PrintCambodian Sandwich Shop Num Pang Now Open in Union Square
Today marks the opening of Num Pang, the Cambodian sandwich shop ("num pang" being the Cambodian name for "sandwich") by Union Square opened by the team behind Kampuchea Noodle Bar, Ratha Chau and Ben Daitz. Last night we checked out some of their offerings during their soft opening.
Sandwiches are modestly sized—they're built for one person—and are served with sliced cucumber, shredded pickled carrots, cilantro, and chili mayo on semolina bread from Parisi Bakery. Complimentary pickled cabbage mingling with tongue-searing chile peppers comes on the side. Don't make my mistake and eat this before you dig into your sandwich; your sense of taste will be large replaced by a tingling sensation. I do appreciate that there's no skimping on spiciness here though—there are even bottles of Sriracha available in case the chili mayo coupled with the spicy cabbage don't do it for you.
Meatball and pork sandwiches.
We tried the grilled, honey glazed Duroc pork sandwich ($6.75) and Hoisin veal meatballs sandwich ($6.75). Both sandwiches were tasty, although the thinly sliced pork fared better than the round, bulbous meatballs as far as structural integrity went (you have to use your hands to keep the meatballs within their wheaty confines). Being the pork lover I am, I would've liked a little more of it in the sandwich, but it was balanced enough. The tender meatballs made with Jasmine rice, basil, and stewed tomato provided a greater meatiness-to-bread ratio. Although I found the bread top-heavy—too much on top compared to the bottom—I liked its overall flavor and texture and that it was toasted just enough to crispify the thin outer crust and warm up the fluffy innards.
Blood orange lemonade.
Freshly made drinks include iced tea and blood orange lemonade. Perhaps a blood orange Arnold Palmer is in the future?
The small dining space on the second floor overlooks the neighboring parking garage. Not much to look at, but then you should be focusing on your sandwich anyway.
Num Pang
12 E 12th Street, New York, NY 10003 (b/n 5th Avenue and University Place; map)
212-529-3901
numpangnyc.com
Mon. to Thurs., 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Fri., 11:30 a.m. - midnight
Sat., 1 p.m. - midnight
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16 Comments:
yum! can't wait to try this place. (especially the blood orange lemonade!)
darien at 12:57PM on 03/20/09
To repeat, that little tub of purple cabbage looks so harmless; NOT THE CASE. Robyn and I were borderline in tears.
Erin Zimmer at 1:01PM on 03/20/09
need to try this weekend
justcook at 1:45PM on 03/20/09
long slow but calm line. smoke has closed the upstairs dining room. sandwiches tasty but small, esp when you're talking $10+ with lemonade.
ScoreboardGourmet at 1:53PM on 03/20/09
I hope they have the bacon sandwich and the tofu sandwich there. I love the num pang at Kampuchea.
LadyMarmalade at 3:03PM on 03/20/09
Want.
Big B at 4:03PM on 03/20/09
Looks delicious - I must make a visit in the near future. When I eat meatball sandwiches, I prefer that the meatballs are cut in half to preserve the structural integrity.
There is nothing worse than trying to get your mouth around a gargantuan sandwich only to have all the fillings come spilling out the side. I am sure they will work out the kinks, though. I am really drooling over the prospect of blood orange lemonade!
Kismetized at 3:15PM on 03/21/09
i lived in cambodia before. no one there eats sandwiches. not sure what they are selling there. i guess this would be kinda like having a chinese bagel store...nonsensical
jonny at 8:04PM on 03/22/09
^I guess you find most fusion nonsensical? Gotta keep an open mind. When chefs add their home country's take on a different country's cuisine, the results are often delicious.
Big B at 10:23PM on 03/22/09
So jonny, when did you live in Cambodia? Before 1960? 1950? Maybe 1850? Sandwiches on baguettes were already popular in Phnom Penh and other cities in Cambodia by 1995 by my personal observation. I can't speak for dates before that, but I doubt they were introduced for my benefit. Sold from many street carts, especially late at night, mostly to locals, not foreigners.
However I have to say the ones at Num Pang look like they have been very much spruced up for local tastes, which is fine; they may be delicious on their own terms and I look forward to trying them.
I don't know how many people here would go for head cheese and mayo-like spread that's been sitting in the sun for who knows how long, though I sure would ....
chaktomuk at 2:15PM on 03/23/09
Wow, this has me wanting to go home and visit my Mom. My family is Cambodian and I must say, we eat sandwhiches. Growing up I remember having the shrimp, pork, and pate variety.
sbwaire at 12:18PM on 03/24/09
Cambodia has had Num Pang about as long as Vietnam has had Banh Mi, just not as prevalent.
PommeDG at 2:45PM on 03/26/09
I went to Num Pang yesterday, and it lived up to the hype. The pork sandwich was delish, but I was a little disappointed not to get a side of pickled cabbage. I did try the roasted corn that came wrapped in foil with a wedge of lime. My friend ordered the meatball sandwich with an iced tea sweetened with corn silk. It was a little too corny for me. Everything was great, and I’ll probably go back to a meatball sandwich for lunch today. Only thing is that there’s no bathroom in the restaurant—they’re sending customers to the restaurant across the street.
hollyh at 10:51AM on 03/27/09
Catfish sandwich for the win. Seriously.
Emily Koh at 5:14PM on 03/27/09
I tried the Duroc Pork sandwich and was vastly, and sadly, underwhelmed. The combination of the pulled pork and the chili mayo was way too unctuous and heavy for me, and that heaviness combined with the very bready (and salty?) roll created a sandwich that didn't feel great in my mouth and then sat like a stone in my stomach. Especially since I read so many comparisons to Banh Mi sandwiches, which I adore for their light, airy, complex and bright flavors and textures, I was really disappointed by this sandwich. No pickled cabbage came with it - oversight, or menu change?
travels4food at 9:23PM on 04/14/09
@travels4food: Sorry your sandwich-eating experience wasn't very enjoyable! I don't know what's up with the cabbage. Maybe they stopped serving it? I can't say I ate my whole portion; it was so spicy.
roboppy at 12:19AM on 04/15/09