© Rob Greig
London's best bánh mì
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By Charmaine Mok
Posted: Mon Jul 12 2010 -
Bánh mì, a delicious Franco-Viet baguette, is a big part of Vietnam's street food culture. Now, they're becoming ever more ubiquitous in London – popping up not only in market stalls, but in Vietnamese cafés and restaurants, too
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Bánh Mì Bay
4-6 Theobald's Rd, WC1X 8PN (7831 4079). Farringdon tube/rail or bus 19, 38
The new central London branch of Café Bay (see below). The bánh mì can be made with brown, white or Vietnamese baguettes and are baked in-house. Fillings range from caramel pork to grilled tiger prawns, tofu and chicken satay. Read more
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Bánhmì11
Broadway Market (Regent’s Canal end) E2 (www.banhmi11.com). Sat 11am-5pm. Bethnal Green tube or Cambridge Heath rail
Bánh mì arrived in east London in July 2009 via this enterprising set-up by three girls (and one of their mothers) from Hanoi. Their own-made pâté in particular stands out, and bread is made fresh in the morning by The Spence, a local baker. Variations on filling include ‘Imperial BBQ’ pork (based on a marinade from Hue, Vietnam’s old imperial city) and sirloin steak (the ‘Op La Di’). Read more
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Café Bay
75 Denmark Hill, SE5 8RS (7703 2531/www.cafebay.co.uk). Denmark Hill rail
One of the original purveyors of bánh mì, long before it became a London trend. This quiet, functional Camberwell café makes sandwiches to order, bánh mì and otherwise. Though to be frank, we can’t imagine why anyone would choose tuna mayo when there are options such as caramel pork and chicken satay ready to be layered with crisp pickles, cucumber, coriander and chilli. Read more
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Caphe House
114 Bermondsey St, SE1 3TX (7403 3754/ www.caphehouse.com). London Bridge tube/rail
A chilled-out café and art gallery that offers a modest selection of bánh mì, freshly toasted and made to order. The ‘special’ is our favourite, comprising roast pork, pork pâte, Vietnamese ham along with the other traditional accompaniments. Read more
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City Caphe
17 Ironmonger Lane, London, EC2V 8EY
City Càphê's the best of the batch of bánh mì places to have opened in recent months. It's in the heart of the City, so attracts more sharp suits than east London flâneurs. Read more
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Panda Panda
8 Deptford Broadway, SE8 4PA (8616 6922/www.panda-panda.co.uk). Deptford Bridge DLR, Deptford rail or bus 177, 453
This cheerful Deptford takeaway and café is owned by people who are related to the Baguette + More stall (see above). A little more pâté in the baguette and it could give its Greenwich cousin a run for its money. The crushed peanuts in their versions is a great touch. Read more
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11 comments
yep, criminal to leave off Ca Phe VN. But not surprising. The girls are great too in Broadway Market (Bahn Mi). A few things though. People who say one place is better than the next etc. What are you basing this on? How many times have you been there? I have been a regular at Bway market back when the Bahn Mi girls worked at Ca Phe Vn and like most places consistency can vary. However. Bahn Mi do the better B-B-Q option but Ca Phe Vn, easily the better standard Bahn Mi. Better bread, the carrot is always crunchy (unlike Bahn Mi) and more filling. But wait, what are doing chasing down Bahn Mi when really the BOMB is the Pho at Bahn Mi. Still looking for Beef Pho on Kingsland rd that's as good.
Vietvan is the name of the stall in North Cross Market. I've had a craving for a decent banhmi since first having one in Hanoi and I have to say that he does a really good spicy one!
I thought cafe bay baguette was well priced but the pork had a chewy rind and was asked if I wanted butter on baguette? the broadway market was better, if a little shy on filling, there is a bloke in northcross road market in east dulwich, who does a real substantial one on a fridays out of a little three wheel van!
as usual, Time Out show that they have not even tried to make a credible list...how can Mon Me be missed from this list?? By far the tastiest banh mi in London!
Thanks Martin, I like your review and above all, you speak my mind on some points. Panda panda sounds so appealing to me and would love to try it out next time we head that way
its great that banhmi is in london, i hope it continues to spread across it and beyond. i have been to all the places reviewed by timeout, they have all got their good and bad points, but my personal favourites are panda panda, and banzi, unfortunately banzi has closed. cafe bay isnt too bad either, but its more of a british cafe. bubble tea and banhmi is the ultimate lunch! its good that i can have banhmi during the week and have it inside too, i dont like the idea of my food being made and served on the streets.
caphevn-there is a reason why you werent mentioned- so stop trying to pretend to be real customers and posting fake reviews of your stall, we can see straight through it. tut tut tut
oh and trungviet coffee is much better!
i hope all the banhmi places continue to expand, i want to request that they all do bubble tea too- and come over to west london- so panda panda et al, start expanding or do long distance delivery!!
I really don't believe that Ca phe VN has good banhmi. I have tried once and I never want to have it again. It wasn't that awful but I felt that something was missing, especially in the salad.
About Baguette+ More, I had it last summer and I think I liked the roasted pork (chachew or something), however in my opinion it tasted a bit like Chinese food; it should have been more outstanding. I liked the seller, she was very nice and friendly.
Banhmi11 : I've just had it last week ( on a lovely sunny day). Fantastic, I like their banhmi most, especially the BBQ square.
But I've got to say that I am not a fan of the chicken banhmi. It's not because I don't like their chicken, I just think that chicken is better with rice.
By the way, I have a belief that chicken shouldn't be put in the banhmi menu. I've just realised that Asian foods I have tried so far are mainly made from pork, beef. Do you have any ideas for that?
I prefer quality and freshness therefore I am with Bánhmì11. I am Vietnamese and from my point of view, bánhmì11 is the best I've ever tasted and makes me feel like I am back on the streets of Hanoi.Funny enough that nowadays some people out there still like ready-made and mass produced bánh mì (????) .
I find it hard to credit this list as the 'best ' banh mi in London.
the list misses out Banzi in Surrey Quays, Mon Me and Ca Phe VN who all make great banhmi. Cafe Bay & its second outlet really make mediocre baguettes yet get 2 reviews? Caphe House's offering isn't flash either. Maybe this article should be 'some of the Banh Mi in London' ?
Caphevn Saigon Street Cafe in Broadway Market makes the freshest, most delicious Banh Mi I have ever tasted. The crispy baguettes filled with tender meat and spicy salad vegetables go perfectly with the Vietnamese coffee - especially the creamy iced coffee. I am told that these are the genuine Saigon-style Banh Mi, typical of South Vietnamese cuisine and different from the Banh Mi of the North.
Don't forget that Ca Phe VN's Saigon Street Cafe at Broadway Market every Saturday. They offer the tradional 5 pork Banh mI as well as Thit nuong - marinated grilled pork baguettes, also their famous Vietnamese iced coffee - ca phe sua da. the street cafe has Saigon style seating & tables for 70+.