Malaysia’s Top 10 Banh Mi Spots for the Most Flavorful Bites
As someone who grew up in an experimental household, I was introduced to banh mi at an early age. I remember munching on my first bite, thinking, “Has this already gone bad?”, not knowing that its extremely crunchy bun is part of what makes it special.
Although it’s hard to recapture that memory, I’ve grown to love banh mi during my stay here in Malaysia and aim to try it everywhere I go.
My search quickly turned into a team effort, and we’ve put together a solid list of the country’s Vietnamese spots that offer some of the most authentic versions of this flavorful sub. From Kuala Lumpur to Penang, and everything in between, these places have been kind to us during our search.
So, if you’re looking for a sign to hunt for the best banh mi, keep on reading!
Super Saigon KL East Mall – Pho Beef Cafe – Kuala Lumpur
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Address: Lot G1-20, 823, KL East Mall
Contact details: +60 3-4161 4384
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $-$$
Super Saigon differentiates itself from other banh mi, or Vietnamese spots, in general, in Malaysia by offering a Melbourne touch. For instance, their marinated beef banh mi uses meat straight from Aussie territory, so you can expect its quality to be second to none.
We also love how generous they are with each serving, featuring overloaded goodies of pickled carrots and radishes, coriander, and their signature egg mayonnaise. The baguette also features the right amount of crunch while remaining spongy enough to absorb the meat juices.
The branch at Super Saigon is casual, but it doesn’t cut corners on providing a neat and pleasant space for diners. Keep an eye out for the interesting floor-to-ceiling mural that depicts the different components of pho and how to eat it like a pro!
| Pro tip: Pair your meal with something sweet and balance out the savoury flavours of your banh mi by ordering either their avocado or mango smoothie! |
Jane’s Nem (Happy Mansion) – Kuala Lumpur
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Address: AG5, Block A, Jalan 17/13
Contact details: +60 12-331 1835
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
Jane’s Nem will immediately allure you into its doors with its brightly-coloured walls and striking decor. If those aren’t enough to pique your interest, your noses will be your biggest weakness, as the aroma of Vietnamese delicacies surrounds the interior.
The main star of their menu is arguably the banh mi, with its generous serving size and attention-grabbing fillings. They’re packed to the brim with the usual fixings, including liver, chicken, coriander, etc.
You can’t go wrong with any of their variation, but we highly recommend the chicken cheese floss. The stretchy and gooey melted cheese paired with the tender chicken meat is a match made in heaven!
| Pro tip: If you’re visiting with a group, we highly recommend ordering their authentic Hanoi spring rolls. Each serving comes with six rolls, each of which is packed with ingredients such as prawns, chicken, lettuce, etc. |
Pho King Vietnamese Restaurant – Petaling Jaya
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Address: 153, Jalan SS 2/6, SS 2
Contact details: +60 3-7865 3290
Operating hours: Friday to Wednesday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
Pho King may specialise in Vietnam’s world-famous noodle soup, but personally, we love coming back here for its authentic banh mi! They nail everything down from the crunchiness of the baguette to the savoury fillings.
You can order three variations: beef stew, grilled pork, and traditional (liver), all of which feature other ingredients, including coriander, tomatoes, eggs, etc. They’re great to enjoy on their own, but if you want the ultimate Viet experience, order a bowl of traditional beef pho on the side.
While you’re at it, you can also order their authentic Hanoi coconut coffee to pair with your banh mi! It features the signature strength of Viet coffee beans, but is mildly balanced out by the creaminess of their fresh coconut cream.
| Pro tip: If you want to save money, we recommend stopping by from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM to enjoy their lunch set meals! For only RM30, you’ll get a bento box consisting of rice, spring rolls, stir-fried noodles, and greens. |
Ara Vietnamese Noodles – Petaling Jaya
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Address: 45, Jalan SS 22/11
Contact details: +60 3-7499 3952
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $
Ara Vietnamese Noodles is one of our go-tos during rainy days in Petaling Jaya because of its authentic rice vermicelli. They’re perfectly springy, and they’re soaked in the most umami beef, chicken, and pork broths we’ve tasted in the city.
However, a meal here wouldn’t be complete without trying their banh mi. Each of these sandwiches looks like a masterpiece, offering perfectly crunchy buns, packed with ingredients like chicken, ham, and veggies!
The place itself feels like an authentic noodle house in Hanoi, with its open layout and simple furnishings.
| Pro tip: This place also offers one of the most potent drip coffees in PJ. In true Viet coffee fashion, however, they’re known to cause palpitations. |
Banh Mi Kitchen 越南法棍 – Penang
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Address: 86, Jalan Zainul Abidin
Contact details: +60 10-287 6168
Operating hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Banh Mi Kitchen is one of our favourite brunch spots in Georgetown, mainly because of its wide variety of the iconic Vietnamese sandwich. For instance, they offer a breakfast series, where they offer fillings like avocado and egg, ham and egg, and chicken.
They constantly introduce new variations as well, like their Malaysia Day special, which was only available for 24 hours. We’re still beating ourselves up for this one because we missed it, but it features a delicious combination of seaweed and ginger omelette!
We’re also huge fans of its industrial interior decor, featuring polished cement, metallic fixtures, and exposed brick walls. It’s also a cool place to hang out with your friends, as they offer a wide array of coffee and non-coffee drinks as well!
| Pro tip: Pair your banh mi with their famous chicken pho if you want to eat something more filling than just a sandwich. |
Saigon House Cuisine – Penang
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Address: 77, Jalan Sri Bahari
Contact details: +60 16-563 5335
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you’re searching for the best banh mi and stop by Saigon House Cuisine, you’ll get more than you bargained for! It’s also why we highly recommend it, as you can enjoy other authentic Vietnamese delicacies along with your sub, such as beef noodles and fresh spring rolls.
You can’t go wrong with any of their offerings, but you can’t leave without trying their special banh mi. It comes with all the fixings you can expect, from sliced liver to chicken, pork, and an assortment of fresh veggies.
A certified showstealer from their menu is the fresh spring rolls. They don’t skimp out on ingredients, as each one is packed with lettuce and a massive prawn!
| Pro tip: End your meal on a sweet note by ordering their flan! It offers just the right amount of sweetness to wash away the savoury flavours from your taste buds, and a satisfyingly silky texture that’s to die for. |
Saigon Ivy Cafe – Melaka
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Address: 15 Jalan KL 3/15, Seksyen 3
Contact details: +60 12-201 4899
Operating hours: Thursday to Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM
Cost: $$
Saigon Ivy Cafe will immediately invite you into its space with its bright lights, oriental lanterns, and scrumptious aromas. Chances are, what you’re smelling is their flavourful beef pho, which features perfectly tender and savoury chunks of meat!
They also offer a wide array of banh mi, all of which are worth trying! If you can only order one, however, we recommend going for the Special Saigon, as it’s the perfect representation of this dish, featuring a wide array of marinated meats and fresh veggies.
If you’re off meat, you can also enjoy their vegetarian banh mi, which features marinated vegetables, fresh herbs, and a hint of zest. As for sides, you can’t go wrong with either their fresh or fried spring rolls!
| Pro tip: Bring home a taste of Saigon by purchasing a pack of their authentic chilli sambal! They go well with an assortment of Malay dishes as well. |
Banh Mi Cafe • Bukit Jalil – Kuala Lumpur
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Address: Aked Esplanad, 23G
Contact details: +60 3-8999 2272
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $
Banh Mi Cafe is among the most Instagrammable places to get banh mi in Puchong, with its hut-styled counters, wooden interior, and variety of indoor plants. The same can be said about their authentic Vietnamese dishes, as they’re picture-perfect as well!
Most notably, their banh mi looks like something straight out of a cookbook. Furthermore, they taste as good as they look, whether you’re getting grilled pork, fish fillet, bacon, or any of their offered fillings.
We also recommend mixing up your order to enjoy different textures and flavours! A fantastic pairing you can do is a grilled pork banh mi and a side of their sweet and sour fish soup.
| Pro tip: Don’t miss out on their corn juice! It’s virtually sweet corn in a cup, made more refreshing. |
Banh Mi 77 – Penang
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Address: 84, Jalan Siam
Contact details: +60 18-474 2877
Operating hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $
Banh Mi 77 is like the Subway of banh mi restaurants here in Penang. As with the famous restaurant chain, this place displays its different fillings behind glass, handing you the reins of making your own delicious concoction.
If you don’t know what to get, however, don’t worry! They have several signatures that are certified bangers, featuring fillings like pork skewers, BBQ chicken, and of course, the classic pork belly.
Personally, the A1 signature banh mi is at the top of our list because it features seven types of homemade ham! We also love how they offer combo sets that combine their famous subs with iconic Vietnamese drinks, like iced coconut coffee!
| Pro tip: If you’re visiting with a plus-one, order one of the combo sets that offer two banh mi sandwiches and one drink. This way, you only have to order one other drink or share the same drink and get their free water. |
Mimi Nguyen Cafe – Klang
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Address: Jln Bayu Tinggi 1b
Contact details: +60 18-380 8171
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $$
Mimi Nguyen Cafe brings both the flavours and vibe of Hanoi to Malaysia, with its wide selection of authentic Vietnamese dishes and creative interior. Starting with the latter, the place incorporates elements, like lanterns, ponds, and huts, to offer an authentic dining experience.
The same authenticity can be said about the food, whether it be the beef pho, fresh spring roll, or, of course, banh mi! Tons of banh mi variations can be found here, but what we recommend the most is the ham and chicken liver, as it’s one of the classic flavours in Vietnam.
Don’t ignore their soup selection as well, as it’s a treasure trove of amazing flavour combinations. Their catfish soup is a prime example of this, as it features the perfect blend of sweet and sour.
| Pro tip: If you’re visiting with a group, we recommend getting their steamboat sets! These feature various fish, meats, and fresh veggies that you can either grill or soak in piping hot broths. |