Banh Mi Saigon

Very low key little shop between china town and NoLita, that is always busy and with good reason. The sandwich was every bit as good as I was expecting it to be based on the reviews.
I had the classic pork banh. I ordered it spicy, but it was not really very hot. It was just filled with great taste.
Prices are very low. Great value.

headed here to pick up take-​out around 230pm yesterday, few #1s and goi cuons (summer rolls @ $ 2/​ea roll). usually, there’s a line, no matter what time of the day, so i was really surprised & glad only 1 person in front of me. i looked up at their menu before headed to the line and was surprised to see the cost of their #1 banh mis went up from $ 4.50 to $ 5.25. bummer…
#1 spicy pork banh mi — grilled pork tasted great, can’t say the same for the sliced pork, which was somehow lost in the mix, cilantro was fresh, cucumber/​jalapeño peppers were crunchy/​fresh, carrots/​daikon were pickled perfectly (not too sour), bread was thick, fresh & soft and nice how they included a small condiment container of chili sauce. what was disappointing was the ratio of the grilled pork to everything else. it was pretty minimum like, rrreally minimum… disappointing minimum.
goi cuon — crisp, fresh, tasty herbs but shrimp was extremely bland, as if there weren’t any shrimp in there! the peanut sauce was mediocre (thin, runny, and peanut taste super weak).
end of the day, will i buy the banh mis, again… maybe but not for a long time and definitely never/​ever on the goi cuons.
…now i know why there wasn’t any line…

Tasty and cheap! Dinner for two came out at right under $ 13.
Seems to be very fresh. The spicy pork banh mi was very tasty. The summer rolls was good, but a bit boring after eating two (the portion is three large rolls.) I wish that they had added some carrots/​mango/​cucumber.

I never get tired of this place and the banh mi here stays true to its traditional taste. Growing up with vietnamese cuisine, it is my right to be a skeptic and judge between the fakes and authentics. The owner started her business at a quaint location under the Manhattan bridge area back in the early 90s.
It was coincidental after all these years, the taste has stayed consistent, a challenge for any food establishment. For any beginners walking into the place, start off with the «dac biet» (house special) sandwich. The hand picked veggies, signature baked pork bits and fresh baked bread from scratch is enough to get your taste buds hooked.
You won’t be disappointed and will remember this place as «that viet sandwich place with a jewelry store» if your stomach gets a banh mi craving again.

Another price hike as of June 1, 2016! *thumbs down.
There is always a line but it moves quick and efficiently. When the cashier takes your order she will ask «Spicy or not spicy» so be prepared to answer SPICY! The jalopenos add the perfect punch of heat.

At $ 4.5 (used to be $ 3.75 in the early 2000’s), their pork sandwich (#1) is still a great sandwich deal. It is true that during different times that the bread can be extra crispy or stale but there overall sandwich is a great pick me up for a snack or lunch. I like their shrimp chips that they have for $ 2 as well. The Viet coffee is good and at a great price. All in all, I would try the summer rolls (shrimp or bbq pork), pork sandwich, chicken sandwich, shrimp chips, and coffee drinks there!

I first came here a few years ago, when they had a free banh mi special from LivingSocial. Ha, remember LivingSocial? That was fun. Anyways, they really impressed me with their banh mi, but it took me awhile to come back, mostly because Xe May and Saigon Shack were both closer to where I lived at the time. The inside is your standard shop with random seating strewn throughout the place, as well as the usual jewelry stand on the side. Wait, what?
I tried the BBQ Pork banh mi (Banh mi Saigon), which had a lot of good pickled vegetables, although the cucumber slices were cut a little big for my tastes. The BBQ pork wasn’t the best, since the texture was really dry, and kinda hard to chew through. The bread, while not stale, wasn’t the freshest, but far from the problem. The pâté was fine, although sort of on the greasier side. However, the chicken banh mi was far better to chew through, and something I’d recommend more than the BBQ pork banh mi. I tried the BBQ pork summer roll, as well, which was pretty dry and you have to use the sauce. Again, they use the really dried out BBQ pork, which isn’t the best quality, so I’d stick to the regular summer roll or the shrimp one.
Service isn’t the friendliest, although they are pretty quick about getting your orders finished. They forgot to take out the cilantro like I asked, but it wasn’t the end of the world. The real pull here is the value, as you can get a pretty big sandwich for about $ 4.50. Despite the ingredients not always being the freshest, it’s still quite a bargain. It’s kinda nice that they cut the sandwiches into 2, so you can save the second half for later.
I’ll be back for a chicken banh mi. I recommend taking them to go, bringing the sandwiches back, and giving the bread a light toast, to give it some texture. Regardless, as of right now, Banh Mi Saigon is the place to go for cheap banh mi.

So this is the place to be if you want a Bahn mi while you’re in Chinatown. First off, the bread alone is incredible… It’s flavorful, delicious, and perfectly accentuates the flavors of the Bahn mi. As for the Bahn mi, this place knows what they’re doing and they do it right. The amount of freshness and flavor pumped into what they’re serving up is incredible and I find myself craving one of these at least 3 times a week. Best of all, it’s $ 4.50 for a foot long Bahn mi!
Try it. Love it. Thank me later.

Out of all the Viet sandwich places I’ve tried, this place is the best! I’ve only ever gotten the BBQ pork sandwich and I love it! I love every single ingredient in the sandwich, except maybe the cilantro. I wouldn’t miss that at all if I took it out.
The sandwich is delicious, but if you happen to come when they are freshly made and still warm, it’s AMAZING! I don’t know how to explain it to someone who’s never tried banh mi before, but those that have, YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! Makes the next time you eat a cold banh mi kind of disappointing.
Service here is super fast, and the employees are generally not rude.
Took off a star because the baguette always cuts the roof of my mouth :(

This place is as authentic as it gets. The french baguette is crispy, soft on the inside and has enough room to stuff all of usual fixings in a banh mi. I ordered the #1 roast pork with the Vietnamese coffee. I did not expect the bag to feel so heavy with just 1 order of banh mi. The sandwhich is made so well and each ingredient is perfectly placed that when they cut into it nothing falls out. The roast pork is hot, meat tastes moist and the pork has some added flavor with their seasoning. You get the large cucumber, cilantro, french pâté sauce, butter, carrots and radish inside. The coffee has that distinct Vietnamese taste not to sugary, but the black coffee will keep you up for hours. Even on a Saturday busy afternoon I was in and out in 10 minutes. I’ll be back to try their other sandwhiches and spring rolls.

This place offers crispy and delicious sandwiches. The crust of the bread is very fresh and crispy.
For $ 5 or less you can get any foot-​long sandwiches that are way cheaper than Subways sandwiches!
Definitely worth coming to this place for the value of the food and its great taste!

My banh mi sandwich was ready before I even got to the register. Somehow I felt like royalty again, now GO FETCH MY CROWN!
4.50 for a roast pork Vietnamese baguette with patae, pickled radish, hefty portions of cilantro toasted and wrapped. Count me in!
I’m used to the second-​class citizen treatment: ordering, waiting 5 min for the food, wait for it all to bag… sigh.
Due to the obvious traffic this place receives, popular menu items are made continuously to feed hungry patrons flowing in the double glass doors. I was in and out in less than a minute.
The banh mi here is comparable to Ba Xuyen in brooklyn, which automatically renders this a 5 star. In Brooklyn, you would have to wait like everyone else, but the bonus is that they serve my avocado smoothie. Saigon! Put avocado smoothie on the menu, and I will be converted.

Love the Viet sandwich here. I think I came here at least 20 times. I always order the #1 BBQ Pork sandwich that’s hot. The bread can be soft or hard depending on how the store toast it. Sometimes if I couldn’t finish half of the sandwich I save it for lunch the next day. You can microwave or steam the bread for 1 minute. It’s still good the next day. The line moves really quick and the cashiers are friendly. Theres a few stools where customers can sit and enjoy the sandwiches. There’s other foods besides the Viet sandwiches for purchase. I will come back here if I’m craving Viet sandwiches.

I was on a search for good, affordable banh mi in the city when I came across this place. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a decent number of banh mi places in the city, but it’s weird seeing them priced at ~$ 10 when you know they can be closer to $ 4. Enter Bahn Mi Saigon.
It’s a tiny place that can’t even really be called a store, since it shares the space with a jewelry shop. Walk past that to the little counter at the back and make your choice from the selection on the wall. Banh mi fillings range from the standard ham and pâté to beef curry (bo kho) and grilled pork chop. Prices hover around a happy $ 4.50. Each sandwich is neatly cut in two, which is convenient if you want to save half for later. A lot of times half a sandwich can be enough if you’re not starving, because these things are packed.
BBQ PORK BANH MI:
All sandwiches come with pickled daikon and carrots, cucumber, and fresh cilantro on a fresh, crusty baguette. They’ll ask you if you want it spicy, which means the addition of fresh jalapenos. The BBQ pork is similar to charsiu and probably my favorite meat to get here. I also like adding pâté for an additional 50 cents, because banh mi w/​o pâté just seems like it’s missing something to me. They keep Sriracha on the small countertops, and I highly recommend adding it on top!
Service here is always quick and friendly, and I always leave feeling amazed that I just paid $ 5 or less. Just remember that it’s cash only and they close early (6pm)!

As fellow Unilocalers say, this place is the best bahn mi I’ve ever had!
I’m so glad I was lucky enough to stumble upon this place in chinatown.
For just $ 4.50 you can get yourself a freshly cooked sandwich. I had the bbq pork and the chicken with my boyfriend ^^
At first bite, I fell in love. I love banh mi and I’ve never had one as great as this. The food comes out quick and there is plenty of seats. The store itself is very big and spacious.
It’s cash only so make sure you bring cash with you!

Best Vietnamese sandwich I have ever had and ever will have. I get these any chance I walk by, you can’t go wrong with a BBQ pork sandwich for $ 4.50. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, get 2 you can do it. Perfect for post workout, there’s plenty of meat to keep you going. The cashiers can be a little intimidating cause they move so fast with the orders but once you get your sandwich nothing else matters. If you’re in the Chinatown area, make sure to stop by and grab a sandwich even if you aren’t hungry.

This is the first time I ever came to Banh Mi Saigon. Crazy right? It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon on the most warm of all winter days. There was a line of about 6 – 7 people but the wait was minimal. They are highly efficient, the shop appears very clean, and has ample seating. What’s not to like? Plus there is a random jewelry stand smack in the middle of the shop, how interesting is that?
I had the pork and pâté banh mi (#4) and I am a huge fan. You can never go wrong with the classic. And for the price of $ 4.50? I’m not complaining! My husband had the BBQ pork banh mi (#1), which also costed $ 4.50. He loves it but I thought it was just okay — I prefer the pork and pâté banh mi more. I’m just not crazy about caramelized bits of meat, plus I love pâté and there was none of that in there.
Will definitely visit again if I’m around the area.

I don’t get all the banh mi accolades about this place. My banh mi was disappointing:
— the pork wasn’t particularly tasty
— super skimp portion of terrine (the thin strip of meat between the veggies and pork in the pic)
— no pâté as advertised
— super stale bread to the point of being crispy
— everything was lukewarm at best
I guess this place is pretty cheap and quick, but if you’re craving a delicious banh mi then do yourself a favor and head to V-​Nam Café!

I haven’t been looking too long for vietnamese food because mostly this quite lacking in Manhattan. But after a little research, I went to nom on combo sandwich– pork/​pâté and shrimp spring rolls. Both were really good. I went back the next day for the freshly made spring rolls available to the left of the register. =)
$ 5 sandwich and $ 6 for spring rolls.

Found this little gem while looking for another banh mi place that I usually go to. And let me tell you. It was THE BEST DISCOVERY yet.
I was getting so frustrated looking for the other banh mi place but don’t know where the heck they went??? So, I turned to Unilocal for help and found this gem. Took a while to get here since the map app made us walk in circles. I was about to give up but thank God I didn’t! This is so far the best banh mi I’ve had. Looking from the pictures and the recommendations of fellow Unilocalers, I decided to order the #1(BBQ pork) you can also get it spicy but I opted for the regular one.
The line moves really fast, there was about 5 people in front of me and I placed my order and received my order in less than 5 minutes! Kudos for fast service! This place is cash only so remember to bring some cash! There’s also an atm right across the street but there’s a surcharge of $ 3! I had to use the atm… I forgot that I only had 3 dollars in my wallet and I was determined to get me some banh mi after all the trouble I went through for it. In terms of pricing, I think the prices here were relatively cheap for banh mi! Do check it out if you’re in Chinatown/​little Italy!

This sandwich shop in Chinatown is one the best places to get a Vietnamese sandwich. It has a variety of sandwiches from meats to vegan. The best one and most popular is the #1 BBQ pork, it’s always made fresh so your not getting something that has been sitting out. I also tried the Vegan sandwich which is also quite tasty as well. They also have other snacks and appetizer items on the side as well but the main event are the sandwiches.
Every time I go to this place its always busy which is a good thing but the workers get the line moving quick. They don’t have actual tables to sit at but there is seating on the side with small counter tables eat and go. If you want very good Vietnamese sandwiches then this is the spot for you in NYC.

Banh Mi Saigon is my go-​to for quick, affordable Vietnamese sandwiches. It’s good, quick, and filling. As some of the best banh mi I’ve had in the city, this is reason enough for my 4.5÷5.0
Walk into the store and you’ll find a jewelry counter to the left. Strange, yes, but don’t let that stop you from walking to the back counter for ordering up a sandwich or two. Atop the fridges of drinks to pick from is a menu board of all the sandwiches they offer. Since I’m not one to deviate from the usual, their first one is the typical bánh mì nem nng. French baguette, slathered with a good helping of butter, cilantro, daikon, carrots, cucumbers, jalapeño, ham, bbq pork, and fish sauce. They’re made just right according to the bánh mì handbook.
There’s a good amount of seating and people chow down quickly as they file in so there’s always a seat to be found if they’re filled. I’ve never been let down ever, so this is why they’re always tops on my list. 4.5÷5.0

After seeing the pictures on Unilocal that made me drool, I planned to finally make time to go to Banh Mi Saigon. It was freezing cold outside today but the pictures made it look like it was worth the walk. I’m so glad I made this decision!!! Banh Mi Saigon is AMAZING. It is definitely one of the best Banh Mi’s I’ve ever had. I got the Spicy BBQ Pork ($ 4.50). Not only is this place incredibly cheap, but the service here is really friendly too. I walked in to see a CASH ONLY sign, and the old man behind the counter kindly directed me to the nearest ATM. I came back and ordered my food.
The Banh Mi was the perfect texture. It had the right amount of crunch. The bread wasn’t too crunchy and stale that I couldn’t bite into it, like I have experience with other Banh Mi’s before. The pork was wells seasoned and flavorful. The pickled vegetables were the perfect amount of pickled. I also like how the Spicy BBQ Pork one has jalapeños and hot sauce in it. However, it’s not so spicy that it’s inedible which I loved.
On a side note, they sell jewelry here??? Theres a weird counter to the side with a bunch of jewelry lol. Maybe next time I come here i’ll consider a necklace…
I will definitely come back here!!! Great Banh Mi’s!!! CASH ONLY!!!

Loved it. Somewhere around $ 4.50 for a huge sandwich that can be split between two people. Contradictory to most people (as I’ve noticed based on reviews of various Banh Mi sandwiches all over the Internet), my favorite type is the #4 here — traditionally known as dac biet («special») at other places — which is a wonderful assortment of Vietnamese cold cuts, head cheese and liver pâté. The cold Banh mi, served atop warm crusty buttered baguette, is true heaven. The creamy and slightly bitter familiarity of the pâté, offset by the sweet and sour daikon and pickled carrot, and umami-​laden soy mayonnaise is a true miracle of texture and flavor. I don’t need grilled pork, grilled chicken, BBQ whatever. Not that I don’t love those things in the right setting, but they’re just not the true Dac Biet that springs to mind when I hear Banh Mi. This place nails it. And for an amazing price!

Great variety of banh mi sandwiches!
They used to be tucked in behind a jewelry shop. Now they share a bigger space with the same jewelry shop!
Got the veggie banh mi (not vegetarian) and it was so delightfully fresh and amazing. Love the baguette – it was crispy and a nice balance with the veggies. Super flavorful even without any meat or sub meats. It is not vegan though because mayo is used.
Try the shrimp chips – they are huge and super yummy.
I like Paris Sandwich across the street for my vegetarian banh mi chay, but this place can’t beat the price – $ 3.50 for a veggie banh mi!

I’ve been coming here for years, using this as a standard to compare when I try other banh mi places and this is the best (and cheapest) consistently delicious banh mi I’ve ever had.
My favorite: 1. BBQ Pork — $ 4.50
I used to get this every time to eat on the chinatown bus ride back to Penn State. YES, I WAS THAT GIRL. I’m sure others on the bus was either like «WTF that smells weird what is that sandwich» or «WTF that smells and looks delicious, I’m so jealous»… Yet I didn’t care. This sandwich was worth the stares I’m sure i got. (I actually don’t know because I was too busy scarfing down the sandwich to bother to look) It built character! ;)
I remember it used to be $ 3.75! But even years later, it’s not even $ 5 yet. And the same ladies working there for years, haha. They speak English so don’t be afraid!
Cash only. Pretty much take out but they do have a few seats on the side against the wall.

Go here. Quickly look at the menu. Decide what you want. Order and possibly be talked down to by the staff (they don’t mean it, I think, I hope). Wait for your order number to be yelled out. If you asked for your banh mi without mayo (like our coworker), expect to be called out on it when they yell your order. Get here either before or at noon. After 12:15, the line practically goes out the door. Take brown paper bag back to office. Eat. Enjoy. Make coworkers jealous that they are not enjoying pickled goodness. Rinse and repeat.

Favorite Banh Mi place by far. I usually get the regular bbq pork one with no cilantro (since I don’t like it) and spicy (with jalapenos). They give a good amount of the sour veggies which is the best part of the sandwich. The other really good one I like to get is the meatball one. It’s basically pork meatballs cooked with some tomatoes and it has a little sauce to give it some extra depth. I think I want to go get one tomorrow actually just thinking about it…

I passed this place the other day and realized that I haven’t had a Banh Mi sandwich from this place in almost 5 years. I had to go and get myself a sandwich the next day and sure glad I did because it tastes just like I remembered it.
At $ 4.50 for a hefty Banh Mi sandwich of pork, cucumber and pickled vegetables, this place is a 5 stars cheap eats. The bread is nice and crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and strong enough to hold all that delicious chewy, seasoned pork and sweet and acidic vegetables. I am truly glad to see that it is still so popular in the neighborhood and still has that jewelry store on the side. I wonder if anyone ever actually buys from there?!

Hands down the best, most affordable and quickest banh mi in New York.
Authentic and hella good.
Renee Rises

Chinatown offers a wide range of quick food options, but my go-​to is the banh mi sandwich from Saigon. It’s located in a small take-​out shop right across from Ferrara Bakery. Saigon makes 12 different types of banh mi sandwiches, including vegetarian. My personal favorite though is #1, the BBQ pork (be sure to request spicy or non-​spicy). The savory BBQ pork gets sandwiched into a baked crackly baguette along with cilantro, cucumber, pickled carrots, and daikon. It’s amazing… but the only downside? Their baguette can albeit inconsistent, sometimes being overly crunchy or just flat out cold. However, when done right they’re a tasty combination of contrasting textures and flavors for ONLY $ 4.50. What a bargain!

Perhaps the best and cheapest banh mi in the city and you might never know because apart from all of its low key, non hipster vibe, this is truly a hidden gem in the city.
The owners are very nice and extremely sweet. They were very patient with my order and did not shoe my friend and I out when it was closing time, as most other places would in the city.
The reason why this was the best was because the size of this sandwich was so much bigger than other banh mis i have had. They also use a good proportion of meat and vegetables in their sandwiches. There are some places in the city that are pretty stingy with meat and I was happy to find out that this was not one of those places.
And of course-​flavor was on point. I ordered the chicken banh mi, only five bucks and still tasted delicious the next day for lunch. Would love to come back here again.

Been craving banh mi for a while and had previously bookmarked Banh Mi Saigon. Today after a serious craving I decided to stop by before work.
I wanted to order a #1 (bbq pork) but the lady heard #2 (grilled chicken) — guess my Chinese was terrible. That’s fine, I can always come back to try more at the prices they’re using. Ordered it spicy and took a orange ‘n cream soda from the widely diverse drink selections.
Orange ‘n cream soda — amazing.
Grilled chicken banh mi — delicious.
Usually my stomach does not sit well with most foods but the sandwiches were perfection and not one tummy ache occured. The portions are generous and half of a sandwich is enough for lunch. I had to save the rest for dinner. Banh Mi Saigon, count on me returning!

I heard from others that this place is pretty authentic, so I came to give it a try. I got the chicken sandwich and thought it was pretty good — pretty simple too seeing that it was just breaded chicken with picked veggies and a ton of cilantro. My one complaint is that the bread was pretty dry. And I think if the ingredients inside the sandwich were actually mixed together, it would taste a lot better because it honestly tasted like I was eating a «cilantro» sandwich on the first few bites, then a «pickled veggie» sandwich at the middle, and then finally tasted the chicken, you know what i mean?
Otherwise, prices were decent for a nice portion, and quick service too.

Eh. I want real Vietnamese food. The banh mi Saigon… it’s not real to me. The pork was not cooked properly. It was dry. The pickled carrots and daikon were the highlight. It’s not that spicy either. But the jalapenos were crisp so I guess I will give BMS credit for that. There were so many elements that were not authentic. I feel like Lee’s Sandwiches did it a little better on this front.
Also, the service. BRO, I SPEAK VIETNAMESE AND I AM DOING THIS FOR YOUR BENEFIT. I do not appreciate you getting mad at me because of my accent. The cashier was so rude about the whole situation.
Overall, it satisfies a craving and that’s it.

I came here today for lunch and I had the number 7 spicy beef stew sandwich.
At first, the sandwich wasn’t bad at all. The meat was juicy and tender and it went well with the crunchy of the bread. Everything was good until half an hour after I finished my sandwich. My stomach started hurting…
Would I be returning? Probably not. On a side note, the Vietnamese ice coffee wasn’t bad though.

Oh my goodness, qu’est-ce qu’il était bon ce Banh Mi !
Du porc bien grillé, des légumes ultra frais, un pain crousti-moelleux,…les photos prises au coeur de l’action le confirme bien, non?
En plus d’être hyper bon, il est énoooorme (assez pour 2 petits estomacs), hyper bon marché (à 4,50 $, il a sa place dans le top 100 Cheap Eats de NY) et préparé très rapidement.
Par contre, pour le sourire, faudra aller ailleurs.

Les meilleurs banh mi que je connaisse et à un prix dérisoire. Un incontournable quand je suis à New York!

On a adoré !
Sandwich d’une fraîcheur délicieuse pour 4,5 dollars !
Un pour deux peut suffire pour les petits appétits
On y est retourné !