The Glasgow Times is on the hunt for the best takeaway lunch spot in the city. We are looking for your recommendations across the city centre, North Glasgow, East End, Southside and West End, and will be judging food based on Value for Money, Taste, Atmosphere, Service and Variety.

Some might call a pilgrimage to the West End for lunch on a sunny Friday a fool's errand. And they may be right.

But what is a best lunch series without a review of one of the world's greatest sandwiches - the banh mi.

The banh mi is a product of Vietnam's colonial history, hailing from the French introduction of the baguette in the mid-19th century.

Glasgow Times:

The sandwich most commonly consists of a French baguette smeared with pate and stuffed with seasoned meat, pickled carrots and daikon, and topped with fresh chillies and coriander.

I've been told that Non Viet Hai on Great Western Road is the place to get one in Glasgow, though important to note that the restaurant's second location on Sauchiehall Street does not serve the dish.

Around 1pm, people were wrapped around the block waiting for some eateries (West Enders love a queue), but Non Viet Hai was relatively quiet.

Discovering the restaurant only takes cash, I phone in to order a banh mi with barbeque chicken en route to an ATM.

I arrive back at the restaurant about 15 minutes later where a friendly waiter lets me know it will be around five more minutes for my food and motions to a table next to the bar where I can sit and wait.

Glasgow Times:

"Would you like to order a drink while you're waiting?" asks another member of staff.

I shake my head and look around. I watch the kitchen clattering with life in the back as three tables wait patiently on their lunch.

At five minutes on the dot, I'm handed my takeaway and return to the office.

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

The banh mi lives up to the hype: fresh baguette, stuffed with barbecue chicken, pickled carrot and daikon, fresh sliced cucumber, chillies and coriander, and topped off with Non Viet's 'special sauces'.

Yes, it is a dream. The Chinese five spice seasoned chicken adds a sweet warmth and the pickles and coriander perfectly cut through any grease.

Not too messy, the napkin level of this lunch was a solid two.

All of this would make for a perfect lunch, but it came at a price to the tune of £9.50 for the lone sandwich with no sides.

 

What's the verdict?

 

Value for Money: 2/5 – I checked out the online menu while retrieving the phone number for Non Viet Hai and saw the banh mi priced at £7.50, so the £2 bump at the restaurant came as a shock. Especially for a dish that is meant to be economical by nature.

Taste: 5/5 – There's a reason the banh mi is often referred to as the best sandwich in the world. It hit every note.

Atmosphere: 3/5 – It was quiet, but loads of bustling in and out of the door by members of staff receiving an order. There were takeaway supplies splayed across the tables I was asked to wait at.

Service: 4/5 – Nice, cordial and efficient.

Variety: 4/5 – I was there for one dish, and one dish only - but Non Viet Hai does a pretty extensive menu of Vietnamese dishes including salads, pho, stir fry, spring rolls, summer rolls etc.

Overall score: 18/25

Non Viet Hai, 609 Great Western Road, Glasgow.

@glasgowtimes We’re testing out lunch spots in Glasgow and sharing our reviews with you as we hunt for Glasgow’s best lunch. Here’s what we thought of Non Viet Hai #glasgowtiktok #glasgownews #glasgowfood ♬ Glowing Sea - Muspace

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Got a suggestion for our next lunch review? Email marissa.macwhirter@newsquest.co.uk.