Usually comprising a crusty roll, pickled veggies, fresh herbs, hot chiles, pate, and a protein, the banh mi is a traditional dish that invites creativity. Regardless of what’s inside, a great banh mi is always a spicy, tangy, rich masterclass in flavor and texture. With a vast population of Vietnamese restaurants that offer everything from barbecued jackfruit and ginger chicken to savory ham and crispy pork, Chicago is home to many stellar iterations of the dish.
Chicago’s Best Banh Mi
Where to find the best Vietnamese sandwiches
Chicago’s Best Banh Mi
Where to find the best Vietnamese sandwiches
Usually comprising a crusty roll, pickled veggies, fresh herbs, hot chiles, pate, and a protein, the banh mi is a traditional dish that invites creativity. Regardless of what’s inside, a great banh mi is always a spicy, tangy, rich masterclass in flavor and texture. With a vast population of Vietnamese restaurants that offer everything from barbecued jackfruit and ginger chicken to savory ham and crispy pork, Chicago is home to many stellar iterations of the dish.
Nhà Hàng Vietnam Restaurant
Uptown Vietnamese spot Nha Hang’s banh mi sandwiches feature “sour carrots” alongside radish, jalapeno, and green onion for a fresh, punchy bite. Its vast menu also offers hot pot and countless noodle soups.
Ba Le Sandwiches
Ba Le is the brainchild of chef Le Vo, who opened restaurants in San Jose and Chicago in the ‘80s after decades of cooking in Vietnam. Its long list of options includes char siu pork, vegan lemongrass chicken (made with king oyster mushrooms), and a lemon-fish sauce shrimp version.
CoCo Vietnamese Sandwiches & Phở
This affordable and lauded Ravenswood spot offers classics like lemongrass pork and grilled beef, as well as traditional egg and shredded chicken sandwiches. For those looking to branch out, the pho game is strong and the vermicelli bowls don’t disappoint.
Nhu Lan Bakery
Nhu Lan Bakery, who bakes their bread fresh daily and has a menu of around 20 sandwiches, is basically synonymous with banh mi in Chicago. You can’t go wrong with anything from this Lincoln Square staple. That said, there’s a reason that the first item on the banh mi menu is named after the restaurant. There’s also a second location on Sheridan Road.
Bánh Mì & Co
When a restaurant is named for a dish (or vice versa), it can really go one of two ways. In the case of Lakeview’s Banh Mi & Co., it indicates a specialty worth trying. The banh mi menu is full of classics; a vegetarian and vegan menu adds a couple more options, like lemongrass tofu and seitan.
Del Seoul
Known for Korean tacos and wings, don’t sleep on Del Seoul’s sandwich offerings. Predictably, they lean Korean with bulgogi and a crispy fried shrimp version with a sweet sesame glaze. Del Seoul is a bright spot along Clark Street in Lincoln Park.
BiXi Beer
It’s tough to define Bixi Beer’s cuisine, as chef Bo Fowler takes inspiration from China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The Owen & Engine chef is known for not taking shortcuts — which often leads to food that’s more expensive than what you’d expect. But Fowler is also creating the best possible version of the item. She’ll bake bread fresh, source the meats from the best farms, and make sauces from scratch. Bixi’s pork belly banh mi is incredible. The bread is ridiculously crispy with a butter interior. For an additional treat, Fowler says customers can substitute Italian beef for a Chicago-style banh mi.
Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago
Bon Bon Sandwiches
This Wicker Park haven does traditional banh mi the right way, but also has solid fusion options like Thai coconut curry chicken (or seitan) and Korean bulgogi beef. While the fringe offerings are enticing, you can’t go wrong with a classic, whether straight ahead or vegan, which features walnut-mushroom pate.
Phodega
This casual Wicker Park Vietnamese restaurant has found new life along Division Street. Their big seller is a concept that’s sweeping the nation, blending the French dip with the banh mi. The Viet Dip is an Asian American creation with sliced ribeye, cilantro, onion, and japlapeños with a cup of pho jus.
Saigon Sisters
Run by actual sisters Mary Nguyen Aregoni and Theresa Nguyen (alongside their mother, Mama Suu), Saigon Sisters opened in 2009 in the Chicago French Market, followed by locations in Northwestern Memorial Hospital and West Loop. The spicy-creamy Porky is a must, while the barbecue jackfruit version is a worthwhile vegetarian option.
Lotus Cafe & Banh Mi Sandwich
Many know Lotus Cafe as a University Village mainstay — owners Dao Nguyen and Kim Dao are former UIC students — but with a number of locations across town, all have access. A small-but-mighty banh mi menu includes honey grilled pork, sauteed rib-eye with sunny-side up egg, and the Veggiecado (crispy tofu, soy, avocado, sweet chili sauce).
Ocean Grill & Bar
Just because Ocean Bar’s menu diverges from typical Vietnamese fare doesn’t mean that diners should avoid the banh mi. This newish Vietnamese is located in Chinatown with a focus on seafood with impeccable detail. While there is no seafood banh mi option, the grilled pork and braised beef options are delicious enough for those not into shellfish.
