Banh Mi Saigon - Authentic Banh Mi in Ang Mo Kio

An unlikely staple, an interesting fusion between French and Vietnamese Cuisine, Banh Mi Sandwich was something I tried far too many times during my travels in Vietnam. You see it everywhere – on the streets and in restaurants. Each store has their own variation of stuffings and sauces, but the common ones would be ham, pickled vegetables with a drizzle of chilli sauce.

Despite being tucked in a corner of Ang Mo Kio’s HDB estate, Banh Mi Saigon is not hard to find with its eye-catching red and yellow signboard. Oh, did I mention that it is located within a Vietnamese minimart? We recommend going shopping for some authentic Vietnamese goods while waiting for your Banh Mi – because it took us almost an hour!

While there are 14 types of Banh Mi on the Menu, we had to go with Special Great Banh Mi (who can say no to a name like that?). At only $6.90, the Special Great Banh Mi was huge. The baguette could barely contain all of its stuffings.

At first glance, the Special Great Banh Mi had multiple layers of Vietnamese Ham, Spring Onion and Floss. After tearing it apart like the hungry ghosts we were, even more ingredients were revealed – pickled chili, radish, carrots and cucumber were hidden beneath the baguette.

Each bite was a mouthful. The thick cuts of ham were soft and tender, a perfect pairing with the refreshingly crunchy pickled vegetables. It was also generously drizzled with black pepper sauce that gave the entire Banh Mi a spicy kick. What I particularly liked about Banh Mi Saigon was its Baguette. The baguette crust was thin and crispy, unlike some where the crust was thick and hard to bite into. The bread was soft and fluffy too, soaking up the sauces spread across it.

Although it might be quite a wait, this might just be one of my favourite Banh Mis in Singapore!