Recently, in Port Washington, a new Vietnamese sandwich shop has opened up called Joju, and from the looks of it, it seems to be a promising addition to the town’s ever-growing number of restaurants.  The chain, which specializes in modern Vietnamese sandwiches, currently has a couple of restaurants in New York City.  A unique part of the menu is the fry section, which offers creative twists on classic french fries.  “Vietnamese cuisine is one of the most creative cuisines and can be applied in fusion cuisine in so many ways,” said sophomore Lauren Young.

One delicious dish of Vietnamese cuisine is the Vietnamese banh mi sandwich.  This sandwich uses various ingredients such as pork loin and a French baguette, which highlights the mix of French and Vietnamese cuisine due to historical events.  

“I’ll be sure to try out this new shop the second it opens up because the sandwiches sound delicious!” said freshmen Dillon Persaud.

Another Vietnamese dish that is very popular is called pho.  Pho is a Vietnamese soup dish created in 1907 that consists of a broth, noodles, herbs, and a type of meat that is usually beef, but can sometimes be chicken.  To make this dish, the meat must be slow cooked until it is very tender, and the broth must be a beef broth for the dish and the rice noodles must be a flat type, otherwise the dish will not work.  When combining these ingredients, a garnish must be added on top because presentation is a very important aspect of Vietnamese cuisine.  When finished, this dish offers so many unique flavors, such as Thai basil or lemongrass, and it really shows Vietnamese cuisine in the best way. 

Joju isn’t the only new exciting restaurant in Port Washington. The new MB Ramen restaurant on Main Street has also entered the culinary scene.  Japanese cuisine is beloved by so many, and the trendy restaurant offers a spin on traditional ramen, such as Tokyo Ramen, or ramen with unique ingredients such as seasoned bamboo.

“Ramen is a very cool, tasty and unique dish, and I eat it all the time,” said sophomore Harrison Tsouratakis. 

The history of ramen is also quite fascinating.   Ramen arrived from Japan after World War II as people were trying to figure out how to make an inexpensive dish.  When they were successful, ramen grew into the major business it is today as a cheap yet tasty option for everyone.  Next time you find yourself in the mood to eat out, keep these two options in mind, and remember the work that goes into preparing the cuisine.