“The 2022 James Beard Award Semifinalists

Emerging Chef (Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water )

Casey Felton, Banh Oui, Los Angeles”

“Looking for a quick, delicious grab-and-go lunch? Banh Oui has reasonably priced, well-built Vietnamese banh mi, plus some excellent saucy chicken wings if sandwiches aren’t enough.”

“Banh mi is an edible record of the French occupation of Vietnam. But at the 4-year-old Banh Oui, Japanese-American chef Casey Felton weaves in even more far-flung elements.”

“Banh Oui made the jump from a mobile operation to a brick and mortar restaurant in Hollywood over two years ago. Their signature Banh Mi sandwiches are loaded with fresh, tasty ingredients that keep customers coming back for more. The marriage of Vietnamese and French cuisine has become a Hollywood success story.”

“How often do you find an award-nominated chef selling sandwiches in an undistinguished strip mall in Hollywood? Probably not often but it’s L.A. and great food can be found in every hood if you look. In the case of Banh Oui, a tiny shop with a few seats inside and out, both the “just hungry” and fanatic foodies are discovering Casey Felton’s interpretation of banh mi, the popular Vietnamese sandwich.”

“For starters, the insides of the baguettes here are always fluffy and soft, with a crunchy exterior. Chicken liver oozes out of the sides at even the gentlest touch. And fillings aren’t typical—they’ve got chicken katsu, fried rock shrimp, sous vide duck breast, and loads of vegetarian options.”

“The menu starts with banh mi, of course, but it jumps around the globe in Felton’s LA-raised and James Beard-nominated hands, covering breakfast burritos, lemon pepper tofu bites, and a selection of seasonal specials like yakisoba with bacon. Felton tends to use her multicultural perspective to create balance across the menu; so there is nuoc cham on the burger, poblano tofu cream in the soba salad, and fish sauce with the caramelized Brussels sprouts.”

“This tiny Hollywood strip mall shop is the home of James Beard-nominated chef Casey Felton, whose mouth-watering Vietnamese banh mi (listed as banh oui on the menu) integrate ingredients from all over the world. Served on French rolls and typically gussied up with pickled vegetables and homemade chicken liver pate, the modern Vietnamese sandwiches are the star of the show here, though you can also find salads, fries and an excellent burger on the menu.”