Melbourne’s foodie scene can be delightful and wonderful - and a whole lot of other positive adjectives - but it's hardly budget-friendly. All those beers, brunches and baked goods can add up alarmingly quickly, and before you know it there’s a giant burger-sized hole in your monthly salary.
So for the days when your pay check is stretched a little thin, here are Melbourne’s best banh mi. Soft and crunchy; salty and sweet, there’s nothing more satisfyingly foodie-approved for less than a tenner.
N Lee
Collingwood, South Melbourne, CBD
Possibly one of the first Melbourne bakeries to serve the French-Vietnamese hybrid roll, N Lee’s baguettes are suitably soft ‘n fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Filled with a generous slather of mayo, pate, picked carrot, cucumber, onion, fresh coriander, hoisin sauce and authentic cold cuts, N Lee serves one of Melbourne’s best banh mi. Lines during lunchtime are unfortunately unavoidable for one of Melbourne’s finest, change-from-your-car-kitty meals.
Nhu Lan Bakery
Footscray, Richmond
With one bakery located on Victoria Street in Richmond (known as the street pho/ real pho) and the other just past Footscray station, Nhu Lan makes some of Melbourne’s best authentic banh mi. Offering nine classic varieties including mixed ham and shredded or BBQ pork, Nhu Lan’s brightly dressed employees efficiently fill their sponge-like, snow-white baguettes with coriander, shallots, picked carrots, cucumber, and chilli. Always happy to modify a banh mi to your liking, vegetarians will be more than pleased with Nhu Lan’s flavour-heavy salad banh mi.
To’s Bakery
Footscray
To’s Bakery is hiding some of Melbourne’s best banh mi in plain sight. Located on one of Footscray’s busiest streets, To’s Bakery sells a range of delectable banh mi rolls, a selection of pre-made Vietnamese sweets and rice paper rolls. From pork floss (um yes?) to your classic BBQ pork and chook banh mi, you’ll be spoilt for choice at To’s Bakery.
N Tran
Toorak, Prahran
Why do so many Melbourne banh mi institutions begin with N? We may never know. N Tran is certainly not serving traditional, Vietnamese banh mi rolls - so if you’re a strict banh mi purist look away and cover your ears before you spontaneously combust into tiny crumbly flakes. Offering distinctly Western ingredients like beetroot, lettuce and cheddar cheese (the anarchy!), if you want to rock the metaphorical banh mi boat, N Tran is the place to try a twist on Melbourne’s favourite roll.
Master Roll
South Yarra
Grilled pork chop, crispy roast pork, chilli lemongrass tofu…so many banh mi options so little time. But for six dollies of pop, we figure you can indulge in AT LEAST two of Melbourne’s best banh mi rolls, amirite? Served with house made butter, creamy pate, a good lug of soy sauce, and fresh herbs and salads, Master Roll’s banh mi is ridiculously addictive. Prepare to become an unwilling South Yarra local.
Sunny’s Bakery
Collingwood
Dangerously close to the CBD and kindly stuffed with some of Melbourne’s best cold meats, Sunny’s Bakery has some of Collingwood’s favourite banh mi. A little local gem, Sunny’s Bakery comes complimentary with the warm smiles and friendly staff occasionally absent from other banh mi bakeries. Offering a range of fillings from chicken kebab, salami and real grilled pork, the kick-ass protein at this Collingwood bakeshop more than covers the odd wilted veggie.
Nyugen’s Hot Bread
Windsor
It’s a little more expensive than your average banh mi, but since Nyugen’s Hot Bread is bang on Chapel Street, we figure its fair game amirite? A couple of extra coins from your back pocket will buy you a pillow-soft on the inside, crusty on the outside baguette with pork crackling and fresh roast pork. Served with a good lug of soy sauce, liberal spread of house-made mayo, and your usual banh mi veggies, because there’s also crackling in this banh mi we’ll assume no more needs to be said on this matter.
Jenny’s Hot Bread
Camberwell
An unassuming shop front with a strangely forgettable name makes some of Melbourne’s tastiest, modern banh mi. There are few traditional flavours at Jenny’s Hot Bread, but after an awfully successful morning scavenging through Camberwell market, we don’t think you’ll mind. The banh mi here is filled with satay chicken, coriander, and lots of fresh salad with a cheap enough price tag to avoid adding too many dollies to your mounting shopping bill!
Bun Bun Bakery
Springvale
If it’s lunch hour, there’s a steady queue outside this tiny Vietnamese bakery on Springvale Road. American, fast food style print declares Bun Bun Bakery’s presence, with peeling laminated shots of banh mi displayed inside the tiny shopfront. The locals don’t mind the faded décor – they came here for one financially-friendly thing only. As the name suggests, Bun Bun Bakery knows what’s up with Vietnamese buns, serving classic marinated BBQ pork, chicken or meatball banh mi with a generous handful of fresh herbs. A fiver will buy you one of Bun Bun Bakery’s best buns. Springvale road trip, anyone?
Wendy’s Bakery
Mitcham
The people of Melbourne wanted more crackling, so goddamnit we got more crackling - from Wendy’s Bakery. So much more crackling. There are a few banh mi options, but to go past their crispy pork banh mi with extra crackling (which is ground up into powder for crackling efficiency), would be the ultimate foodie sin. Crackling.
Not enough banh mi? You banh mi worshipper you! Here are some more easy-to-access banh mi hotspots:
Ba’get | 132 Russell Street, Melbourne
Roll’d | various locations around Melbourne CBD
Pho Nom | 287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne and Emporium, Melbourne
Phuoc Thanh | 206 Victoria Street, Richmond
Saigon Bakery | 174 Victoria Street, Richmond
Want more great food? Check out our best Vietnamese joints, from budget to blowout!
Image credit: Ba'get