Banh Mi Boys

How have I lived in Toronto for the past five months without trying Banh Mi Boys?
After my first bite, I was hooked. The 5-​spice pork belly bao is to die for! The braised beef bao and pulled pork bao are also amazing. The price is on point at under $ 4 for a bao sandwich.
I’ve gone twice this past week, and the days I don’t go I dream about the food. Next on my list to try: kimchi fries.

Hungry for some Vietnamese sandwich
We took the famous Kimochi fries
And braised beef (tender) banhmi
Ouf the banhmi fills you up so much, crazy tasty
The kimchi fries really creative and unique, I like.
Must go back for the steamed bao
Really nice decoration

I came here at lunchtime to get an order of Kimchee Fries. There was the usual line of about 3 people and then a longer line of people waiting for food.
First of all, the girl who works at the counter, the one with all the piercings and the permanent scowl on her face, she needs an attitude adjustment. I have never seen her smile, she’s always miserable, and while she’s efficient at her job, a smile wouldn’t kill you when you’re the front line presence at an establishment. She also needs to speak up — I don’t know if its the ambient noise around her or just that she’s quiet, but you can’t hear a word she says and she always has to repeat herself.
Second of all, there were more people behind the counter today than I’ve ever seen before and yet they were slower and less efficient than I’ve ever seen them. It took 20 minutes of waiting for me to get my Kimchee fries — I almost had to step forward and ask where the hell they were as people WAY back in line were getting their orders way before me (I was honestly wondering if they’d lost or forgotten my order). Most of the time they called names, but some of the time they wrote them on the bag and left them on the counter for unsuspecting patrons to figure out that it was theirs.
Third, the prices have gone up and the portion size (at least on the Kimchee Fries) has gone WAY down. This used to be a dish I couldn’t finish on my own cause it was so big — now its more appropriately sized but for a higher price.
Fourth, this is probably the WORST Kimchee fries I’ve eaten from there. The whole thing is just a salt-​fest (gross) and the kimchee tastes wrong. Usually these fries perk my tastebuds up and I can’t get enough but today, I’m about to eat the second half by picking all the meat off and just having the fries because its too salty.
VERY disappointing. I’ll think twice before I come back here and order the Kimchee fries again.

Banh Mi Boys can do no wrong! There really isn’t too many places that can compare in flavor, convenience, and awesome value (especially with how expensive restaurants are in downtown Toronto). Took a non-​Toronto friend here, and they were impressed by the fusion of flavors.
I can sum up my go-to’s in 2 words: KIMCHI FRIES and BANH MI (not surprisingly). I love this combo so much it’s basically the standard as soon as I walk in. For a first timer, I’d recommend popular favourites — kalbi beef and 5 spice pork belly — but all of the flavors seem tasty. Banh mi + fries combo is more than sufficient to fill you up also.
If you need a place to grab a quick bite in a casual setting (or even takeout) without your wallet crying, coming here should be a no-​brainer.

I dont know why this place has such high Unilocal rating. we ordered duck confit sandwich and pork sandwich. the sandwiches are way salty. and meat are so hard. the meats doesn’t taste fresh at all… I could not even finish half the sandwich because it was just so salty and the flavor are not good… the sandwich esp for the duck confit is over-​priced.
I have tried many vietnamese sandwich in the past, the sandwich are not authentic vietnamese sandwich .they just taste aweful!.. i would not come back again

I can’t even remember how many times I went there.
Pork belly and kimchi fries are my fav! Every time must ordered! The pork is juicy and tender~soooooooooooooooo yummy!
The kimchi fries also amazing. I love the marinate pork slices mixed with kimchi, and some green onions and mayo on the top!
This is a good place for snack or lunch, not pricy but so yum and filling!
I will keep visiting there!

I’ve been avoiding this place as I figured it was overpriced Vietnamese food… And I was right.
Wasn’t the biggest fan of the banh mi. The baguette itself was fairly average, as were the contents. The «pork belly» was only okay. I’d rather go to Chinatown and get one for a lot less $.
The bao was pretty mediocre too, but the price was reasonable.

Fast Vietnamese fusion style food that will give you great taste on a budget.
Pork belly bao is one of my go to’s here at BMB. It’s consistent and offers great flavor on a soft bun. The toppings are good and give it that Vietnamese (banh mi) flavor; cilantro, pickled carrots, etc.
Kim chi fries here are overrated because it’s essentially fries with some kimchi and other spices on top. I’d recommend trying it once to say you have but the price really makes it an unattractive choice.
I’ve also had the fried chicken bao which is heavier if you’re looking for some comfort food. The chicken is fried well and coupled with the mayonnaise topping makes it one of the heavier choices.
Service at BMB is decent as they have young servers at the till and cooking. They work fairly fast but with the volume of customers, expect to wait. It should be a quick bite but because of the nature of the equipment and personnel, don’t eat here 2 min before an interview or midterm exam.
No WiFi here. Water is provided if you request it. Vanilla and cherry cokes give it a slight twist if you want some other sodas. Seating is sufficient but gets full quicklyso don’t expect to have seating.
Overall, great place to grab some tasty bites on a budget.

We were here for an early dinner so it wasn’t yet packed. Service was quick and we got a table, which was relatively clean. I had the fried chicken bao ($ 4) and the braised beef bao ($ 3.50) and they were really good. The crunch and sweetness of the veggies work really well against the savoury meat. However, I’ve been to both locations and I distinctly remember the fried chicken bao having thicker and juicier chicken at the queen west location. I’ll have to go again to see if that’s a one off or if I’m better off getting my bao on Queen St.

Finally! I’ve been meaning to try this place since it was featured on «You Gotta Eat Here». That’s right, featured on Food Network! You can Google that if you want.
I had a taco and two baos. I was stuffed! When I was looking at pictures of the bao on Unilocal,I’m thinking it’s probably small, plus it’s only $ 3.50, it has got to be so small! I was hungry, so I got three items.
While waiting, a girl walked down with her tray of bao and I realized I ordered too much lol. Don’t get me wrong, the bao isn’t ginormous. It’s about the size of a baseball, but it is a lot more filling than you’d think! By the time I had two baos, I was done!
I got a tofu bao and I’m glad I did. At first I was reluctant because sometimes, the way tofu is cooked doesn’t allow me to enjoy the food. This one, it was golden! They must have used medium firm. It wasn’t tough, but it wasn’t mush to the bite. I preferred it over my beef bao, which is something I didn’t expect.
I also enjoyed the kalbi taco a lot. The sauce was good and the kalbi was cooked well. It was perfect! I think next time I’ll try the chicken.
One last note, I was walking around Yonge and Eglinton and I saw a space with the Bahn Mi Boys sign, it’s about to open. Yay for more locations!
I would keep coming back to this place!
Good food, good price, what’s not to like.
Oh, it does get packed at times, to a point of no seating, so that’s a heads up.

This is probably the last time I will be visiting banh mi boys, since the establishment open. It was my frequent hang out spot with the great feeling of warm baos and crispy kimchi fries. The quality has been deteriorating ever since it expanded from one location to two.
The banh mi is definitely questionable, the meat was either going bad and they dose it in sauce. Not to mention, the grilled chicken banh mi was missing the chicken. Only a sliver of the protein was found.
The fries were definitely better but for a while the fries were very soggy and not crispy, so definitely a hit or miss.
The seating is limited, there is always a line, and the place is filthy as a poster mentioned below. I mean there is dust behind the lighting in the seats and sometimes there is crumbs of a banh mi someone left behind.
I really wanted to love this place because it had a great story! I tried the kimchi fries way back at cne and it clearly is taking a sky dive downhill.

This place loses a star for uncleanness. Walked in for the first time ever yesterday and the place was filthy. Remnants of food were scattered on the floor, tables were not wiped clean, and the hygienic practices from staff were questionable. The cook (a white guy) went from cooking raw beef to sweeping the floor and back again to toasting sandwiches without washing his hands. I was so disturbed by that sight, I prayed he wouldn’t touch my order.
Despite the cashier being friendly and assisting with my order (kimchi beef fries that were delicious), I’m likely not to return. A resturant with a high turnover rate really needs to maintain its standards. I’m still contemplating reporting to public health for lack of cleanliness. It’s unacceptable.

It’s not your traditional banh mi that you’d expect, but it’s not as if they’re trying to come across as being an actual banh mi place — it’s more like their own interpretation of banh mi by incorporating other Asian cuisines. I was hesitant about the idea at first, because Asian fusion isn’t really my favourite, but I was surprised at how well all the flavours worked together.
I’ve ordered a bunch of different banh mih from them and they’ve all been consistently good, never had a bad experience. The portion of the kimchi fries is quite large and can easily be shared between two people or eaten as an entrée. I liked the idea, but wasn’t a fan of it — the kimchi itself didn’t have enough flavour for me and the sauce from the kimchi kinda just made the fries soggy.
I tried to order something different on my most recent visit — and that’s where I was left a bit disappointed. The baos weren’t bad, but they weren’t as good as the banh mi, probably because there’s less room to stuff them so the flavours were kinda just meh. I didn’t like the soft taco very much, I found the tortilla a little too thick for my liking and a bit cold.
The price of this place is good (~$ 10 should fill you up), and their banh mis are solid. I personally thought their baos and the kimchi fries were just ok but would not recommend their tacos.

Menu:
What we had:
Banh Mi — Pork belly, kalbi beef, pulled pork, duck confit
Taco — kalbi beef
Steamed bao — Pork belly, fried chicken, Club (this is from their secret menu, essentially its pork belly + fried chicken in bao)
Sides — Kimchi fries
Taste: ⁹⁄₁₀
We preferred the steam baos over banh mi and taco as the sandwich of choice. The banh mi was a little bit tough, and sometimes, you don’t get the full taste of the fillings. The tacos are pretty good too, however, they dont have pork belly or fried chicken.
The fried chicken one is Steven’s favourite, the meat is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It is served with a spicy mayo. However, it can be pretty heavy The pork belly bao is also highly recommended, it has a juicy piece of pork belly and assorted pickled veges. Would highly recommend both of these.
The beef, pulled pork and duck confit fillings were good, the meat were well seasoned but paled in comparison to the fried chicken and pork belly.
The kimchi fries (which is their supposed biggest hit) were mediocre for us, the fries were kind of dry and soggy (we’ve tried this several times), the kimchi + mayo + meat did add a good kick, but we will most likely just stick to the baos on our future visits.
Value: ⁸⁄₁₀
5 – 7 $ per Banh Mi, 4 – 6 $ per Taco /​Steamed Bao, 5 – 8 $ per side dish. One sandwich + a side or two sandwiches will usually fill us up.
**Average cost per diner: $ 14 after tax and tip
Service/​Convenience: ⁴⁄₁₀
Two locations, one at Queen and Spadina, another near College and Yonge. Might be hard to find for first timers because they have such a small joint. No parking at all (like most other downtown joints).
Very long line-​ups during peak hours (lunch — 11:30 to 2), pretty much impossible to get seating unless you go during the off hours. Would recommend ordering through Ritual App and picking it up if you plan to go during those times.
Would go back? Yup, regularly for their sandwiches
Would recommend to friend? Yes, great meal for good value, try to avoid the peak hours unless you are ordering and picking up ahead of time.
Similar places: None we know of
**Disclaimer: Average cost per diner constitutes the amount (per person) we eat to get full without drinks. Total cost is usually divided between 2 diners, one of whom can regularly eat 7 slices of XL pizza

We went into Banh Mi Boys for dinner on a Friday. Br prepared to wait, as it is a popular restaurant. It may be difficult to obtain seating for groups bigger than 4.
I ordered the pork belly banh mi with extra meat and medium spice. The extra meat was a definite plus and the spice really does enhance the taste of the sand which.
We also ordered the beef banh mi which was good on its own. We didn’t get any spices for this but I felt that it could’ve been improved with a bit of spice. I definitely would order the pork belly over the beef sandwich if given the choice.
We also ordered kimchi fries, which tasted okay. It probably wasn’t as good as what you would get in a Korean restaurant. I’d definitely return again to try some other sandwiches.

Banh Mi Boys is my new favourite lunch spot in the dt core for a few reasons.
Firstly, it’s cheap and affordable. I’m a pretty cost-​efficient/​frugal type of person, thus I’m not usually down to spend $ 10+ on some unmemorable, mediocre, carb-​loaded lunch that spikes my blood glucose level and makes me sleepy. Banh Mi Boys, on the contrary, offers a wide selection, ranging from $ 3.50 Pulled Pork Baos to a $ 12.00 Club Banh Mi.
Secondly, the food is pretty damn good. Thus far, I’ve had the Grilled Pork Banh Mi ($ 6.75) and the Fried Chicken Steamed Bao ($ 4.00). Both have been delicious and flavourful, containing pickled veggies, cilantro, cucumber, mayo, etc — It’s like a party in your mouth. Obviously, the Banh Mi’s, at the higher price, are more substantial than the Baos, but sometimes, you’re not that hungry and just need a light lunch. Tbh, I think that lunches should be a Bao-​sized portion on average and society would do good by it.
Lastly, this place is efficient af. I’ve ordered using the Ritual app, and my order has been ready within 10 minutes — this is perfect, as it takes me about 10 minutes to get to here from work. Both times, I simply walked up to the counter and told them I ordered via the Ritual app, and they’ve handed me my food already wrapped up to-​go with my name on it. No need to risk having to wait in a long lineup during your lunch break — just use the app. Luckily, I’ve reached this place before 12pm and it wasn’t too busy, but after 12pm, a lengthy line forms and you’ll probably have to wait a decent amount of time.
Banh Mi Boys delivers on all fronts — affordable, tasty, efficient food, allowing you to save your wallet, taste buds, and time, respectively.
Use my Ritual app promo code to receive a free $ 10.00 credit ($ 5 on your 1^st meal, $ 5 on your 2^nd meal), and you too will bao down to the greatness that is Banh Mi Boys.
JOSHUA9247

Damn. This place is the bees knees.
I’m Vietnamese so I have an idea what a good banh mi sandwich is comprised of. Although this is more of a fusion banh mi place, it’s still bomb dignity! It brings a modern twist to the traditional. We ordered the grilled pork banh mi, five spice pork belly bao and the kim chi fries. Each of these were so well-​balanced in flavors. The meats were rich yet sweet and savory, the picked veggies added tanginess, the cucumber and cilantro added freshness. And the kim chi fries. Brilliant idea.
The thing is, this place is super small! If you wanna eat in, come in with a buddy that will save you a seat while you order and wait for the food. Otherwise, I love this place! Can’t wait to be back!

Clearly everybody loves Banh Mi Boys, and with good reason. The line-​up may be long, but you won’t wait for hours on end to receive your piping hot sandwiches and fries. The restaurant does have space for you to eat inside, but most people took their containers to go, choosing to eat in the comfort of their own homes instead of at the fast-​food-​resembling tables and chairs.
Banh Mi Boys is not terribly expensive and makes for a delicious, casual meal. The kimchi fries were a bit sour for my taste, but definitely a novel idea and worth trying out. The taco was less-​than-​impressive, flopping about and spilling the contents onto the checkered paper. However, the chicken banh mi was yummy– I loved the crispy yet chewy bread, and the sandwich filling was warm and generously piled in. If I’m ever back in the area I would definitely eat from here again! The other flavours sounded really interesting, like the Duck Confit Banh Mi!
Also, Kekou Gelato recently opened up right beside Banh Mi Boys. You can eat lunch here and then head on over to eat ice cream– how awesome is that? (I was not sponsored to say this. I just love Kekou’s!)

I tried the five-​spice pork belly banh mi and the beef kalbi banh mi; both very flavourful and delicious but I found the beef kalbi one to be a little too salty for my liking. I believe they were priced at $ 6.50 and $ 7 respectively; a little pricey compared to the traditional banh mi’s you can find in Chinatown!
There are about a dozen tables but I can imagine that it can get quite packed during lunch hours. Banh Mi Boys is definitely a nice change to the McDonald’s, Chipotle and other traditional burger/​French fry options in the area.
The kimchi fries looked quite amazing too, will have to make a trip back to try them!

Oh man, why doesn’t Buffalo have places like this? They specialize in Banh Mi and they do it exceptionally well! Like, fantastic. I was starving and needed a quick lunch and found this place on Unilocal being only a few blocks away from the hotel I was staying at.
When I saw the menu, I knew I wanted their pork belly Banh Mi. I ordered at the counter. It was under $ 6 and a worthwhile sandwich. Very filling. A toasted baguette-​style roll with a delicious sizzling pork belly, jalapenos (on request), crunchy carrots, cilantro… and the result was a very delicious sandwich. My only complaint was that the sandwich had no mayo. The sandwich board made mention that mayo was optional, but no one asked me if I wanted it and I forgot to ask. Maybe it was my fault, but I think they should ask ;)!
Either way, this is a great place and you can’t go wrong with a Banh Mi.

Petit resto, sympa sur la rue Yonge. De très bons sandwichs vietnamiens qui ont d’ailleurs eus la chance d’être présentés à l’émission «you gotta eat here». La viande est gouteuse, les légumes marinés et la coriandre ajoutent de la fraicheur et le pain super frais. Le service est courtois.