The best bánh mì in Melbourne

This Reservoir joint (with another location in Moonee Ponds) is a hidden treasure, tucked just a hop away from the train station. 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 ($13) 

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." And then, an aggressive-looking seagull eyed my lunch and my reverie was broken – however, the sentiment remained. 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. At roughly $15, it's a little pricier than some others on this list but it's huge. And so, so, so good.

Our tasting team was pleasantly surprised by An, seeing as there's not as much hype around this place compared to other shops on this list (for example, Bun Bun or Selina.) Fresh and perfectly crispy pieces of bread are baked in-house daily. They lay the foundation for these standout rolls, of which the pork ones are definitely the best. They 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 ($14.95)

Melbourne’s finest bánh mì can be found at this fuss-free Footscray institution, so get in line (and there's always a line). 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. But here, it's all about the bread and the bread is the best in Melbourne, hands down. Three speedy Vietnamese ladies will make your sandwich fresh upon order, with the roast pork roll being the most famous. 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 ($8) 

Scoresby is about 29 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD. Since the COVID-influenced closure of the suburb's popular Caribbean Market, those who live far from the City of Knox are unlikely to venture there – unless it's to visit Lily's, of course. 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 ($8) 

In Vietnamese, ca com translates to anchovy – the name of this shop’s former sibling, which was located just next door. The restaurant has since transitioned to a Laotian concept but its neighbouring bánh mì outlet, which began as a way to stay busy during lockdown, is still going strong. 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 ($16) 

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 arguably just as good. 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 ($14) 

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. Hot tip: 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 ($11) 

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. 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 ($9) 

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. 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 ($12.80) 

The VN ham roll at Selina Hot Bread comes with five generous slabs of cold cuts, packed with raw onion, shallots, red chilli, coriander and pickled carrot with the requisite spreads of pâté and butter. The acidic combination of raw onion and fiery red chillies result in one of the spiciest, tear-inducing bánh mìs – and we love it. The soy-and-hoisin marinated tofu absorbs all the savoury notes of its seasoning and works a treat with the crunchy housemade bread. Yeah, we can see why this spot's so popular in the west.

Order this: Vietnamese mixed ham roll ($9.50)

Phuoc Thanh isn’t flashy, but it serves up one of the most popular bánh mì rolls in Melbourne. 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 ($8)

Widely considered Bun Bun's fellow Springvale rival, Tabac is well worth a look-in if you weren't overly bowled over by the latter. And not everyone is. Like we said in the introduction to this article, everyone has their own personal preferences when it comes to bánh mì and a list such as this one can never be truly objective. So what sets Tabac apart from the rest? For one, the flaky, light tiger bread hits the spot, providing an addictive crispiness. 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 ($8) 

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. There's usually a line here, with folks waiting to get a hefty Viet-style sanga for around the $10 mark. 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 ($8.50)

Let's cut to the chase. The bánh mì at Vy Vy are freaking amazing. Nestled in Reservoir Village, the shop offers a short but excellent selection of authentic Vietnamese baguettes served in fluffy, soft, perfect bread. Word of warning: each one is huge. 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 ($4) for dessert if you're feeling a bit naughty. 

Order this: Mixed Vietnamese ham baguette ($10)