Crackling Pork Belly Banh Mi

Last time I dropped by Carter’s Pork Rolls, I was seriously impressed by their BBQ Chicken bánh mì—so I came in with high hopes this time, especially after hearing good things about their crackling pork.

But honestly, I walked away a bit let down. Maybe my expectations were too high.

To be fair, the crackling itself was great—super crunchy and full of flavour. The meat, though, could’ve been a bit more tender. It wasn’t as juicy as I expected, and the overall flavour didn’t hit quite the same way the BBQ chicken did. That one was bold, sticky, and packed with flavour, while this felt a bit more muted in comparison.

Pickled carrots were still solid—crunchy and fresh—but the cucumber stood out a bit too much this time. It was cut thicker than I’d like and overpowered some of the more subtle elements. I also couldn’t really feel the chilli this time around, which was a bit of a shame.

So yeah, not a bad bánh mì by any means—but I definitely prefer their barbecue meats. If I’m going crackling pork belly again, I think I’d rather pair it with coconut rice instead.