the cucumber slices and the bright cilantro flavor.
Underneath the hot sauce (applied by me) is a mound of pickled carrots atop a huge fillet of catfish lightly glazed with a sweet soy sauce and peppercorn. It's one of the cheapest sandwiches on the menu at $8.75, which is an absolute steal in my opinion.
This is always my go-to favorite here. The catfish is always moist and flaky – perfectly cooked. The sweet soy sauce wonderfully compliments the strong, tangy heat of the hot sauce and chili mayo, all within the substantial baguette. The sandwich size is pretty big, but I always wish it were bigger if only to enjoy it longer.
The grilled pork rice bowl is steaming hot, and the second the top comes off the hypnotic smell of the jasmine rice billows out. The roasted vegetables are outstanding, and everything is lightly drizzled in a chili yogurt and chive lime vinaigrette.
The pork is a tad tough but well seasoned, and while it's certainly spicy, it's a manageable heat made all the more pleasant by the yogurt. And for the huge size, $10.25 is not a bad deal, even in New York City.
Num Pang caters, too. And as a former intern myself, let me wholeheartedly agree with this napkin holder's sentiment.
The sandwiches are a perfect serving for a quick but incredible lunch – and the rice bowls are big enough to save half for later. In a word: perfection.
If Num Pang can manage to break out of the NYC region and hit urban markets elsewhere, they're sure to strike gold. Can Num Pang do it? Absolutely. Will it happen? Here's hoping.
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