A new spot for hand-held Vietnamese eats has just launched in Vancouver. Parking regularly at Burrard and Davie streets on the edge of the West End, Camion is a new trailer-style food truck that specializes in Vietnamese street food.
Camion's menu is centred on three staples: banh mi (baguette sandwiches), rolls, and coffee drinks.
Operators of the new food venture on wheels describe their food as follows: "Made more from less, fused with the best parts of other cuisines, united by the diversity of all the regions across the country."
So while they are making traditional banh mi on crusty French bread, some of Camion's options showcase some flavour and ingredient fusion borrowed from other cuisines. The "Classic" banh mi features a variety of meat, including braised pork, Vietnamese ham, sausage, and pate - it's their rendition of the "cold cut" sandwich you may love at your favourite local banh mi spot.
Camion is also serving up a Lemongrass Beef banh mi, as well as one made in the spirit of the Louisiana Po'Boy, with deep-fried shrimp, a green chili sauce, and a Cajun aioli. There's also a fried chicken version and a banh mi that's plant-based, starring portobello mushroom. Of course, the sandwiches come with traditional toppings like pickled daikon and carrot and fresh jalapeño and cilantro.
Another signature Vietnamese eat-with-your-hands item is the roll, which Camion is doing as a fried pork spring roll or a fresh ham salad roll.
To drink, several hot and cold coffee (ca phe) options, including black coffee with or without the creamy sweet addition of condensed milk. Camion is also making a coconut coffee as well as an egg foam hot coffee drink.
Currently Camion is set up Tuesday and Wednesday and Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of Burrard and Davie. You can find their schedule online via StreetFoodApp, or follow them on Instagram at @camioncafeyvr.
