Ideally eaten for breakfast or brunch, "banh mi xiu mai", pork meatballs in hot gravy sauce with crispy bread, is a distinctive dish in Da Lat, a resort town in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.
Pork meatball and pork skin in "banh mi xiu mai"
Though there are many places that offer this dish, Vi Nguyen, born and raised in Da Lat, refers to a small food stand on Hoang Dieu Street.
"Banh mi xiu mai here is served within seconds by a lovely local lady, the sauce is very greasy and savory. She also sells Vietnamese bread (banh mi) that many locals come by to pick up before work every day. The food stall only opens until noon."
You can find the small food stand, Banh mi 79, on the sidewalk every morning from 6.30am. A banh mi xiu mai costs VND15,000 (US$0.7).