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Hands hold two banh mi over pavement
The banh mi from Ba Le in Dorchester are an exemplar of the genre
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Where to Eat Excellent Banh Mi in the Boston Area

When the mood for the iconic Vietnamese sandwich strikes, here’s where to go

by Terrence Doyle
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The banh mi from Ba Le in Dorchester are an exemplar of the genre
| Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater
by Terrence Doyle

Banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich served on a baguette that (ideally) has a shatteringly crisp exterior and a light, airy interior, and which is packed with a variety of ingredients that include some combination of pickled carrots, pickled daikon, grilled beef, grilled pork, head cheese, pate, jalapenos, and sweet mayonnaise. Which is to say, banh mi is the best possible version of a sandwich.

Luckily for Bostonians, the city and its surrounding suburbs boast a number of great Vietnamese restaurants offering excellent banh mi, many of which are situated in the part of Dorchester where Dorchester Avenue and Adams Street converge near Fields Corner. The eight restaurants on this map serve some of the best banh mi in Greater Boston.

Please note that a number of Boston-area restaurants have resumed dine-in service, and the level of service offered is indicated on each map point. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for dining in, as there are still safety concerns: For updated information on coronavirus cases in the area, please visit the Massachusetts coronavirus website.

Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.

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Viet Citron

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This relative newcomer is serving superb Vietnamese food in the ‘burbs. Try the banh hoi with crispy pork belly, but be sure to get the grilled lemongrass sirloin banh mi, too. (The sirloin can be swapped for several other proteins, such as grilled pawns or crispy tofu puffs.) Might as well throw in a side of cha gio, crispy pork and shrimp egg rolls.

Viet Citron is open for takeout and delivery, with a bit of outdoor seating in the parking lot while weather allows. (Third-party delivery is also available via DoorDash for a higher price.)

47 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA 01803
(781) 739-3655
(781) 739-3655
A Vietnamese baguette is packed with various pickled vegetables and grilled meats
The banh mi from Viet Citron
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Also featured in:

Pho Viet’s

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This award-winning Vietnamese restaurant is tucked away inside the Super 88 food hall on Commonwealth Avenue in Allston — at least for now, but it’s reportedly moving to the former Taqueria el Barrio space near Boston University soon. Go for the huge bowls of pho, stay for the grilled pork banh mi. (Note: Pho Viet’s has a sibling restaurant in Newton Centre called Pho Viet’s II.)

Pho Viet’s is open for takeout and delivery.

1095 Commonwealth Avenue #204, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 562-8828
(617) 562-8828
A Vietnamese baguette packed with pickled vegetables, cilantro, and grilled pork sits atop a tablecloth.
Banh mi from Pho Viet’s
Pho Viet’s/Official Website

163 Vietnamese Sandwiches & Bubble Tea

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163 Vietnamese Sandwiches & Bubble Tea has taken the mantle from New Saigon Sandwich, which closed in June due to the pandemic, as a top spot for banh mi in Boston’s Chinatown. You can’t go wrong with the barbecued beef or the Vietnamese cold cut varieties. Cash only.

Currently open for takeout.

66 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 542-7903
(617) 542-7903

Phinista Cafe

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Owners Yeanie Bach and Phi Pham have been busy during the pandemic, transforming their Vietnamese coffee pop-up into a brick-and-mortar location. Phinista Cafe took over the former Neighborhoods Coffee and Crepes in Fenway, and it — along with its sibling restaurant, Bánh Mì Ơi (more below) — is turning out some of the best banh mi in the city. Versions include cold cut, grilled barbecue pork, grilled barbecue chicken, crispy shrimp, and tofu, and a vegan version is in the works.

Phinista Cafe is open for takeout, with delivery via Grubhub beginning soon.

96 Peterborough St, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 262-7700
(617) 262-7700

Also featured in:

Ba Le Restaurant

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Ba Le’s barbecue beef banh mi is the best sandwich in the city of Boston. Ba Le’s pork floss banh mi is the second best sandwich in the city of Boston. This is the absolute, undisputed best purveyor of banh mi in Greater Boston.

Ba Le is open for takeout and delivery via Grubhub and Uber Eats.

1052 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02125
(617) 265-7171
(617) 265-7171
Hands hold two banh mi over pavement
The best sandwiches in Boston
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Also featured in:

King Do Baguette & Bakery

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Like Ba Le, King Do is situated in the heart of Dorchester’s exceptional Vietnamese food scene on Dorchester Avenue. The baguette has a crisp exterior and a pillowy interior, and the grilled pork and beef versions are both worth your coins.

King Do is open for takeout and delivery via DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats.

1229 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125
(617) 436-5464
(617) 436-5464

Also featured in:

Bánh Mì Ơi

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Bánh Mì Ơi carries some of the Vietnamese coffee and tea drinks from its sibling restaurant Phinista Cafe (see above), as well as an excellent selection of Vietnamese staples, including banh mi. Along with classics like lemongrass steak and barbecued pork, Bánh Mì Ơi offers vegetarian banh mi packed with lemongrass seitan and five spice tofu.

Bánh Mì Ơi is currently offering takeout and delivery.

1759 Centre St, West Roxbury, MA 02132
(617) 325-0946
(617) 325-0946
A banh mi sandwich packed with BBQ pork and pickled vegetables rests on top of a natural woodcut cutting board
BBQ pork banh mi from Bánh Mì Ơi
Bánh Mì Ơi/Official Website

Lee Han Sandwich

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As far as banh mi south of Boston goes, it’s hard to beat Lee Han Sandwich, which opened in Quincy about three years ago. Its banh mi can come stuffed with beef meatballs, grilled pork, or shrimp and scallions. It also offers bubble tea and a variety of other Vietnamese specialties.

Lee Han Sandwich is currently open for takeout.

419 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171

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Viet Citron

47 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA 01803

This relative newcomer is serving superb Vietnamese food in the ‘burbs. Try the banh hoi with crispy pork belly, but be sure to get the grilled lemongrass sirloin banh mi, too. (The sirloin can be swapped for several other proteins, such as grilled pawns or crispy tofu puffs.) Might as well throw in a side of cha gio, crispy pork and shrimp egg rolls.

Viet Citron is open for takeout and delivery, with a bit of outdoor seating in the parking lot while weather allows. (Third-party delivery is also available via DoorDash for a higher price.)

47 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA 01803
(781) 739-3655
(781) 739-3655
A Vietnamese baguette is packed with various pickled vegetables and grilled meats
The banh mi from Viet Citron
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Pho Viet’s

1095 Commonwealth Avenue #204, Boston, MA 02215

This award-winning Vietnamese restaurant is tucked away inside the Super 88 food hall on Commonwealth Avenue in Allston — at least for now, but it’s reportedly moving to the former Taqueria el Barrio space near Boston University soon. Go for the huge bowls of pho, stay for the grilled pork banh mi. (Note: Pho Viet’s has a sibling restaurant in Newton Centre called Pho Viet’s II.)

Pho Viet’s is open for takeout and delivery.

1095 Commonwealth Avenue #204, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 562-8828
(617) 562-8828
A Vietnamese baguette packed with pickled vegetables, cilantro, and grilled pork sits atop a tablecloth.
Banh mi from Pho Viet’s
Pho Viet’s/Official Website

163 Vietnamese Sandwiches & Bubble Tea

66 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02111

163 Vietnamese Sandwiches & Bubble Tea has taken the mantle from New Saigon Sandwich, which closed in June due to the pandemic, as a top spot for banh mi in Boston’s Chinatown. You can’t go wrong with the barbecued beef or the Vietnamese cold cut varieties. Cash only.

Currently open for takeout.

66 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 542-7903
(617) 542-7903

Phinista Cafe

96 Peterborough St, Boston, MA 02215

Owners Yeanie Bach and Phi Pham have been busy during the pandemic, transforming their Vietnamese coffee pop-up into a brick-and-mortar location. Phinista Cafe took over the former Neighborhoods Coffee and Crepes in Fenway, and it — along with its sibling restaurant, Bánh Mì Ơi (more below) — is turning out some of the best banh mi in the city. Versions include cold cut, grilled barbecue pork, grilled barbecue chicken, crispy shrimp, and tofu, and a vegan version is in the works.

Phinista Cafe is open for takeout, with delivery via Grubhub beginning soon.

96 Peterborough St, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 262-7700
(617) 262-7700

Ba Le Restaurant

1052 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02125

Ba Le’s barbecue beef banh mi is the best sandwich in the city of Boston. Ba Le’s pork floss banh mi is the second best sandwich in the city of Boston. This is the absolute, undisputed best purveyor of banh mi in Greater Boston.

Ba Le is open for takeout and delivery via Grubhub and Uber Eats.

1052 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02125
(617) 265-7171
(617) 265-7171
Hands hold two banh mi over pavement
The best sandwiches in Boston
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

King Do Baguette & Bakery

1229 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125

Like Ba Le, King Do is situated in the heart of Dorchester’s exceptional Vietnamese food scene on Dorchester Avenue. The baguette has a crisp exterior and a pillowy interior, and the grilled pork and beef versions are both worth your coins.

King Do is open for takeout and delivery via DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats.

1229 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125
(617) 436-5464
(617) 436-5464

Bánh Mì Ơi

1759 Centre St, West Roxbury, MA 02132

Bánh Mì Ơi carries some of the Vietnamese coffee and tea drinks from its sibling restaurant Phinista Cafe (see above), as well as an excellent selection of Vietnamese staples, including banh mi. Along with classics like lemongrass steak and barbecued pork, Bánh Mì Ơi offers vegetarian banh mi packed with lemongrass seitan and five spice tofu.

Bánh Mì Ơi is currently offering takeout and delivery.

1759 Centre St, West Roxbury, MA 02132
(617) 325-0946
(617) 325-0946
A banh mi sandwich packed with BBQ pork and pickled vegetables rests on top of a natural woodcut cutting board
BBQ pork banh mi from Bánh Mì Ơi
Bánh Mì Ơi/Official Website

Lee Han Sandwich

419 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171

As far as banh mi south of Boston goes, it’s hard to beat Lee Han Sandwich, which opened in Quincy about three years ago. Its banh mi can come stuffed with beef meatballs, grilled pork, or shrimp and scallions. It also offers bubble tea and a variety of other Vietnamese specialties.

Lee Han Sandwich is currently open for takeout.

419 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171

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