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While Banh mi is definitely an important part of Vietnamese cuisine, Banh mi Hoi An offers its own delightful take on it.
Different from any kind of sandwich over the world, Vietnamese Banh mi is so popular that any traveler can name it inside their short list of must-try food choices when they come to Vietnam. Banh mi can be found anywhere across this nation with a vast variety of flavors that are so tempting and yummy. Hoi An, Saigon and Hanoi are the top destinations to find a perfect Banh mi with distinguished fillings and taste. In this article, we will focus on the central part of Vietnam and suggest the stalls which sell the best Banh mi in Hoi An.
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1. What is special about Hoi An Banh mi?
A typical Banh mi cannot miss a Vietnamese baguette (well yes, it is French-inspired but we think Vietnamese one is much lighter with not too much soft part), any kind of protein, herbs, pickled veggies, and sauces. As you may experience the five flavors of sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness, and spiciness perfectly blended together in a loaf of Banh mi Hoi An, it is widely considered as the most delicious and unique Banh mi. Notably, Hoi An bread was referred to be "the king of sandwiches in the world" by CNN channel (USA) in 2018.
Although the ingredients filled inside Banh mi in Hoi An vary depending on the street seller and restaurant, some common ones include pork cooked in different ways (meatball, char siu,...), beef, pate, fried eggs, nem, fish balls, tuna, etc. To counteract the fatty flavor of the fried ingredients, locals commonly add cucumber slices and shredded pickled carrot or papaya to Banh mi. Additionally, raw herbs are fundamental to add more freshness including onion, sweet basil, and peppermint. Not to mention, the sauce makes the flavor burst. It is almost the main secret of each stall because of their different recipes. It often has the base with fish sauce, soy sauce, mayonnaise, honey, butter, green onion and garlic and taste is combined perfectly among sweetness, saltiness, or sourness.
2. Where to find the best banh mi in Hoi An?
You can find so many stalls selling Banh mi Hoi An but here are just my top 7 best Banh mi Hoi An that we think are popular to tourists.
2.1. Banh mi Madame Khanh - Banh mi Queen
- Address: No. 115, Tran Cao Van Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An
- Opening hours: 6.30 am - 7.30 pm
- Price range: 25,000 - 30,000 VND/ loaf
Madam Khanh has been serving Banh mi for more than 30 years, and she has become renowned for her delicious sandwiches. The Banh Mi Queen Hoi An specializes in vegetarian and non-vegetarian Banh mi filled with roasted chicken or pork, pate, Vietnamese sausage, well-seasoned fried eggs, handmade pickles, papaya, carrots, herbs, chili sauce, and soy sauce.
It's entertaining to watch the women make sandwiches with various components. Come inside and take use of the electric fans if you'd want to relax while staying cool. You should make a table reservation in advance and arrive on time because seating may be full during busy tourist seasons. In contrast to the numerous Banh mi vendors found all throughout Hoi An, the restaurant also provides its customers with an English menu that includes pricing that is transparent.
Due to its tasty sandwiches, the family-run eatery Banh Mi Queen is currently regarded as one of Hoi An's top Banh mi choices. It is still ideal for individuals with limited time because it is only a few walks from the ancient town's center. The waiting time is not too long since they serve really fast, so don't worry you are missed!
2.2. Banh mi Phi
- Address: 88 Thai Phien Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City
- Opening hours: 8;00 am – 8:00 pm
- Price: 25,000 VND/loaf
Thai Phien Street is another culinary hotspot that offers a range of food, from regional delicacies to western-styled restaurants, beside the Hoi An Ancient Town. Therefore, Banh mi appears to be a fuzzy part of this area's culinary collection. However, Phi Banh Mi turns this neighborhood sandwich into one of the street's shining stars.
Considering that the other Banh mi veterans in town have been operating for decades, Phi Banh Mi has just been around since 2013. Phi Banh Mi, on the other hand, has surpassed or equaled their popularity among locals, expatriates, and tourists in the short time since its establishment with excellent review on TripAdvisor.
The stall is headed by Phi and his wife Tau, who are located at Phi’s parent’s home just north of the Old Town. Phi provides somewhat smaller Banh mis for less money than other booths, making it ideal for a light supper at any time of the day. Slices of five-spice braised pork belly, Vietnamese sausage, pate, cucumber, slaw, and herbs are included in their typical Banh mi. Although not drastically different from other stores, its taste is just well-balanced. They also provide a fantastic selection on their Western menu, including the delectable option to add avocado to your Banh mi for a modest additional fee. Two excellent vegetarian Banh mi with cheese or seared tofu are also available as healthy options.
2.3. Banh mi chay Le Hoi (Vegan Banh mi)
- Address: 03 Nguyen Hue Street (near Hoi An Tourism Information Center)
- Opening hours: 7 to 10 a.m
- Price of a Banh mi: Vegetarian Banh mi -15.000 VND
In contrast to other Hoi An cuisine havens that claim to serve the greatest Banh mi, Banh Mi Chay Le Hoi focuses on Banh mi with vegetarian-friendly ingredients. This little street vendor sells components that resemble meat and are made of soy sauce, cool jam, wheat, and rice powders.
Here is good news! Despite the fact that practically many vegan restaurants only operate on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, Ms. Hoi runs her booth every day, so anytime you feel like having a non-meat Banh mi but still yummy, come to Banh mi Le Hoi. You may need to drink something. Let's choose soy milk (with or without ice). Or if you want to enjoy your Banh mi like the way natives do, look into a nearby coffee shop/vendor to get a Vietnamese traditional coffee.
2.4. Banh mi Ba Bua
- Address: No. 57, Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hoi An
- Opening hours: 7.00 am - 8.00 pm
- Price range: 10,000 - 20,000 VND/ loaf
I bet you have never heard of Banh mi served with sticky rice. If yes, then you must have tried Banh mi Ba Bua because this is what makes this place stand out in the city of Banh mi. Is it the Banh mi made of sticky rice? No, it is the filling made from sticky rice but served separately in a bowl so that you can stuff it yourself or eat the way that you want. The people in Hoi An in particular and Central Vietnam in general prefer enjoying Banh mi with sticky rice.
Moreover, you can order traditional filling to be served aside if you are not into sticky rice, but hey, we recommend you should try their signature, it’s worthy.
2.5. Banh mi Bich
- Address: 51 Phan Chau Chinh, Minh An, Hoi An
- Opening Hours: 07:00 am - 09:30 pm
- Cost: 25,000 VND (1 USD) – 30,000 VND (1.30 USD)
Mrs. Bich's Hoi An bread is renowned among tourists for its uniquely prepared pâté. This distinct characteristic sets the shop's bread apart. The fillings in the bread are incredibly flavorful and harmonize perfectly. The bread's interior is fragrant with a rich, well-balanced sauce. All of these elements combine to create a perfect Hoi An bread that will leave a lasting impression on visitors.
The goal of this stand is not to dominate the local Banh mi market or become as prestigious as some of the other food vendors. They are there to give labours the nourishment they require. They provide a decent range of options to satisfy your appetites, including pork, pate, rotisserie chicken, eggs, sausages and more.
2.6. Banh mi Lanh
- Address: No. 430, Cua Dai Street, Hoi An
- Opening hours: 6.00 am - 10.00 am
- Price range: 10,000 - 25,000 VND/ loaf
Another location that has gotten a lot of love from both residents and tourists is Banh Mi Lanh. Here, the Banh mi is roasted over a charcoal fireplace to give it a distinctive flavor. Even though this stall's area is neither lavish nor expansive, it is because of its simplicity that many customers are able to sense the tranquility and gentleness of the old town.
Such Hoianians are familiar with this long-standing street vendor thanks to its char siu pork sandwiches. The char siu method of cooking was historically introduced to Hoi An by Cantonese, and Ms. Lanh is just one of hundreds of locals who have first learned how to use it to make sandwiches today.
2.7. Banh mi Phuong
- Address: No. 2B, Phan Chau Trinh street, Hoi An city
- Opening hours: 6 am – 10 pm
- Price: from 20,000 to 35,000 VND/loaf
Anthony Bourdain said, "This is truly a symphony of bread," after sampling Phuong bread in Hoi An, Vietnam, in 2009. So there must be something special about this Banh mi brand to wow this world-renowned chef.
The owner of Banh Mi Phuong in Hoi An, Ms. Phuong, has more than 20 years of expertise in manufacturing millions of Banh mi to satisfy both residents and tourists from across the world. Although the menu at the restaurant is abundant in options, including 20 types of fillings, you should first enjoy Banh mi dac biet (special Banh mi), the signature of Banh mi Phuong.
Without a doubt, Banh Mi Phuong is well-known for its fantastic sandwiches. But that's not all; you can also discover various regional dishes on the last pages of the menu, including Cao lau noodles, Com ga (chicken rice), or Banh xeo (sizzling pancake). There are also Western meals and cold beverages offered.
It's quite tough to find anything unpleasant with the sandwich, even though the stand doesn't have a unique selling proposition or noteworthy feature to distinguish itself. Their pate option is one of the intriguing ingredients. It has a wetter texture than some other shops in Hoi An, which makes eaters not feel dry in their mouths.
Well, we guess this is it, the best Banh mi in Hoi An that we want to share with you in hundreds of options in Hoi An. If you have any nicer recommendations, don’t hesitate to comment and inspire us. Thank you for reading until the end of our article!
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