Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa
26 Le Thi Rieng Street
District 1
*****
Where is the best Bánh Mì in Saigon?
I think I know.
Gobbling the best bánh mì in Saigon
Bánh mì is among the most popular and ubiquitous street foods in Saigon. Walk any street in Saigon and you’re likely to find at least one street food vendor smearing a small baguette with pâté, dropping in some cold cuts and pickled vegetables, squirting in some soy sauce (and adding a few chili peppers) … then wrapping it in a small sheet of paper and snapping a rubber band around the assembly. Off you go on foot or motorbike with a great midday or midnight sandwich snack.
Baquettes ready to become Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa‘s famous sandwich
So, with literally thousands of bánh mì vendors across town, how does one find “the best bánh mì in Saigon”? Well, it’s all in a days’ work 🙂 Just keep eating and searching.
After living in Saigon nearly five years, some months ago, Hai and I stumbled upon what I consider to be the best bánh mì in Saigon – and certainly in my top ten Saigon Street Food eating adventures – Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa on Le Thi Rieng street.
Assembling Saigon’s best bánh mì at Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa
Now, there may be better in Saigon. But I honestly have yet to find a more delicious bánh mì here.
All the makings of a great bánh mì
What’s even more wonderful, is that this week when I returned to Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa, it was to be an even better eating adventure. Better, not because the sandwich had changed. It was still it’s same meaty, pâté-y, tasty, yummy sandwich. But, better because we found the best place to eat that sandwich!
We paid our 28,000 vnd ($1.33 usd) for each bánh mì (pricey by Saigon standards, but still a great value for an amazing sandwich), then sped off on our motorbike.
Hai had a destination in mind.
Speeding through the streets of Saigon’s District 1 tourist center (down Hàm Nghi Street), bánh mì bags flapping in the wind, we found ourselves five minutes later at the Saigon River.
Enjoying a bánh mì beside the Saigon River
We were not alone.
Scores of young folk were enjoying the relatively cool breeze off the River, sitting side-by-side on their motorbikes, sipping their nước ngọt (soda pop) or eating their kem (ice cream) available from the mobile vendors strolling along the riverside walk.
Quiet, “cool”, relaxing, even a tad romantic … What better place to sit and enjoy Saigon’s best bánh mì! This is what enjoying Saigon street food is all about! Life is good.
Scores of Saigon folk enjoying the Saigon riverside breeze
Our topic of discussion for the evening, Where should we go on our next vacation?? Mmmnnn .. please stand-by. No decisions yet on that matter.
The bánh mì sandwiches at Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa are simply the best Vietnamese sandwiches in Saigon. For a few pennies extra, do your self a favor, give yourself a treat, “push” your way to the front of the crowd here, and enjoy the best!
CAUTION: the chili peppers here are hot – SEARING HOT! Place your order accordingly.
OPEN: 3:30 p.m.- midnight
[ALSO: Read about another Saigon bánh mì vendor here]
UPDATE – February, 2016: After being away from Saigon for a few months, Hai and I couldn’t resist rushing back here for our favorite Saigon bánh mì. It’s still the best banh mì in town. Prices have crept up to 35.000 vnd, but still worth every đồng. And we witnessed an amazing cultural change. Customers queued to order their sandwiches, rather than pushing/shoving to the front of the line. When one young woman pushed to the front, she was sent to the back of the line! A first for me to witness in Vietnam!!
UPDATE – March, 2017: Once again, re-confirmed as one of our all-time favorites … prices between 35,000 -45,000 … and still worth every đồng.
UPDATE – February, 2018: Again, the lines are still long here, the bánh mì is the absolute best, and it’s a must try. You’ll enjoy this sandwich, for sure.
UPDATE – March, 2019: If it’s possible, this sandwich is better than ever! Price continues to creep a bit higher, now about 55,000 and for their very special bánh mì. But, you won’t regret enjoying the best sandwich in Saigon.
UPDATE – January, 2020: This year’s sandwich was large, and filled with yummy ingredients. But sadly, both Hai and I agreed, it was somewhat less wonderful than in the past!? Almost seemed a bit more “Westernized” and less Vietnamese! Maybe fewer pickled veggies?? Still delicious, but …
Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa
26 Le Thi Rieng Street
District 1
HCMC
View HUYNH HOA – Saigon’s Best Banh Mi in a larger map
Just got back from HCMC, there is a banh mi cart at the corner of Hoa Hao and Nguyen Tri Phuong called Chi Hong. (District 10 I think) Right in front of the Domino’s pizza, only opens at night when the Domino’s closes. Excellent banh mi. Got to speak with the owner, they have been there for decades. The difference I find out was that they make their own meat for the stand! Yes I also went to Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa which was good, but I think Chi Hong is better. Also I find the servers at Huynh Hoa quite rude to foriegners, it’s kind of funny because they think you don’t understand Vietnamese.
[…] whom I travel for work is always on top of her game when it comes to food, and she’d read about Huynh Hoa on some blogs. There’s always a line, but the not-too-long wait is worth it. The meats and pâté […]
After three years of trusting Eating Saigon for food recommendations, we have never been steered wrong. Went to Hunyh Hoa tonight, and it is even better than described. The price has gone up to 32.000, but worth every penny. My only possible criticism is I like my pickled veggies a bit pickled, and these were mostly fresh. The acid would have made these impossible to top in my book. Still might be impossible to top with their perfect bread, meats and pate. Three yums for sure!
[…] would highly recommend checking out this banh mi place. We walked past it the first night and there were 15 people waiting in line. I had it the next […]
Hi Joe – I tried this and I think I’ve been spoiled by other banh mi in Hanoi & Hoi An and I think this place came in 4th among all the banh mi I’ve had in the past several weeks.The Pate was good, but the meat & veggies weren’t as crisp as other’s I’ve had.
Hanoi: Banh MI 25 was really tasty & fresh ingredients.
Hoi An: Madam Khan “Banh Mi Queen” really soaks all her ingredients and I’d classify it as a “web banh mi” but oh my is it good. A little sweeter than most as well.
Hoi An: Banh MI Phuong really has the best bread of all the banh mi. Fresh ingredients as well.
All in all, I’d say this is not a bad banh mi by any stretch and sometimes I’d say that trying to judge different banh mi can be like judging different scotches – they’re all good they just taste different.
Thurman
Welcome back to Saigon Thurman. I must say, you seem to have become a banh mi aficiando! Here on Eating Saigon!, we’ve been only rating/eating at Saigon locations. But, for sure, when we travel to Hoi An and Hanoi again, we’ll give your “top 3” a try. 🙂
Best Bánh mi in Vietnam till now. 32 000 dng worth it
This is definitely walking distance in the tourist area where our hotel was located, if only it were only for breakfast and lunch and not just late afternoon. We loved the banh mi here. The banh mi was crispy with great flavors and plentiful of meat to savor.
Thank you for the recommendation!
They cost you 30000 per each now. Delicious to the last bite!
Thankyou thankyou thankyou!!! They now cost 28000 but are worth every last bite!!!
We picked up four of these subs for 27000 dong each for a total of 108! They were really good and they toasted the bread.
If you go to this location, I really suggest only ordering the dat biet (đặc biệt) only. Its way tastier than the regular.
I tried this place today. Pretty good but I’m not sure it’s better than the pate/fried egg banh mi places on Tran Hung Dao, which incidentally are half the price too.
Thanks. I’d love to try the place you mention. Do you have a name or an address or some way I can find it?
Really is good. Best in Saigon as you said. But price raise. It 24000 now. But still worth every penny. Cheers. 🙂
walked there this morning. not open. didn’t realize their opening hours are 1530 to 2400. went back in the evening. brought some. it was SUBLIME. I’m not a fan of banh mi but this is great stuff. are 2 in a row. the portion is really big. gotta walk 5km in Saigon to burn off the calories. i think the portion is biggest than a big Mac. thankyou so much for blogging bout this banh mi huynh hoa shop!
We will check out banh mi at Huynh Hoa sometimes.
A while ago, we tried Banh Mi 37 at 37 Nguyen Trai, District 1. It is really good for the price of 14,000 VND. No wonder Concierge.com rated it as one of the best street food in the world (you can easily see it on Google). This banh mi is made mainly with grilled pork, sauce and vegetables (no pate).
YUM! Life is great with bánh mì pate xá xiú in hand and a tall glass of cà phe sửa đá to go with it. These two are made for each other.
If you are planning to stay in Viet Nam for Vaccation. One suggestion would be Hà Tiên. This is the southern equivalent to Hạ Long in the North.