Bonjour Banh Mi & Tea — Restaurant in Durham

I have lived in the Triangle area for more than fifteen years and have found several great Vietnamese restaurants over the years. While there are some great restaurants for Pho, Bun or other cuisine staples, I found the lack of an exceptional Banh Mi sandwich surprising, given the number of Vietnamese selections in the area.

That changed when I happened into Bonjour Banh Mi on a rainy night with my wife and adult son. My son and I opted for the pork belly banh mi, while my wife went with her favorite, egg roll Bun. Simply put, we have found the best banh mi in the triangle. It has been tough because I want to explore the menu, but find myself gorging on their amazing sandwich, made with ingredients (to include the bread) prepared in house.

I have managed to explore the menu a little bit, but have to say I have yet to try the pho (saving that for another rainy day). The items I have tried include:

Pork Belly Banh Mi - Best in the Triangle Egg roll Bun (sampled my wife's) - Excellent Fried Spring Rolls - Flaky and delicious Banh Khot - Interesting alternative, although I don't eat shrimp, so I am not fully able to evaluate. Grilled Pork Fresh Roll - Delicious Fried Tofu Fresh Roll - Surprisingly good (I'm not big on tofu) Brisket - Tender and flavorful Tea - We have tried several options, all good so far.

As a foodie, I appreciate quality food. The quality of the ingredients used to prepare the food is evident. But food is more than just ingredients, it includes passion. I have had several great conversations with the owner, Tri. It is clear he has a passion for his food. He genuinely enjoys talking about the process, the ingredients, how he interprets different dishes and how it is important to him to prepare as much of the food as possible in house.

The ambience in the restaurant creates a pleasant atmosphere for dining. The restaurant has a clean, simple, modern vibe. Light music adds a bit of background climate. The restaurant is not fast food, but still manages a pleasant but casual environment for dining.

While there are several excellent Vietnamese options in the area (to include some fusion options), none can touch this Banh Mi. If you are looking specifically for the sandwich, you need to check this spot out. And who knows, you may find the rest of the menu to be as good as any of the other places you have been (and can't speak to the pho yet, but plan to add that to remedy that soon). The menu is simple but has a few options you may not have seen before. Highly...

This is my first visit, the customer service so far is fast and friendly. The two waiters up front are very helpful if you have never had Vietnamese cuisine before. I ordered takeout , so once I try it and let it digest I will update my review but so far it smells and looks great. I am so glad this shopping center a new restaurant.

Update: I tried my meal I ordered the fried spring rolls and grilled chicken platter, it was full of flavor and served with Jasmine rice. The veggies are fresh and the chicken is a chicken breast, that is very juicy. For 9.00 you cant beat that. The best part is I didnt eat it until 15 min later and it's still fresh. Next time I will try their Pho and compare it the others in the brier creek area. If you live in the apartments or homes surrounding this place it's a nice place to walk to for lunch or dinner. The only thing I that would make this place perfect is the an outside dining area .

This location just opened two weeks ago...since I live close by I will update this post accordingly.

4/26/17 update:

Since I love Vietnamese food I have been here at least 6 times since my last post.

I have tried the pho...all of them except rare beef. I must say that the broth is amazing. Full of flavor, freshly made. A small was enough for me. I actually had left overs.

The apps I tried are pretty good, you get more than what you pay for. The spring rolls, and summer rolls are well put together. The Fried Shrimp and Calamari are worth trying (every time you go). The dumplings are tasty but I do not like the topping( I think it is parmesan cheese) ask for it on the side. The Vermicelli was a nice portion, and very filling. They do put peanuts on top, so if you are not a nut lover, tell them to hold the nuts or have it on the side.

I will continue to add pics and update the post as I try new items... Overall Mekong still gets 5...

My wife and I stopped here because she was getting hangry and we needed delicious food, stat. This place delivered and then some. She got the char-broiled pork bahn mi with honey lemon black tea, making it a combo with the fries. At the suggestion of the very sweet cashier, I got a pork belly bahn mi because my typical filling for bahn mi, meatballs, was out (presumably devoured by other patrons). I also got a Vietnamese coffee with milk.

When we chomped into this food, my wife and I couldn't stop saying oh my God, oh my God, that's how good it was. The flavor profile? Sensational. The meat? Cooked to perfection, glistening with deliciousness. My wife's tea was refreshing and light, and my coffee was perfect. Not too sweet, absolutely scrumptious. The food came out swiftly! Super necessary when your wife is ravenous.

Visiting the restroom while here, I noticed something I haven't seen in any other restaurant ever. You know how most public restrooms have a gap at the door? Not this one. They have installed a little privacy barrier in the gap to make their customers feel comfortable. I thought that was such a nice gesture.

We will be coming back here very soon. Can't wait to bring more...