Bánh mì is quite possibly the perfect lunch item; it's cheap, filling, flavorful, and not horrible for your health. In a sandwich-obsessed city with a large Vietnamese population, it is no wonder good bánh mì sandwiches are so abundant in Minneapolis. Whether you're looking to get a super-authentic sandwich or try a decadent take on the classic (duck pâté, anyone?), we've got you covered. To help you make the important decisions in life, here's a handy guide to the best bánh mì in the Twin Cities, along with suggestions for what to order at each bánh mì spot.
Did we miss your favorite bánh mì? Let us know in the comments.
A key feature of bánh mì is the chewy, crusty bread, and Lu’s fresh baked bread is some of the chewiest and crustiest in the Twin Cities. Beside the bread, Lu’s specialty is their oiled onions and house-made butter. You can get nearly every variety of traditional bánh mì here, from cold cuts to sour sausage to grilled pork, but we suggest you try the grilled beef, a relatively rare option in the Twin Cities. Go for the side of french fries and a bubble tea for a simple and cheap lunch.
Brother and sister owners Vinh and Le Truong have been selling simple, made-to-order bánh mì sandwiches at their small Eat Street establishment since 2000. Vegans and vegetarians should flock here to try their distinctive bánh mì càri mì căn (curry mock duck) and enjoy the crunch of Jasmine Deli’s bread under the weight of their teeth. Vinh and Le Truong also own the nearby Café Kem, so you might as well get a bubble tea while you are in the neighborhood.
This food truck only sells one kind of bánh mì - a BBQ pork and pâté version - but it's a winner. The pork is heavily seasoned and presented in perfect bite-sized chunks while the bread crumbles delicately. With three different levels of hot sauce “kickers,” Vellee Deli gives you the option to spicy up your bánh mì way more than a little Sriracha or jalapeno ever could.
When you are in the mood for a decadent bánh mì, make your way downtown to 112 Eatery and try head chef and owner Isaac Becker’s rich duck pâté bánh mì. A chunk of thick and creamy duck pâté is placed between a crunchy French baguette and topped with pickled vegetables. Plus, it's only $7 - still pricey for a traditional bánh mì, but a very affordable sit-down option.
Dumpling is so new that owner Bunbob Chhun doesn’t even have a restaurant yet. You can only find his sandwiches at coffee shops around the metro area; they are available at Groundswell Coffee in Saint Paul, Matchbox Coffee in the Northeast and Caffetto Cafe in Uptown. Try the chicken basil, which includes pan-seared chicken breast, basil, peanut sauce, quick pickled cucumber, jicama, carrot, Sriracha, and hoisin spread.
Located in Stadium Village, this small, sleek restaurant caters to trendy college students and professors who need a quick bite to eat. Opened in 2009, Bun Mi goes beyond the traditional toppings and offers unique options like Kogi pulled pork and Thai chicken curry, and they've also got a great jalapeño and garlic mayo. Add a side of French fries or Asian slaw and you have meal to keep you upright and focused in class.
While many non-Vietnamese restaurants take stabs at creating bánh mì perfection, Blackbird Cafe’s adaptation actually succeeds. Co-owners Gail Moller and Chris Stevens have replaced the typical French baguette with an organic focaccia bun from New French Bakery and topped it with naturally sourced, slow-roasted pork, along with the traditional pickled vegetable-herb fixings. At $11 a pop, Blackbird’s bánh mì is the priciest on this list.
Don’t let the name trick you; this University Ave restaurant packs a big punch when it comes to bánh mì. Saigon’s homemade French mayonnaise is a good enough reason to leave Minneapolis and head over to Saint Paul in and of itself, but there are also thirteen different bánh mì options to make the trip even more worthwhile. Pork-lovers should try the bánh mì sài gòn (Saigon specialty sandwich), which is stuffed full of red roast pork, pork loaf, grilled pork, and pâté.
If you walk into Ha Tien Grocery and walk out without getting a bánh mì to-go from their deli section, you have made a big mistake. This recently remodeled grocery and deli in Saint Paul’s Little Mekong District specializes in a bánh mì filled to the brim with barbecued red pork, herbs, vegetables, and special soy sauce. Ha Tien’s sandwiches are made-to-order, and while you wait you can chat up their über-friendly counter attendants or peruse their vast selection of Asian grocery items.
A key feature of bánh mì is the chewy, crusty bread, and Lu’s fresh baked bread is some of the chewiest and crustiest in the Twin Cities. Beside the bread, Lu’s specialty is their oiled onions and house-made butter. You can get nearly every variety of traditional bánh mì here, from cold cuts to sour sausage to grilled pork, but we suggest you try the grilled beef, a relatively rare option in the Twin Cities. Go for the side of french fries and a bubble tea for a simple and cheap lunch.
Brother and sister owners Vinh and Le Truong have been selling simple, made-to-order bánh mì sandwiches at their small Eat Street establishment since 2000. Vegans and vegetarians should flock here to try their distinctive bánh mì càri mì căn (curry mock duck) and enjoy the crunch of Jasmine Deli’s bread under the weight of their teeth. Vinh and Le Truong also own the nearby Café Kem, so you might as well get a bubble tea while you are in the neighborhood.
This food truck only sells one kind of bánh mì - a BBQ pork and pâté version - but it's a winner. The pork is heavily seasoned and presented in perfect bite-sized chunks while the bread crumbles delicately. With three different levels of hot sauce “kickers,” Vellee Deli gives you the option to spicy up your bánh mì way more than a little Sriracha or jalapeno ever could.
When you are in the mood for a decadent bánh mì, make your way downtown to 112 Eatery and try head chef and owner Isaac Becker’s rich duck pâté bánh mì. A chunk of thick and creamy duck pâté is placed between a crunchy French baguette and topped with pickled vegetables. Plus, it's only $7 - still pricey for a traditional bánh mì, but a very affordable sit-down option.
Dumpling is so new that owner Bunbob Chhun doesn’t even have a restaurant yet. You can only find his sandwiches at coffee shops around the metro area; they are available at Groundswell Coffee in Saint Paul, Matchbox Coffee in the Northeast and Caffetto Cafe in Uptown. Try the chicken basil, which includes pan-seared chicken breast, basil, peanut sauce, quick pickled cucumber, jicama, carrot, Sriracha, and hoisin spread.
Located in Stadium Village, this small, sleek restaurant caters to trendy college students and professors who need a quick bite to eat. Opened in 2009, Bun Mi goes beyond the traditional toppings and offers unique options like Kogi pulled pork and Thai chicken curry, and they've also got a great jalapeño and garlic mayo. Add a side of French fries or Asian slaw and you have meal to keep you upright and focused in class.
While many non-Vietnamese restaurants take stabs at creating bánh mì perfection, Blackbird Cafe’s adaptation actually succeeds. Co-owners Gail Moller and Chris Stevens have replaced the typical French baguette with an organic focaccia bun from New French Bakery and topped it with naturally sourced, slow-roasted pork, along with the traditional pickled vegetable-herb fixings. At $11 a pop, Blackbird’s bánh mì is the priciest on this list.
Don’t let the name trick you; this University Ave restaurant packs a big punch when it comes to bánh mì. Saigon’s homemade French mayonnaise is a good enough reason to leave Minneapolis and head over to Saint Paul in and of itself, but there are also thirteen different bánh mì options to make the trip even more worthwhile. Pork-lovers should try the bánh mì sài gòn (Saigon specialty sandwich), which is stuffed full of red roast pork, pork loaf, grilled pork, and pâté.
If you walk into Ha Tien Grocery and walk out without getting a bánh mì to-go from their deli section, you have made a big mistake. This recently remodeled grocery and deli in Saint Paul’s Little Mekong District specializes in a bánh mì filled to the brim with barbecued red pork, herbs, vegetables, and special soy sauce. Ha Tien’s sandwiches are made-to-order, and while you wait you can chat up their über-friendly counter attendants or peruse their vast selection of Asian grocery items.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54949603/Porzana_Preview_0072.189.jpeg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59827933/Colita_15.27.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60038221/bricksworth.6.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/38941360/banh_20mi_20head.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62089321/lu_s_20sandwich_20banh_20mi.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62089323/jasminedeli-10b.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62089325/vellee_20deli_20banh_20mi.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58111913/sand_corned_beef_1.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62089327/112_20eatery_20banh_20mi.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62089329/dumpling_20banh_20mi.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62089331/bun_20mi_20banh_20mi.0.0.png)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62089333/blackbird_20banh_20mi.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62089335/saigon_20banh_20mi.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62089337/ha_20tien_20banh_20mi.0.0.jpeg)