The story: Bánh Mì Kitchen, opened in late April this year, is the new kid on the block serving freshly prepared and custom-made banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) on Li Yuen Street East in Central. Born and raised in Australia, co-founder Ryan Ching fell in love with Vietnamese cuisine when he moved to Ho Chi Minh City for work in 2013 and since then decided to bring the most authentic and mouth-watering banh mi to Hong Kong. Since its opening, this small but cosy takeaway shop has been bustling with hungry customers waiting to get their hands on these delicious banh mi.
The food: All the ingredients that go into the banh mi have been carefully selected by the kitchen team. The baguette is supplied by artisanal brand RISE Boulangerie. It’s light and airy on the inside, with a nice, crispy outer crust. Some fillings are directly imported from Vietnam for the most authentic flavours, and other ingredients such as the meatballs and condiments are made in house every day. The two most popular sandwiches are the Cold Cut Classic ($48), with three types of cold cuts stuffed generously into the baguette, and the Charred Char Siu ($51), which boasts a delicious filling of well-marinated char siu made from imported Danish pork. A thin layer of pâté is evenly spread on the baguette and the vegetables and herbs are fresh and crisp – each bite is simply sensational! Vegetarians can go for the Vegetarian Delight ($44), which is gorgeously stuffed with lemongrass- and coriander-marinated tofu.
The coffee: Nothing accompanies these banh mi better than a cup of freshly brewed Vietnamese coffee. The coffee beans are supplied by Perfetto, an established boutique coffee roaster in Melbourne that specialises in quality coffee beans from Vietnam. The coffee at Bánh Mì Kitchen is a delicious blend of Arabica and Robusta beans originating from the highlands of Vietnam, sweetened with a tasty local brand of condensed milk – the perfect afternoon pick-me-up!
5 Li Yuen Street East, Central, 2328 9699
