Hughie’s Tavern & Vietnamese Grille

The spicy and flavorful Banh Mi Burger pairs well with Southern Star Buried Hatchet Nitro Stout.

I recently noticed a little dive called Hughie’s Tavern & Vietnamese Grille while driving down W. 18th Street near Ella Boulevard in the Lazy Brook/Timbergrove area. As I walked in the door of this former Dairy Queen with a cozy pub setting, I saw numerous blackboards filled with the day’s offering of craft beers. The owners came to this country in the early 1980s after a long scary journey from Communist-torn Vietnam. They created a unique hybrid of classic Vietnamese cuisine with an American twist, adding in over 20 craft beers on tap from local favorites such as Lone Pint, Buffalo Bayou and Karbach breweries. They serve authentic Vietnamese dishes such as banh mi sandwiches and vermicelli bowls. Hughie’s for lunch is quite a treat. I suggest pairing their Banh Mi Burger, freshly ground chuck patty topped with crunchy Vietnamese vegetables, with a half-pint of Southern Star Buried Hatchet Nitro Stout.

I was going to order a traditional banh mi sandwich, but my eyes focused on the Banh Mi Hamburger that was front and center on the menu. I thought: the best of both worlds. It was breathtaking. Hand-formed, house-ground, Angus beef, topped with all the classic banh mi vegetables – shredded pickled carrots, cucumbers, sliced fresh (potent) jalapeños, leafy lettuce – accompanied evenly melted cheddar cheese and Vietnamese mayonnaise and topped by a nicely grilled and fluffy bakery bun. A side of seasoned batter fries complemented the hamburger. Eagerly taking my first bite, I was greeted with a myriad of flavors and some spicy overtures as the jalapeños hit my tongue. While not a place I expected to order a hamburger, Hughie’s made quite the first impression.