2 Amazing Places To Try Banh Mi in Hanoi

If you’re traveling in Vietnam you must try a banh mi in Hanoi.

These umami packed sandwiches are one of the most popular Vietnamese foods. During my time in Vietnam we had many different banh mi, but two stood out as our favorites. In this article I’ll tell you about the history of banh mi, what it entails and the two restaurants that reign supreme in my opinion.

This post is all about banh mi in Hanoi!

Banh mi 25 & The history of banh mi

History of the Banh Mi

In the mid 1800s France colonized Vietnam and their rule lasted for almost 100 years. During that time, the baguette was introduced to the Vietnamese people, who in turn, responded by putting their own twist on the baguette. Instead of using all wheat flour, the Vietnamese bakers used a mix of wheat flour and rice flour to create a lighter, crispier baguette.

The crispy exterior allows for saucier ingredients and toppings on a sandwich to be used without losing the integrity of the bread. The banh mi consists of three main toppings: protein, condiments and veggies. The undisputed protein of choice is the barbecued pork, but I much preffered the chicken options. The condiments used are a pâté and mayonaise – both brought to Vietnam initially by the French. The crispy toppings include pickled carrots and daikon radish, cucumbers, cilantro and chili peppers (if you want).

The banh mi is a culinary masterpiece. It hits all the major food textures and flavors to create an incredibly satisfying and well balanced sandwich.

Banh Mi 25

Influencers, Youtubers, fellow travelers all recommended Banh Mi 25 and we had to see for ourselves if it was worth the hype. Luckily, we did find it to be absolutely delicious. Since they are drawing in both locals and tourists alike their menu is adapted to be enjoyed by all types of travelers. This means they now offer vegetarian options, and various proteins like pork, chicken and beef.

I decided to shake it up and try the chicken and avocado banh mi and it was absolutely delicious. It was also very fun to try a different version of this beloved sandwich.

bami bread

Our other favorite banh mi in Hanoi was from Bami Bread. They make their own pâté and baguettes which are both absolutely delicious. I personally liked the baguette here more than the one at Banh Mi 25, but both are still delicious. The chicken option here has a delicious sauce that works perfectly with the rest of the traditional banh mi ingredients. It has a mild spice, a touch of sweetness and is full of a rich barbecue flavor.

Locals and tourists love this place so much they have now opened over 70 locations across all of Vietnam. I highly recommend trying Bami Bread and experiencing their delicious banh mi that’s jam-packed with delicious ingredients.