Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

The other more famous shop has more queues over Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa, and is generally the popular spot for tourists, but don’t let fool you. Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa is far superior (atleast for me) and here is why:

Size: Bigger isn’t always better. 🙈 The competitor offers just one massive size of banh mi while Hong Hoa gives you an option; one that is as big as the rival shop and one that is just the right size that’ll give you the perfect bite with everything in it (bread, veggies, and meat). Since the competitor’s is so big, it’s impossible to get that perfect bite, unless of course, you have an equally as massive mouth. Lol.

Variety: The other shop has only one Banh Mi option which is the traditional “put every Vietnamese charcuterie” in a baguette. It’s tasty and the most traditional but you’d get tired of it easily. More options would be better. Meanwhile, Hong Hoa has 6 varieties to choose from with their Bread with Roast Pork option being the best!

Price: The other shop’s pricing, as mentioned by many, is too expensive at 73K VND. Yes, it is big. But Hong Hoa offers the same size at just 55K VND. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Taste: Not gonna lie, the rival’s is delicious as heck but there is a thing as over filling. It has too much meat, butter, and paté that it has become too overwhelming on the taste buds. They give you separate packs of fresh greens and pickled vegetables but even that isn’t enough to balance out the flavors.

On the other hand, Hong Hoa’s is perfectly balanced. We tried both their Roast Pork and Mixed Meat one which is similar to Huynh Hoa’s to give it a fair comparison.

For the Mixed Meat one, the slices of ham and paté taste better here although not as generous and the other shop. Again, Quality Quantity. 😉 And for the Roast Pork one, it is hands down the best Banh Mi I’ve had in my life!!!!! The pork is nicely charred and its fattines goes really well with the pickled veggies. It meat is kinda reminiscent of Pork Sisig (a Filipino dish). It even has that spicy little kick from the chilies. It’s a sandwich worth the trip back to Saigon! 💯

Either way, both these Saigon banh mi shops made the most famous stall (for tourists) in Hanoi, Banh Mi 25, taste like utter...

Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa is just a 2-minute walk from the more famous Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa. Unlike its popular counterpart, Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa had no queue when we visited, which was a welcome relief after waiting 15 minutes at Huynh Hoa. A few tourists were enjoying their banh mi on the provided chairs outside, creating a laid-back atmosphere.

The banh mi here is smaller compared to Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa but is of average size for a typical banh mi. It's just right for one person to finish in one sitting.

Taste-wise, Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa offers a simpler, more straightforward flavor profile. While Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa is known for its rich flavors, Hồng Hoa brings a different kind of charm to the table. In Saigon, every banh mi vendor has their own unique take, and Hồng Hoa’s version stands out for its homey approach. It feels / tastes like something lovingly crafted in a small family-run business.

Both Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa and Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa offer distinct experiences, and I enjoyed them equally for their unique qualities. If you're in the area, I highly recommend trying both to appreciate the variety in Saigon's...

I admit it. The recommendations were spot on. These Bahn Mi are excellent. The bread was perfectly crispy and soft and they were good sized. We had BBQ Pork and Omlette.

The BBQ Pork was filled with a row of juicy 'meat balls' covered in a sweet BBQ sauce. Two chili pepper appeared. These were quite spicy. Just a warning you must ask for it without spice if you don't want it. It seems like they don't ask you (not that they should!).

The Omlette was packed with loosely mixed eggs, creating a nice clump of egg with distinguishable white and yellow segments. I found only one mild chili, but this sandwich was pretty spicy. Careful investigation revealed that the butter (or whatever was used as spread on the top half of the baguette) was really spicy! Watch out non-spicy lovers.

I like spice, so I loved these. The onions were super sweet, a nice addition. There are only two tables, so if you want to sit, you have to wait or get lucky.

They have an English menu and an assortment of delicious juices. Its not a particularly interesting place to sit. But then again, you are not there...