Vietnamese Banh Mi Around the World

Vietnamese bánh mì has made its presence felt and is beloved in places like Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, the UK, the Czech Republic, Germany, the USA, and beyond.

Bánh mì traces its roots back to the French baguette. In the 1950s, Vietnamese people began adapting the recipe to suit their tastes, blending it with local ingredients. The bread was made softer, with a crispy crust, and filled with a variety of ingredients such as grilled pork, chicken, pâté, egg sauce, meatballs, eggs, and more.

Over time, Vietnamese bánh mì has been repeatedly praised by international media as “the world’s best street food” and “the world’s best sandwich.” Today, it has followed Vietnamese communities across the globe, becoming one of the iconic symbols of Vietnamese cuisine.

Le Petit Saigon, Hong Kong

Le Petit Saigon is a Vietnamese restaurant located at 16 Wing Fung Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. It offers three types of bánh mì. The first is filled with stewed pork, pork rolls, shredded pork, chicken liver pâté, cucumber, cilantro, and chili. Next is the chicken bánh mì, featuring shredded chicken, chicken liver pâté, pickled vegetables, cucumber, green onions, cilantro, and chili sauce. Lastly, there’s a vegetarian option. Each bánh mì is priced at 88 HKD (over 260,000 VND).

The store’s head chef, Theign Yie Phan, shares that she eats bánh mì every day without fail. She highlights the perfect balance of the hot, crispy crust, the rich flavor of the meat, the refreshing crunch of cucumber, and the tangy pickled vegetables as what makes this dish so special.

On Hong Kong’s food-sharing platform Open Rice, the restaurant has earned a 4/5-star rating. Many visitors describe the bánh mì as having a crispy exterior with a soft, moist interior, with each filling offering a distinct yet harmonious flavor. The pork bánh mì paired with Vietnamese iced coffee with minimal sweetness is deemed a perfect combination.

Bánh Mì Kitchen, Hong Kong

Ranked among the top eight bánh mì spots in Hong Kong by SCMP, Bánh Mì Kitchen was founded by Ryan Cheng, a chef born and raised in Australia. After working in Ho Chi Minh City and falling in love with Vietnamese cuisine, Ryan decided to bring bánh mì to Hong Kong.

Located at 5 Li Yuen Street East, the restaurant serves four types of bánh mì: cold cuts, grilled pork, chicken, and vegetarian. It also offers Vietnamese iced milk coffee and fresh spring rolls.

Bánh Mì Phượng, Seoul, South Korea

Bánh Mì Phượng, originally from Hội An, is a culinary brand lauded by international media. The late famous American chef Anthony Bourdain once called it “the world’s best sandwich.”

In May 2019, Bánh Mì Phượng officially opened a branch in the Yeonnam area of Mapo District, Seoul. The restaurant’s décor reflects Hội An’s charm with yellow walls, lanterns, paper flowers