The 23 Banh Mi — Restaurant in Downtown

I've been to a few vietnamese places for banh mi. This one knocks it out of the park and leaves my gluttonous stomach and budget foodie tastebuds satisfied for under $7! With two orders of bahn mi ($11.50), I'm filled up more than an entire subway footlong and don't want to eat anything for a little while!

The bread has a crunchy crust and soft inside texture that compliments the fillings... but doesn't seem to soak up the sauce. Luckily they don't use much sauce, just enough so the sandwich doesn't leave your mouth dry. You're 10x more likely to spill bread crust everywhere.

I order the house special every time. It has generous cucumber, pickled daikon, carrot, cilantro, pate, and cold cuts, and mayo. It also has a bit of japapeno but they ask you in case you don't like it spicy. They are the most flavorful veggies I've had in bahn mi yet, and are sliced for even more fresh crunch! There's a little bit of savoury juice in there too... I'm not sure what it is, but it brings all the flavours together.

The vietnamese coffee is subpar serving and flavour for $4.50, but the desserts are delicious. If you've had fruity tapioca coconut milk pudding at T&T, you know what I'm talking about. I recommend their taro; it has generously sized pieces of sweet taro in there and it is soft enough to eat with the pudding, but not mushy.

The servers are good people! A sweet and hardworking young couple. They accept visa, they do catering, and they have a stamp card for a free sub after every 10... order two and you get two! I wonder if you can use that card when they cater too (lol).

This time, I forgot my stamp card and they just asked how many stamps I had on that and gave me a new one with the old stamps added on!

With the skytrain station close by, you'll find yourself filling those stamps no problem as a pedestrian. Highly recommend as the first place to try in New West if you like...

I used to live in the neighborhood before life became complicated. During certain periods of my research I found the need to grab what was ever close. I wanted to quickly be back home at work alongside my dear friend Kelloggs, and had no time to waste. Eventually I became sick of the options. Then I found this place.

I'm going to be honest, this was the first and only Banh Mi I had tried at the time. I chose the shrimp and pork patty I believe. The workers could not have been friendlier.

I hurried home to my study, and began to unravel my sandwich. By the first bite into the fresh and crispy bread I was transported into a country I had never been. Flavors I had never known. Some might call this a religious experience, but as a person who studies the metaphysical and paranormal I had other notions.

Truly a spectacular restaurant. If you, like me, have never had Banh Mi, then it is my professional advice that you start here. Every other place I have tried since has yet to deliver...

So this place is good neighbourhood banh mi joint. Great, sandwiches, great drinks, but the only drawback is the customer service. Usually I’ve been served by a guy in his 30’s and he’s great, perhaps the business owner. Today, I called ahead of time 4 times but no answer. Maybe the phone is wrong, I gave them all the benefit of the doubt. When I get in, it’s a younger guy, early 20’s, I try calling just to see it works, it does. He tells me that he’s too busy to pick up the phone and that he’s afraid that he’ll burn whatever is in the oven. That’s not a good enough excuse. You’re a business and you are obligated to pick up the phone so people like me don’t waste time, and if you can’t spend 3 mins talking to a customer, then there’s a bigger issue. Either get better at your job or hire another person to help ring in food and answer the phone. While I was waiting, someone else called and he didn’t even flinch. Guy needs...