The best bánh mì in Melbourne

What is it? A Flinders Lane hole-in-the-wall where Vietnamese duo Ai Huyn and Thi Le are treating the CBD’s intrepid foodies to next-level bánh mì.

Why we love it: The Hanoi cha (cold cuts) bánh mì at this pint-sized stand near Southern Cross Station was so dang delicious, it compelled me to exclaim out loud: "this is the best bánh mì of my life," shortly followed by "this is the best day of my life." Whether you order the braised pork – my partner can confirm this is one of the best hot pork rolls he's ever tried – the Hanoi cha like I did, or go further afield with tofu, chicken or confit duck, there's no denying that Banh Mi Stand is whipping up some of the tastiest bánh mì in the city right now. 

Order this: Hanoi cha

Address: ​​547 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Around $16-$18

What is it? This Reservoir joint is a hidden treasure, tucked just a hop away from the train station.

Why we love it: Their crunchy tiger rolls are a cut above, jam-packed with all your standard fillings, plus an impressive selection of vegan meats. The vegan crackling pork is a top contender, finished with hoisin, fried shallots, peanuts and chilli. Meanwhile, if you eat meat, try the barbecue pork skewer bánh mì. It comes with generous amounts of butter, chicken pâté, pickled carrot, cucumber, fried shallots, hoisin, peanut and chilli. Yum.

Order this: Barbecue pork skewer bánh mì 

Address: ​​14 Edwardes Street, Reservoir 3073

Expect to pay: Around $13-$15

What is it? The literal translation of bánh mì is ‘bread’, and nowhere does it better than Springvale institution Bun Bun Bakery, set up by a husband-and-wife duo over 20 years ago. Lines snake out the door no matter what time you visit, but the staff behind the counter remain unfazed as they churn out between 600 to 1,000 rolls every day. 

Why we love it: Bun Bun’s fresh housemade bread is the perfect foil for the fresh hams and steamed pork belly. The sandwich is lifted by the julienned pickled carrot, fresh cucumber and spring onion shoots. A hot tip: ask for extra coriander and chilli to offset the rich chicken liver pâté and butter. Bun Bun’s best-selling roasted pork in barbecue sauce roll is stuffed with marinated cubes of crispy pork and caramelised onions. If we had to pick one, we’d stick to the original. Just remember to bring cash; they don't take card here.

Order this: Roasted pork in barbecue sauce bánh mì 

Address: 1/288 Springvale Road, Springvale 3171

Expect to pay: Around $8-$10

What is it? A fuss-free Footscray institution doling out some of Melbourne’s finest bánh mì. 

Why we love it: There may be a line, but the wait’s worth it. Crowds wait patiently for baguettes that are baked on-site daily, stuffed with house-made butter, pate, cold cuts like pork loaf and fromage de tete, lemongrass pork, and even deep-fried tofu, pickled carrot, fresh cucumber, coriander, Maggi seasoning and fiery rounds of chillies.  The only downside with Nhu Lan is that they tend to be quite sparing with meat (sometimes, not always), and it's a smaller bánh mì than what you may get from other purveyors on this list. So you might need to get two if you've got a big appetite!

Order this: Barbecue pork roll 

Address: ​​116 Hopkins Street, Footscray 3011

Expect to pay: Around $8-$10

What is it? Scoresby is about 29 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD. Those who live far from the City of Knox are unlikely to venture there – unless it's to visit Lily's, of course. 

Why we love it: For bánh mì enthusiasts in the know, Lily's is busting out some of the most fresh, flavoursome and jam-packed pork rolls in the state. As is the case with all great bánh mì shops, you'll probably have to wait in a long line around lunchtime but the friendly and efficient staff help it to move fast. The bread here is crisp on the outside and perfectly fluffy on the inside, just like it should be, and they don't skimp on the pâté. It's an eleven out of ten.

Order this: Authentic cold pork bánh mì 

Address: ​​6 Darryl Street, Scoresby 3179

Expect to pay: Around $8-$10

What is it? In Vietnamese, ca com translates to anchovy – the name of this shop’s former sibling, which is located just next door. The neighbouring bánh mì outlet, which began as a way to stay busy during lockdown, is still going strong.

Why we love it: The rolls are sizable and filled with unique ingredients like “jungle-spiced” pork sausage, roasted pumpkin and sardines simmered in tomato sauce. At over $15 a pop, they’re a little pricier than the average roll but the top-tier fillings more than justify the price point.

Order this: Lao sausage

Address: ​​336 Bridge Road, Richmond 3121

Expect to pay: Around $17-$18

What is it? An authentic Vietnamese bakery and eatery in Ivanhoe where the bread is made fresh every morning. 

Why we love it: Our local food experts were pleasantly surprised by An. The bánh mì come in several forms (crispy pork belly, grilled pork, pork sausage or rolled slices of ham), any one of which are well worth a try and come with a heavy handful of fried shallots to balance the richness of the meat. What we love especially about An's rolls is the tart freshness of the pickles. Out of all the shops we tried on this list, An had the best balance of sweet, sour and umami flavours, and an exceptionally creamy and delicious amount of pâté. Next time you're near Ivanhoe, give it a go. 

Order this: Crispy pork bánh mì

Address: ​​2015 Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe 3079

Expect to pay: Around $11-$12

What is it? ​​If you're way too hungry to wait in line at Phuoc Tanh, its neighbour, Lee Lee Hot Bread tends to be a little quieter – which is surprising, because the bánh mì here are excellent. 

Why we love it: Crisp-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside tiger bread loaves are loaded with a generous assortment of fillings, but it's the crispy pork that gets the gold medal from us. The high quality pork crackle delivers a satisfying crunch, with the correct ratio of sauces, pate and pickled carrots. You'll also get a bigger bánh mì here than many other places, and the service is bright, friendly and efficient. This joint could even be Richmond's best-kept secret, but we've just let the cat out the bag!

Order this: Crispy pork bánh mì

Address: 2/240 Victoria Street, Richmond 3121

Expect to pay: Around $9-$13

What is it? A well-loved Collingwood favourite, with additional outposts in South Yarra and Camberwell.

Why we love it: Vegans flock to the family-run Trang for their bánh mì, which range from mock roast duck and chicken, to eggplant tempura and lemongrass tofu. The roast pork roll contains roasted pork cubes, which offer a perfectly balanced blend of fat and crackling, and the staff are very lovely, too. Bonus points: if you’re ordering several bánh mì, the lovely staff may chuck in a few spring rolls on the house.

Order this: Tofu bánh mì 

Address: 382 Smith Street, Collingwood 3066

Expect to pay: Around $11-$12

What is it? Sadly for CBD dwellers and workers, there aren't actually that many fantastic bánh mì shops in the city. At least, not compared to Springvale, Footscray and the outer 'burbs. So thank God for Heartbaker, a consistently reliable joint offering tasty Vietnamese bread rolls based on treasured family recipes.

Why we love it: We love the lemongrass scotch fillet and salmon curry rolls for something different. One of our writers reckons the 'dreamy creamy caramelised tofu' is the best vegetarian bánh mì in Melbourne. It comes with egg butter, carrot, daikon pickles, cucumber, spring onion, fried onion, red onion, coriander, chilli jam and soy sauce. Just make sure to ask for fresh chilli if you want it, as they don't tend to put it on if you don't say anything. 

Order this: Tofu bánh mì 

Address: 3/241 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Around $13-$15

What is it? Phuoc Thanh isn’t flashy, but it serves up one of the most popular bánh mì rolls in Melbourne.

Why we love it: Flaky, light-yet-substantial bread envelops Vietnamese hams, pork loaf and brawn (a jelly-based terrine made from the pig’s head) as well as a smattering of fresh lettuce, which breaks up the typical holy trinity of pickled carrot, fresh cucumber and coriander. The grilled pork salad roll is laced with caramelised onions layering the sweetness on a roll already sweet from the soy marinade blanketing the barbecued pork. The equally popular crispy pork roll contains deep-fried shallots and spring onions, all drizzled with sweet hoisin sauce. Both are delicious. Note: we noticed the pork here is a bit more gamey than others on this list, so bear in mind if you're fussy about that.

Order this: Grilled pork salad roll 

Address: 3/241 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Around $8-$10

What is it? Widely considered Bun Bun's fellow Springvale rival, Tabac is well worth a look-in. So what sets Tabac apart from the rest? For one, the flaky, light tiger bread hits the spot, providing an addictive crispiness. 

Why we love it: The rolls are not as stuffed or as dense as, say, Bun Bun's or T&L's, but as a result they're somewhat better balanced. Fun fact: Masterchef-famous Aussie cook and lifelong Springvale local Khanh Ong once shared that Tabac is his top spot for bánh mì in the area. Though the original family who owned the business retired in 2022, we love that the quality of bread, meat and fresh ingredients has remained reliably consistent. 

Order this: Crispy pork roll

Address: 296 Springvale Road, Springvale 3171

Expect to pay: Around $10

What is it? A cult fave lunch spot in Cremorne, attracting a daily long line of folks waiting to get a hefty Viet-style sanga for around the $11 mark.

Why we love it: If you like your pork roll small to moderately sized, with bread as the main star, and neatly balanced (sort of like Nhu Lan-style), this place may not be your jam. However, if saucy, big, juicy and hectic is your vibe, then you'll want to make a beeline for T&L right away. The fillings are very flavoursome and diverse, but the freshness of the bread can vary a tad. Going early in the day is your best bet. 

Order this: T&L special

Address: 174 Swan Street, Cremorne 3121

Expect to pay: Around $10-$12

What is it? Nestled in Reservoir Village, this shop offers a short but excellent selection of authentic Vietnamese baguettes served in fluffy, soft, perfect bread. Word of warning: each one is huge. 

Why we love it: Let's cut to the chase. The bánh mì at Vy Vy are freaking amazing. The liver pâté is a highlight here, and the pickled veggies have just the right level of tang. Sometimes, the servers might go a bit nuts with the mayo, so just let them know what sorts of condiments you like to modify your sanga to your preferences. Get a cream bun for dessert if you're feeling a bit naughty. 

Order this: Mixed Vietnamese ham baguette

Address: 24 Edwardes Street, Reservoir 3073

Expect to pay: Around $9-$13

What is it? N Lee opened Collingwood in 1991, expanding to the city about two decades later, but the original store has not received a glow-up – it remains a no-frills, sparsely decked-out bakery where bread is baked in-house, daily.

Why we love it: The chillies are far from ornamental and the generous proportion of pork liver pâté, pickled carrots and daikon, fresh cucumber and coriander to sliced cold cuts makes it a real winner. Meanwhile, the thinly sliced slabs of tofu in the vegetarian bánh mì are marinated in a soy mixture and sandwiched amongst the usual fixings plus a garnish of fried shallots, elevating it into an option even meat-eaters should consider. 

Order this: Grilled pork salad roll 

Address: 220 Smith St, Collingwood 3066

Expect to pay: Around $14-$16