In Houston, Vietnamese cuisine is as popular and prevalent as Tex-Mex or barbecue. And, in the last several years, dishes like pho and banh mi have become as common a lunch as a Barnaby’s salad. Of course, Vietnamese food comprises much more than noodle soup and pork sandwiches, but the simple banh mi has become a fast food option for diners across the country. With its robust Vietnamese community and top notch restaurants, Houston has some of the best spots in which to indulge.
While grilled pork tends to be a standard, other proteins are popular too, including meatballs, chicken, beef, and tofu. The list of great places to get banh mi in a city the size of Houston is massive, but we have some of the best places to try different varieties and discover a new favorite.
Cali Sandwich and Pho
This family-owned eatery in Midtown is still one of the best bargains in town for a tasty banh mi. While baguette snobs may debate endlessly about texture, Cali’s bread has a soft chew and it gets a good slathering of mayo and pate. You can’t go wrong with the barbecue pork (thit nuong), but the dac biet, or Cali combo, is one of its most popular sandwiches. It’s layered with cold cuts, including head cheese. Don’t dine without an order of crispy egg rolls. 2900 Travis St., Houston
Mekong Sandwich
Cypress foodies don’t have to venture into the city to get delicious Vietnamese cuisine, because Mekong Sandwich has been delivering the goods for years. The banh mi sandwiches are generously filled with proteins such as grilled pork, ham, tofu, or grilled chicken. Its pork meatball banh mi is like a deconstructed version, with a meatball served on the side in broth. Guests can add fish sauce, peanut sauce, or egg for an additional cost. Try one of the fresh-squeezed lemonades or jasmine tea as a pairing. 11600 Jones Rd., Houston, mekongsandwich.com
Roostar Vietnamese Grill
University of Houston alums, Linda and Ronnie Nguyen, operate three locations of this popular Vietnamese restaurant well-regarded for its banh mi. All ingredients are made in-house, including the pickled vegetables and garlic aioli. Regulars know to get the “special”, which is loaded with pork belly, ham, and pate. For non-meat eaters, Roostar offers crispy tofu with several flavors, including lemon pepper and garlic butter. There’s even a breadless banh mi, built with a lettuce wrap. Multiple locations, myroostar.com
Le Emperor
This elegant Vietnamese restaurant is a Cypress gem, and the locals are vocal when it comes to singing its praises. It has a small, but mighty menu of banh mi. The baguette sandwiches include the traditional blend of mayonnaise, shredded carrots, cucumber, sliced jalapenos, and cilantro. Guests can choose their protein from options like grilled pork or chicken, well-done brisket, and lemongrass chicken, beef, or tofu. The sandwiches are pricey, but they include a heap of truffle French fries and a side of excellent service. Splurge on the spicy soft shell cra as a starter. 11702 Grant Rd., Cypress, leemperor.com
Saigon Hustle
Sandy Nguyen and Cassie Ghaffar are best friends that met at University of Houston, and now operate two locations of this hip, fast-casual Vietnamese eatery, with franchises to come. There’s a sandwich for everyone—whether you like chargrilled barbecue pork, honey soy chicken, or lemongrass salmon. The veggie banh mi piles on fresh ingredients like cucumber, pickled carrots, daikon, cilantro, and jalapenos. Multiple locations, saigonhustle.com
Don Cafe
Family-owned Don Cafe recently celebrated 23 years in business and has two locations in Houston’s Asiatown and in Stafford. Banh mi lovers are loyal to the cafe for its freshly-made bread, which can be toasted on request, and fresh ingredients. The dac biet special is popular, but so is the bbq beef or pork. Prices are reasonable, and diners can top their sandwich with an egg for just a dollar. Know before you go: the Bellaire location is cash only. Multiple locations
Hughies Tavern & Vietnamese Grille
This Vietnamese restaurant and pub has an extensive menu, so if you’re craving banh mi and your companion is jonesing for a burger, Hughie’s has you covered. The shaking beef is a specialty, but Hughie’s is just as well known for its toasted baguette sandwiches. The prices are reasonable, considering their size. In addition to grilled pork, sauteed beef, and tofu, there is a shaking chicken variety. Here, pate and fried egg are add-ons. Multiple locations, hughiesgrille.com
Alpha Bakery & Deli
Located in Hong Kong City Mall in Houston’s Asiatown, this sandwich shop shines because of its freshly-baked bread. It’s cheap, cheerful, and cash-only. Customers can watch as the sandwiches are loaded up with whatever protein you choose and most sandwiches are only $5. This is primarily a to-go spot and you’ll definitely want to explore the Chinese charcuterie and interesting snacks in its market. 11209 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, hkcitymall.website
Moon Rabbit
This bustling bistro in the Heights has two talented chefs, Tam Nguyen and Rudy Vasquez, who create their modern take on Vietnamese cuisine. It’s a cozy spot to hang with friends for a sandwich and an El Tigre cocktail. The list of banh mi includes the bo kho dip, a Vietnamese twist on the classic French dip. The sandwich is filled with braised beef shank and served with a side of spicy and sweet broth, just waiting to be sopped up by the crusty French bread. There’s also a Vietnamese cold cut version, a spicy fried chicken baguette, plus a banh mi with mushrooms and tofu. 605 W. 19th St., Houston, moonrabbithtx.com
Paris Banh Mi
This nationwide chain has two Houston-area stores, and both receive great reviews for flavor and price. The restaurants are nicely decorated, with a touch of Parisian charm. The banh mi offerings include dac biet, pate jambon, shredded chicken, and grilled pork patties. For a French twist, diners can opt to have their sandwich on a croissant in lieu of a baguette. Pair with a boba tea and save room for pastries. Multiple locations, parisbanhmi.com
Vietwich
From hosting a YouTube cooking show, to competing on NBC’s America’s Next Great Restaurant, owner Viet Tran worked very hard to realize his dream of opening a restaurant. Located in Stafford, Vietwich is counter service, but there are a few tables for dining in. The sandwiches include classic beef, pork, or chicken, plus interesting options like the TKO filled with caramelized pork belly and pickled mustard greens. The enkoi tofu Vietwich has fried tofu with enoki mushroom sauce. For a little extra, guests can add shallots, fried egg, or kimchi. 203 Dulles Ave., Stafford, vietwich.com
Blood Bros. BBQ
While the pitmasters at this Bellaire barbecue joint are known for their unique flavor profiles and creations, their banh mi sandwiches lean fairly traditional… but with a smoky Texas twist. Toasted baguettes come dressed with garlic aioli, chicken liver pate, pickled carrots and daikon, jalapenos, and cilantro. The hard part is deciding between smoked turkey breast, char siu pork loin, smoked pork tit nuong, or pho-rub beef bellly. Order a side of brisket fried rice, or smoked pork and kimchi egg rolls for a full-on feast. 5425 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire, bloodbrosbbq.com
Les Ba’Get
The banh mi sandwiches at Les Ba’Get can be a bit more expensive than most, but they’re also generously-sized. For lovers of lemongrass, there’s pork or tofu banh mi, plus a lemongrass grilled bone marrow dish that’s out of this world. Other top-selling sandwiches include beef belly and hoisin butter chicken. Diners can grab a beer or a THC seltzer to pair with their meal, and there are cocktails if you want to linger a while. 1717 W. 34th St., Houston, fresh.lesbaget.com
