Chief Brody’s Banh Mi

So, normally I don’t post pictures about food. Unless it is really incredible food. And I have found such a thing in Chief Brody’s Banh Mi truck. It is parked right now on Grove St at Hillhouse in New Haven.
I have some food issues. The biggest one is that I like it way too much. But, I am also very selective about what I like. Not that I’m Craig Claiborne, Sam Sifton or Frank Bruni, much as I would like to have that job. But I do know what I like, and I REALLY LIKE Chief Brody’s truck. Let me tell you why.
First, and most importantly, the food is incredibly delicious. As I’m sitting at my cube, typing this post, I am enjoying the great interplay of all the tastes and textures of this fine piece of mobile gastronomy. Today’s sandwich is the Berkshire pork with all the standard condiments: pâté, pickled carrot and daikon, funky soy glaze, cilantro, and cucumber, plus the addition of pickled mango and Japanese cracker crush. I am the first to say this sounds like a lot of stuff going on. And anybody who knows me knows how I feel about having more than two things on pizza (a BIG no no). Which I think makes me pretty qualified to say: You just gotta go with it, jump on that ride, grab it with both hands and hold on for the sandwich ride of your life.
There are several proteins available: Berkshire pork, grilled chicken, frittata, vegan sausage. You can get the traditional sandwich or a bowl. Either way you will not, cannot, go wrong.
Second, it’s entrepreneurs like these that bring a tremendous vibrancy to not just New Haven, but any town or city. As you may know, New Haven is currently at war with the food trucks. Don’t get me started on it, just suffice to say New Haven is wrong (mostly) and the trucks are right. But more importantly, the trucks are good for New Haven. They mean jobs. They mean bringing money into the city. They mean making New Haven an even better place to work and live.
So, to all my friends who live in the area, run, don’t walk, to Chief Brody’s Banh Mi truck. Find out of Facebook where they are going to be and make the effort to try a truly wonderful eating experience. Take it from me, you will not be disappointed.

Food was excellent for a food truck. We had bowls: one with chicken, one with pork, both excellent. Kimchi was great; LOVED the cilantro. I don’t eat wheat, so it felt great to have a non-​wheat option (bowl). What really impressed me was the cleanliness. The servers (Owners) really understood that you don’t touch anything BUT food with your gloves. Would go back in a heartbeat!

Cannot compare this guys to much. They really are the only place to get this sandwich I can think of. You need to try one. everything works in harmony. Excellent pork, pickled veg., funky sauces, and that pâté, all pile on the most perfect bread. I’ll be searching for these guys again. Home run!

Greg and Evan are class act guys creating some delicious food! I’ve had 3 or 4 different creations off their menu and they were all outstanding. I always look forward to running into their food truck at lunch. The downside is settling for just one sandwich.

I moved from Brooklyn to Hamden a year ago. Most of my food cravings are covered by the great restaurants in the area. Except banh mi. I’ve tried phở Ethan, but it took forever and the space is dark and dank. There was briefly a spot in new haven near Audubon that was pretty good, but they were very grumpy, seemed to hate owning a business, and closed very quickly. I was so excited to hear about this truck, and went as soon as I heard about it. They’re really friendly, and seem to really be passionate about what they make.
The banh mi was really delicious. I had the vegan one with extra kimchi. It’s not super authentic, but it had the cilantro and pickled veggies. They asked me if I wanted mayo (duh), which was considerate. It had a lot of interesting and fun flavors and textures. To be fair, the bread could have been crustier, and the vegan sausage was not homemade (he told me as such), but I loved it and I will be back and back and back!

Finding Chief Brody’s camped out on York St. on a random afternoon last week was one of luckiest discoveries I’ve made recently. I wasn’t even planning to get lunch at the time, but hey, sometimes you need to recognize when you’re being given a sign. Especially when that sign says «banh mi.»
After ensuring they take credit cards (They do! Success!) I went with a pork banh mi topped with their homemade kimchi and it was amazing. Crunchy, flavorful veggies and cilantro, nicely soured kimchi, tangy aioli, and some of the most deliciously fatty, juicy, salty pork I’ve ever eaten. I don’t claim to be an authority on the authenticity of Vietnamese street food, but when something is this good, I couldn’t care less.
I snooped around a bit later and realized that the owner used to be a chef at my favorite restaurant in New Haven. I’m pleased to see this new venture looks to be just as tasty. There’s not exactly a surfeit of quality Vietnamese food in New Haven, so you really have no excuse not to give them a try.

Chief Brody’s is great! A group of us headed to Black Hog Brewery this weekend to sample some of their beers and luckily Chief Brody’s was there serving up some tasty sandwiches. I went with the bahn mi veg just to try something different and was very impressed. In place of the usual pork, there was an egg omelette of sorts. In addition to the egg, there was a ton of pickled veggies and some dried seaweed, fresh cilantro and a few other things I’m sure I’m missing.
In addition to the tasty food, the two brothers that run this truck are very personable. I chatted them up for a few minutes and they seemed very excited about their food truck and were just all around nice guys.
I really hope to see them succeed and wish they were in MO so I could buy some more delicious sandwiches from them.