We are on a quest to find the best banh mi in town. With so many Vietnamese restaurants around, it is a joy to find authentic fare in the city for pho, rice noodles and spring rolls, but the challenge is finding a really good banh mi.
That‘s all changed now with recent openings over the past few years, and we‘ve carefully selected nine top spots to curb your cravings. It’s time to give this Vietnamese sarnie the justice it deserves – let banh mi shine!
The best banh mi in Hong Kong
Ăn Chơi
Rated the best Vietnamese restaurant in Foodie Forks 2024, An Choi is serious business for their Hanoi-inspired bánh mì, baked in-house and using imported fillings. The đặc biệt special (HKD80) has pork floss, belly, pate, and cold cuts slammed into the sandwich for a pig-heavy bite. Their fish cake (HKD70) and vegan jackfruit (HKD70) banh mi are worth ordering for herby and tangy flavours.
Ăn Chơi, G/F, 15-17 Mercer Street, Sheung Wan, 5286 1517
Banh Mi Nem
The new viral banh mi store in Wan Chai has become the face for Vietnamese sandwich mania in Hong Kong. Banh Mi Nem’s signature bánh mì dặc biệt (HKD78) is one of the most authentic in town, filled with 10 types of fillings such as pork cold-cuts and savoury pâté. Make sure to visit early because only 100 banh mi are made fresh each day. Their grilled chicken bánh mì gà (HKD68) and tofu-filled bánh mì chay (HKD68) are recommended for their fragrant lemongrass flavours.
Banh Mi Nem, G/F, 247–249 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, 9899 1247
soho bánh mì
Born in Wan Chai, obviously the centre of banh mi culture in Hong Kong, soho bánh mì now serves sandwiches in Central, Wan Chai (a new location), and Repulse Bay. Each signature pork, chicken, fish, and vegetarian banh mi (HKD78) come packed with an intoxicating mix of mayo, cucumbers, scallion oil, chilli jam, and a secret sauce to amp up the flavours. We recommend their fish sandwich, fragrant with heavy turmeric and dill spice.
soho bánh mì, multiple locations across Hong Kong
Cóm Bánh Mì
Another featured banh mi stop in Wan Chai, Cóm Bánh Mì has been in the neighbourhood since 2015. The restaurant has a strong Vietnamese vibe, accentuated by the vibrant colours, exotic lanterns and Vietnamese artwork. The interior hints at the authenticity one can expect from the food as well. Banh mi, coming in lemongrass pork chop, chicken, crispy pork, and vegetarian flavours, can be enjoyed with a side dish for (HKD75) or (HKD85) with a drink. Specially tailor-made by a bread factory, their sandwich bread is crafted using rice flour, giving it a unique, airy texture.
Cóm Bánh Mì, G/F, 28 Tai Wong Street East, Wan Chai, 2528 9131
Cô Thành
Inspired by the original Cô Thành in Saigon by Nguyen Thi Thành, aka The Lunch Lady, as featured in Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, Hong Kong’s Cô Thành celebrates the raw and pickled sub-cuisine of Saigon’s meaty bowls and sandwiches. Their signature banh mi truyen thong (HKD118) is filled with five types of pork charcuteries, roasted pork belly, house-made pâté, and pickled daikon. If you favour a beefy touch, the banh mi bo la lot (HKD118) contains grilled beef rolled in betel leaf with mayonnaise and spring onion.
Cô Thành, Shop 123, L1/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, 7073 7735
Le Petit Saigon
Are you a big fan of Le Garcon Saigon in the Star Street precinct? Le Petit Saigon (it’s little brother!) next door offers authentic bánh mì xíu mai gà (HKD88), or chicken & jicama meatballs banh mi, to sink your teeth into. With additions of a home-made tomato sauce and a heavy dollop of mayonnaise, the banh mi is rich with a salty touch. The bánh mì heo nướng (HKD88) packs the sandwich with grilled pork collar alongside a chilli soy vinaigrette and chicken liver pate for an aromatic and super juicy bite.
Le Petit Saigon, G/F, 16 Wing Fung Street, Wan Chai, 2455 2499
Tim Kee French Sandwiches
Tsim Sha Tsui’s beloved Vietnamese haunt, hidden from sight in a largely-industrial and residential area in Jordan, serves up hearty sandwiches packed with salty meat. Tim Kee charges HKD44 for small or HKD86 for big sandwiches, with fillings of Vietnamese pork sausage, liver, pickled daikon and carrots, and a slab of butter melted down.
Tim Kee French Sandwiches, Shop A, G/F, Man Yiu Building, 30 Man Yuen Street, Jordan, 2385 7939
Banh Mi Kitchen
Another restaurant serving only banh mi and drinks, Banh Mi Kitchen in Central promises a remarkable journey exploring the depths of this famous sandwich. Aussie owner Ryan Ching moved to Hong Kong after a sojourn in Ho Chi Minh City, manifesting serious banh mi with quality ingredients. The charred char siu (HKD74) adds a nice Hong Kong touch to the banh mi, whilst the vegetarian (HKD66) offers a meat-free bite with lemongrass-marinated Chiu Chow tofu.
Banh Mi Kitchen, G/F, 22 Li Yuen Street East, Central, 2328 9699, order here
Banh Mi Bakery
This banh mi joint in Kowloon City might be lesser known in the banh mi world, yet it’s worth the MTR ride. Boasting 11 banh mi varieties, the place calls for repeat visits. The options include sous-vide curry beef flank (HKD129), sous-vide confit duck leg (HKD152), blank fungus, corn & beans (HKD99), and the funky peach mango with fish katus (HKD132). To provide you with even more choices, choose the level of spiciness to add some fire (or not) to your comforting banh mi experience.
Banh Mi Bakery, G/F, 49 Lung Kong Road, Kowloon City, 2360 2883