Hours
Daily 3pm–midnight (sells out)
Region
Asia
The Review
Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa is widely considered the best bánh mì shop in Vietnam, which means it may be the best bánh mì shop in the world. It operates out of a narrow street-front space in District 1 and opens at 3pm every day. By evening the line stretches down the block and the owner is already looking toward the point when she will sell out.
The bread is extraordinary: French baguette tradition filtered through 50 years of Vietnamese baking, the crust shattering, the interior tight and almost custard-soft. The filling is a performance of assembly: multiple pork preparations (roasted pork, Vietnamese pork sausage, liver pâté), layers of pickled daikon and carrot, sliced cucumber, fresh cilantro, jalapeño, a swipe of butter.
The price is roughly 40,000 Vietnamese dong — less than two American dollars. The wait is 30 minutes. The sandwich is better than most things you have ever paid significantly more for. The math does not add up in any satisfying direction.
What to Order
The deluxe version with all fillings. Point if you don't speak Vietnamese — the counterwomen will understand. Add extra jalapeño if you can handle heat.
Tips
Arrive at 3pm when they open to avoid the worst of the wait. They sell out nightly — do not arrive after 10pm expecting to get one. Cash only, small bills preferred.
Our Rating
★★★★★
Price Range
$