The signature lemongrass chicken bánh mì at Vietnamese Bakery in Fyshwick. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
Few sandwiches can start a fight, but bánh mì is one of them.
Favourites are fiercely defended, rivals are dismissed, and loyalties die hard. So it is with great trepidation that we attempt what will surely be a controversial undertaking: a list of our favourite bánh mì in Canberra.
We’re hoping that by including nine options, most people’s favourites will be represented and the comment section won’t erupt into sandwich warfare … or else, just pretend yours is the 10th.
Vietnamese Bakery, Fyshwick
A favourite of tradies, Vietnamese Bakery churns out bánh mì at record speeds during the lunch hour.
The bread – baked in-house – is crisp, and the fillings are generous. A minor quibble is that their coriander can be very stemmy (I know the stem has a lot of flavour, but long pieces are stringy to chew on), but that’s never stopped me from going back again and again (and again … I go there a lot). They have plenty of fillings, but I often opt for the lemongrass chicken.
Ms Ba Cô does a fast and fabulous bánh mì. Photo: Majura Park.
Ms Ba Cô, Majura Park and Civic
Regularly topping the recommendations, Ms Ba Cô at Majura Park can be found by looking for a long queue at lunchtime. But don’t panic, these queues move fast as the Ms Ba Cô crew take orders, fill rolls and call dockets at breakneck speed! It’s fast food, but not the golden arches kind. If you’re looking for something different, try the pork meatballs or betel leaf beef fillings.
Little Phat Rolls Braddon warms their buns and that makes all the difference. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Little Phat Rolls – Braddon
This cheerful yellow truck slings rolls day and night to the denizens of Braddon. They have an impressive range of faux-meat and tofu fillings and even make a mushroom pâté for the full experience. And speaking of pâté, they go the extra mile and warm each bun to release the aromatic flavours of their pâté. That’s the kind of attention to detail we like to see!
The traditional bánh mì is a layering of flavours and textures all in a warm roll. Photo: Tenele Conway.
O Bach, Greenway
A visit to this Tuggeranong joint had fellow food writer Tenele Conway singing their praises. She recommends the Saigon Roll: a combination of smoky-sweet, slow-cooked char siu pork and silky, springy, lemongrass chu lua (sometimes called Vietnamese ham). It all comes together with a drizzle of hoisin sauce and is nestled in a perfect bun. I’m getting hungry just writing about it.
The tofu filling is popular even with non-vegetarians. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Banh Mi Ko, No Name Lane, City West
A recent addition to Canberra’s bánh mì scene, Banh Mi Ko in No Name Lane bakes their bread fresh daily for an extra special roll that marries crunch and pillow-like softness. While many will gravitate towards the impressively crispy skin of the roast pork, it’s worth changing tack and grabbing their tofu banh mi. Crumbed and fried, this tofu is a textural feast and may just convert even the most meat-loving eaters.
BanMe owners Minh Tri Nguyen and Kathy Phan at their original Braddon store – they also have a second location in Gungahlin. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
BanMe, Braddon and Gungahlin
Tucked behind the carwash on Lonsdale Street, it would be easy to walk past BanMe without realising you’ve just walked past some of Canberra’s best Vietnamese street food. Unassuming they may be, but the flavours here pack a proper punch. Their charcoal beef is extraordinarily good. You can also order a large DIY bánh mì platter, which is an excellent crowd pleaser.
According to their social media, they have customers who have ordered the same roll hundreds of times! Now that’s loyalty!
29 Cafe and Eatery is well-supported by the Curtin community. Photo: Tenele Conway.
29 Cafe and Eatery, Curtin
With 10 varieties of bánh mì on the menu, it’s no wonder that locals are loving the new and improved 29 Cafe and Eatery in Curtin. They serve all the usual fillings – roast pork, lemongrass beef and lemongrass chicken – but there are also variations like garlic tofu, sunny-side-up eggs and the ‘Pork me up’: four varieties of pork fillings sure to excite any carnivore.
The key to a quick bánh mì? Prefilling those salads! Photo: Noi Noi Vietnamese Kitchen Casey.
Noi Noi Vietnamese Kitchen, Casey
Walk into Noi Noi during the day, and you’ll see the counter stacked high with Saigon rolls, all ready to be rapidly filled with meats, pickles, pâté and herbs for a quick and tasty lunch. Noi Noi is a popular local spot, recommended to me by multiple Region colleagues. Bánh mì is just part of their big menu, which encompasses soups, salads, noodles and some non-Vietnamese staples, but it’s clear that the rolls keep folks rolling in the door.
VinAus in Lyneham is a cult favourite for their banh mi. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
VinAus, Lyneham
I’m nervous about including my local bánh mì on this list for two reasons. First, I don’t want the lines getting too long; second, I prefer to be anonymous when picking up my order in PJs and Uggs. But I’ll do the community a service and lift the lid on this gem.
Family-run neighbourhood takeaway VinAus is popular with after-school teens buying hot chips, but their Vietnamese dishes are where they shine. Their bánh mì is always good, but I swear they must have a secret hook-up for the spiciest chillies in the world! They do a great bun cha too.
In addition to these favourites, we’ve heard rumours that Wanniassa Bakery does an excellent bánh mì, and there are a few more around town we’re keen to try. Kingston, Charnwood, Mawson … there are just so many!
Tell us where you get your favourite bánh mì and round out our list to an even 10!
Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Region Canberra.
