A taste of Vietnam? Where to find authentic banh mi in Singapore

Ask any Vietnamese person for their banh mi recommendations, and chances are that they’ll send you straight to Banh Mi Thit. The no-frills spot only serves banh mi, and you’ll find a few options on the menu: chicken, beef, pork ham, stir-fried pork and egg. The sandwiches are dressed with a secret house-made sauce, fresh vegetables, pickles, chilli and coriander, and all the ingredients are tucked into a buttered, freshly baked baguette. Even if you don’t live in the area, this is well worth the trip.

543 Geylang Road, Singapore 389498
Opening hours: Tues - Sun (10am to 9.30pm)

At 233 Banh Mi, you’ll discover fully loaded sandwiches stuffed with moreish ingredients. For starters, there’s the chicken option, which is filled with shredded grilled chicken, pâté, pickled carrots, cucumber and coriander, plus a house-made sauce. It’s a flavour bomb, with the different ingredients combining to deliver a well-balanced bite. Also worth trying is the beef sandwich that comes with tender, well-marinated sirloin. Don’t forget to order some sweet, creamy Vietnamese iced coffee or Bubble iced Oolong milk tea to accompany your food.

157 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427483
Opening hours: Mon - Sat (8am to 8pm)

Sandwich Saigon has been delivering quality Vietnamese cuisine for almost two decades, and is a go-to spot for anyone looking to get their banh mi fix. Crispy, crackly baguettes are paired with traditional and modern fillings. You can get everything from the Saigon Special with pork belly and ham, to the Spicy Tuna Sandwich, to the novel Chicken Cheese Sausage Sandwich.

116 Changi Rd, Singapore 419718
Opening hours: Varied timings can be found here

This unassuming, hole-in-the-wall store boasts some of the top banh mi in the city-state, and draws long queues, be it office workers or weekend warriors, during the busy lunch period. The draw? Freshly baked, oh-so crispy baguettes that are stuffed to the gills with all manner of fresh and flavourful ingredients. Go straight for the signature Bami Saigon. It comes with pork liver pâté, pork ham, stewed pork and chicken floss. There’s also the solid Bami Vegetarian for veggie lovers, with fried tofu and an addictive bean sauce.

Blk 5 Tanjong Pagar Plz, Singapore 081005
Opening hours: Mon - Sat (7.30am to 5pm)

The baguettes here are made in-house using a specially imported oven and flour, so you know they’re serious about the authenticity of their banh mi. You can take your pick from a few different options, with ingredients ranging from Vietnamese sausage and pork pâté to minced beef wrapped in betel leaf and herby lemongrass tofu. The bread is super-crispy and fluffy, and the ingredients are fresh. We particularly like the zesty pickled vegetables – they use carrots, daikon and cucumber here – for the crunch they add to the sandwich.

81 Clemenceau Avenue, #01-23, Singapore 239917
Opening hours: Mon - Sun (11am to 9pm)

Although their sandwiches are a tad on the smaller side, they’re packed with umami and are ideal for a light meal or a hearty snack. The Traditional Vietnamese Sandwich includes unctuous homemade pâté, pork belly, cold cuts and various vegetables and herbs, all tucked between a crispy baguette that’s been swiped with mayo.

Various locations islandwide. Visit here for more information.

Located in a coffee shop in Geylang, this small, under-the-radar stall dishes out stellar banh mi. Their sandwiches are made with bread that’s baked from scratch each day. We suggest ordering the specialty Grilled Pork Baguette, which features chunky slices of pork topped with crunchy vegetables, chilli slices and a smattering of coriander. If you’re here on a cold and rainy day, there’s the Beef Stew Baguette, which is served with a warming bowl of beef stew.

375 Upper Aljunied Road, Singapore 367860
Opening hours: Mon - Sun (9am to 9pm)

For a novel take on traditional banh mi, make your way to La Saigon. The café primarily specialises in Vietnamese coffee, and offers a range of drinks made with beans imported directly from Vietnam and roasted in Singapore. As for the sandwiches, they’re made using sourdough baguettes, which makes them stand out from the crowd. The dough has a light tang that adds a whole other dimension to the tasty sandwich. Fillings include egg omelette, fried tofu, lemongrass chicken, and roasted pork.

914 East Coast Rd, #01-04, Singapore 459108
Opening hours: Mon - Sun (10am to 10pm)

This article was first published in The Singapore Women’s Weekly. 

Additional reporting by: Latisha Sonia Shaymentyran