When Penny left for Vietnam, I decided I needed to find a Banh Mi Kitchen for a Bahn Mi fix.
I thought I’ll beat her to eating an authentic Banh Mi in George Town.
What was I thinking?
Whenever I think of the famous Vietnamese sandwich, it is Banh Mi Phuong in Hoi An, made famous by Anthony Bourdain.
After tasting the best, everything else falls short of that authentic Vietnamese taste.
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I’m sorry, I can’t help it.
Banh Mi Kitchen lady boss (LB) asked me how I liked my sandwich.
I am brutally honest.
For Penang, the standard is pretty good.
It can not be compared to what you would find in Vietnam.
Business at Banh Mi Kitchen is fast and furious.
I went for a late lunch at 2.30 PM.
The orders poured in from Grab, pick-ups, and walk-ins.
When I left past 4.00 PM, there were still people in the café waiting for their orders.
Seriously the business is brisk!
What Is A Banh Mi?
In Vietnamese cuisine, bánh mì or banh mi is a short baguette with a thin, crisp crust and soft, airy texture.
Vietnamese baguettes are split lengthwise.
It is filled with savory ingredients, and served as a meal known as bánh mì thịt.
For Vietnamese, plain banh mi is eaten as a staple food.
What Exactly Is A Banh Mi?
In Vietnam, these light and flaky French Baguettes are typically stuffed with 4-6 kinds of mixed meats and ham.
Yes, Penny, it’s HAM.
The Banh Mi is smothered with Pate and Mayonnaise and covered with Pork Floss.
As for the Veggies, there are Cucumber, Pickled Carrots, Radish, Cilantro, and Jalapeño.
Banh Mi Kitchen Interior
The café has a simple design with a high table outside and another two inside.
There are two low tables and easy chairs if you want to lounge.
However there is no seating upstairs.
Ordering is atypical of sandwich bars, and you choose the fillings and order your drinks.
Unlike Subway, there’s only one type of bread, a Vietnamese baguette.
Banh Mi Kitchen’s Vietnamese Baguette
Just looking at the Banh Mi piled high in the glass cage made you want to order a sandwich or two.
In Vietnam, the best Banh Mi are those with their own bakery.
Here you can find ovens churning out baguettes day and night.
The Vietnamese-styled Baguette is light, flaky, and substantial.
But it lacks the crunch of the Banh Mi Phuong baguette (to die for), which arrived hot and so crunchy it hurt my gums!
Bánh Mì Phượng is at Hội An, Quảng Nam 560000, Vietnam.
Cute Instagramable Neon Signage.
Lots of baguettes were sold out by the end of the day.
The interiors of Banh Mi Kitchen with a small dining area.
Banh Mi Kitchen Menu
Banh Mi Kitchen Menu
Feed Me Banh Mi And Tell Me I’m Pretty – Instagramable Neon Sign
The café menu has Banh Mi, with various toppings and fillings.
Their Signature Banh Mi is pork-based (but, of course).
I would have been pleased to find Grilled Lemongrass Pork Neck.
Alas, for non-pork eaters, there’s a choice of Chicken or Fish Mi (Perch—what’s that?).
Lady Boss suggested I Google it.
Banh Mi Kitchen Mix & Match Menu
Is Perch a Healthy Fish?
According to Google, perch is a commonly eaten fish species that is packed with beneficial nutrients.
These nutrients can significantly enhance and improve the quality of your immune system.
The fish is beneficial to your heart and helps energy production within your body.”
What I Ordered At Banh Mi Kitchen.
LB: But the Perch has a combination of seaweed.
Dory: Saigon Chicken sounds decidedly Vietnamese. We go with that and Drip Coffee.
Saigon Chicken RM17
You get a lovely, well-marinated, juicy chicken thigh with your Baguette for the Saigon Chicken.
The Banh Mi is flaky and crisp, but I’m a messy eater.
Fortunately, it didn’t disintegrate all over the table.
Generally, if you order Chicken, the Baguette is spread with Chicken Pate, while orders of Pork have Pork Pate.
Alas, I was hoping I’d get Chicken Liver Pâté.
According to LB, when I checked, there was only Pork Pate.
The Pork Pate gives the sandwich a unique taste.
Banh Mi Kitchen’s signature is a Pork-based filling baguette.
Oh, well, who asked me not to eat Pork, right?
Saigon Chicken RM17
Vietnamese Hot Coffee RM12
Vietnamese coffee is pungent in taste and high in caffeine content.
Robusta beans, a dark roast, and little water are the most important reasons.
The traditional Vietnamese brewing method or Phin coffee is a ritual.
You put the Phin device over a mug.
Add about two tablespoons of coffee grounds to it.
Then, place the press disk over the coffee.
Pour in hot water.
Cover the grounds by about half an inch.
The the slow wait.
Vietnamese Hot Coffee RM12
Is Vietnamese drip coffee strong?
For the ratio of coffee grounds to the amount of water.
Vietnamese coffee is the stuff that puts hair on your chest!
I didn’t get a headache but instead became super alert!
Banh Mi Kitchen Review
I must admit it, the Lady Boss runs a tight ship and is super-efficient.
She did a great job keeping up with the orders.
Amid high-volume orders, she made great recommendations.
She even managed to chat with me and asked for feedback.
The restaurant is bright and wins top points for cleanliness.
Worth the visit if you want to enjoy a decent Vietnamese Banh Mi in Penang.
The other option is to fly over to Vietnam!
Where is Banh Mi Kitchen?
Banh Mi Kitchen is directly opposite the UMNO building and just a few doors from Kraftmen Cafe.
Banh Mi Kitchen is directly opposite the UMNO building at Jalan Zainal Abidin, Penang.
Banh Mi Kitchen 越南法棍
Address: 86, Jalan Zainal Abidin, 10400, Georgetown, Penang
Business Hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Opens Daily.
Blog Disclosure: This is a NOT sponsored blog post. All opinions are mine. The writer and friends paid for their meal.
