Divine Offering met me in Chinatown for lunch. She has an obsession with sandwiches and was craving a banh mi from Thi Thi. We arrived at 12:00 p.m. and waited in line for 23 minutes. Sometimes the line doesn’t move because a customer orders five or ten subs for their friends. Personally, I think Thi Thi should ban this unfair practice and enforce stricter rules when ordering.
Great service. Family business. Ordered chicken & beef subs. Very tasty, Fresh ingredients.
Cash only.
(This review is done but I am still writing to hit the minimum character requires by Zomato)
Go early to beat the rush! The bread is soft and crunchy, fresh ingredients and tastes delicious. They only take cash payments. I got the assorted sub and was extremely satisfied with it. I will be back to try other flavours
The baun mi LITERALLY taste just as it does, if you are to get it from a little old lady in Vietnam, trust me! Staff are friendly as ever, always smiling just be sure you know what you are asking for when adding peppers.... 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 spice aside, the prices here are almost unheard of in a big city like Calgary. So get in the van and take the whole family down, not only will you pocket love it.. the whole family will as well.
The subs here are awesome. The bread is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I ordered the satay beef and it was very flavorful and spicy! No space to sit inside so grab the food and sit on the river.
Best subs in calgary 100%. Worth the drive if you want an authentic vietnamese sub. No other places around can match the freshness and quality.
Grew up coming to Thi Thi and I've got to say...hands down they offer the BEST vietnamese subs in YYC. Seriously, nothing compares to this!
This little shop is tucked in a hidden corner of Chinatown but always has a line up out the door during lunch hour. My go to is the Assorted (though I know Sate beef/chicken is their best seller). They get it right every single time, It's SO GOOD! The bun is toasted which leaves it nice and crispy, the sauce they use is delectable, the veggies are great and the meat they use is amazing. The service is great and very efficient! The owners seem like wonderful people and are very nice. Their subs are also very affordable and the quality hasn't gone down all the years I've been here (Side Note: They only take cash!) I have no complaints hence the 5.0 rating! There's a Subway in my building where I work but I would walk 5 blocks to Thi Thi any day for a sub. 🙂
There is no better vietnamese sub place. Best bread, amazing flavour, fresh, clean and beautiful vegetables. The owners and their family are wonderful.
Great banh mi. Has all of the classics. Fluffy baguette with a nice shell. Flavourful meat and fresh toppings. You won't be dissatisfied here.
Hole in the wall kind of restaurant. The owner is nice and funny, the sub is incredible, even if it is a veggie sub. It's super delicious.... except ........that you have to wait every time. ....but the super worth it
Best satay subs in the country. Perfectly toasted bun - crispy on the outside, soft and buttery inside. Flavorful meats. Crisp fresh veggies. Friendly service. Is it possible to nominate them for a michelin star?
We've been coming here for years! I always get the assorted meats sub while the rest of my family gets the beef sate. The bread is fresh and crunch, the pate and sauce is flavorful and I really enjoy the onions in them. It's rare to find a sub with onions in it. They don't stuff the sub with meats which could be improved. Downsides are: restaurant is really small, no where to seat and they only accept cash.
Nothing beats a Thi Thi sate beef sub when you're tired and hungry and (maybe a little hungover) and all you want is carb-y goodness. Bonus if you get extra pâté on it because c'mon?
This place has been a staple since I was a kid and I'd go with my aunt to now, when I drag myself out of bed at noon to devour it like a rancour. It's cheap, it's delicious, and it's consistent.
I love this restaurant! I've never had a bad sub here in the few years I've been going. It's extremely consistent and reliable. The family the runs it is so nice and they remember me everytime I go in. Satay rib is my favourite sub followed by satay beef. This shop has by far the closest Banh Mi I've had in Calgary to what I had in the streets of Vietnam.
Great friendly service. Fresh tasting subs made in front of your eyes. Ordered the thi thi special and sate chicken. Crispy bread, meat was tender and flavorful. Veggies are fresh, if you are not a fan of spicy don't forget to ask for no chili peppers. Very comparable to Trung Nguyen inside the strip mall.
Will come back.
The subs are sooo good. I don't live in calvary anymore but I make sure to grab some everytime I'm in town. I've tried so many other viet sub places and this is still the clear winner.
Once you eat one, you cant stop. There's probably crack in it.
This place has really food Vietnamese submarines. I have been here several times during the lunch rush and have never been disappointed with the sub I ordered. Very reasonable price for what you get! The only issue I have is the wait as it is quite long during the lunch rush. I recommend going there just after 11 am or shortly after 1pm. I don't understand why they don't expand capacity as they have more than enough demand. This place is busy every weekday during the lunch hour.
Super fast super friendly service! Awesome subs! Definitely one of my favourites! And they have such a loyal following the first time I was ever in there another customer coached me on what to order and how to order it and we chatted as our orders were made. So awesome!
The best Vietnamese subs in town. They close at 6:30! And they're not open on weekends. I love that a humble family runs this place. My fiancé and I always get the chicken + rib (it's not on the menus), it is DELICIOUS.
Always satisfying when ordering from thithi, although I like the buns they used before the flood, the amazing mayo butter sauce they use is amazing. The family is always friendly and appreciates their customers. I think they tend to brighten your day. No reason this place has been around for years! Great Calgary signature.
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After searching for the top restaurants in Calgary, Bánh Mì Thi-Thi, a Vietnamese submarine place in Chinatown, came in highly ranked. I was excited to try it as I currently live in Houston, which is known to have the largest Vietnamese population concentrated in one city across North America and has many Bánh Mì sandwich shops. When I arrived, I noticed it was take-out only restaurant as there were no places to sit. It also looked like it was one friendly family (mom, dad, and son) working and preparing the sandwiches.
I ordered the Saté Chicken Bánh Mì for $7.25. This was composed of mayo, pâté, carrots, cucumber, cilantro, onions, hot peppers, soy sauce, and saté chicken. As my sandwich was being made, I was joking around with the family about smelly foods like durian and kangaroo meat. They were very nice and friendly people.
Overall, I really enjoyed the Bánh Mì sandwich here. The bread was toasted perfectly; it wasn't too crispy or soft. It was also easy to eat. I usually see this type of sandwich made with fresh jalapeños, so the hot peppers was a refreshing change. I will definitely be back to try more sandwiches, thanks Thi-Thi!
Pros:
-Value
-Quality Bánh Mì Vietnamese sandwiches
-Friendly service
Cons:
-Parking is always an issue in Chinatown
-No places to sit and eat
This place had subs for a great price and was they were super tasty, the man taking my order was very friendly and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for Vietnamese sub.
Probably the go to place in Calgary for a satay beef or satay chicken subs. Great for a cheap eat late at night or a quick lunch.
Also the bubble tea selection here is not bad (although I prefer places that use fresh fruit rather than powder)
One of my favourite places for subs. Every time that I'm in china town, Thi Thi comes to mind. The owners are always friendly, subs are always delicious. I wish they have seating though!
My favourite Viet sub place in town the spicy beef and the rib subs are great. The family team running it are gems always take care of you and especially the son seems to remember everyone who frequents the shop.
Another one of my favourites for Vietnamese subs. Service is fast and friendly. The subs are delicious. Wish they would take credit cards but can't complain. Recommend it.
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Thi Thi is this small Vietnamese Banh Mi shop. By small, I mean that it is huddled in a corner of this plaza, hidden away by cars and such. It is only for takeout and the place is doing some mean Vietnamese sandwiches. The small shop must have quite the following as I saw the people chatting it up and calling most of the customers there by name. The lineup can get pretty long, but it moves fairly quickly with 3 people in a perfect assembly line.
I ordered up the Super Chicken and Beef Sub (Ga Bo Sate - $7.50), which consisted of sauteed chicken and beef on a fresh french roll. The bread is crusty on the outside but soft on the inside as all French and Vietnamese rolls should be. I get the sandwiched all-in with cucumber slices, pickled veggies, hot peppers, onions, mayo, pate, and soy sauce (no cilantro for me). They do this weird thing though where they add cheese to the sandwich and then toast it through a convection belt. The meat was good but it was the combination of all the items that really made me love the sandwich. The heat from the peppers gets cooled down by the cucumber and pickled veggies and each bite works together to form every perfect little morsel.
Pro tip - There are small stone tables and seats in a mini park across the street facing the small shop. Since there is no place to sit and eat inside the shop, you should head across the street and grab a table. The people here are super friendly and by the way, it's a cash only establishment.
Best viet sub in Calgary hands down!! Their meat is so well seasoned and looks like meat unlike some other viet sub places. It gets very busy around lunch time but if you go a bit later then there is usually no line up!
Been coming here for years, and always love it. The subs are consistently tasty, and the service is friendly. There are long lineups if you don’t time it out well, so make sure you give yourself enough time especially on lunch break!
This is my favorite place for Banh Mi and there are always long lines so I try to get here before the lunch rush. I'm addicted to their sate beef sub. The beef is flavorful and at times pretty spicy. I love the baguette and the fresh toppings. Their secret soy mixture ties all the ingredients together really well and enhances the flavor which an ingredient that's noticeably missing from their competitors.
Favorite viet sub place but they are always closed / run out of buns
BEST VIETNAMESE SUBS YOU CAN GET IN THE CANADA!!!My family has been going here for years to get our fix. This is my absolute go-to place for Vietnamese subs. They are the best! My favorite sub is The Assorted (assortment of Vietnamese cold cuts). Other favorites include the Spicy Beef and Spicy Chicken. You then can add the regular toppings such as cucumber, pickled carrots, onions, cilantro (a must add to all subs), and hot peppers! This is a small family-owned restaurant. It's a grab and go place, where the line-up can be very long around lunch time so get there early! Fantastic place!
I think that this is my favourite viet sub place. You get a delicious sub, and its also very affordable. My favourite sub is the assorted! I'm not a fan of Sate, so im happy they have an assorted sub.
Ask for the Pepper rib - my favorite but not on the menu! Also expect at least a 30 minute wait when it is not raining outside, and if it's sunny on a workday, get there before 11:30!
5 star. Best fast food in town
Very tasty, but the wait was too long.. A co-worker took a couple of us here for lunch. We got there around 11:35 and stood in a line with about 25 people in front of us. We walked away with our food half an hour later! At one point the line had about another 20 people behind us. Good for these guys to have so many fans! This was my first vietnamese sub. I really liked the flavors. There are complaints about too much butter in the reviews, but I liked it - it melted and soaked into the bread when it got toasted, and the cheese (albeit processed white cheese) melted and was all yummy and gooey. You have to get all the fixins' - pickled carrots, hot pepper, cilantro, onions... It really was a good, fresh, flavorful sub and decently priced at $6.75, but I may go earlier next time to avoid the line. Now I'll have to try subs from other places to see if these guys really are the best!
Bomb subs had one today one of the best around
LOVE IT !!!. After being disappointed with Quickly bubbles tea in the area (chinatown) we decided to go to THI THI. THIS PLACE NEVER DISAPPOINTS ! It turned are frown straight into a SMILE. I approve this place !!!
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ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE. Every time I come to Calgary Thi Thi's satay beef banh mi is one of my top priorities.
This tiny family owned spot is tucked away in an unassuming corner of China town, but those in the know line up out the door to devour their dangerously delicious subs. The combo of crusty fresh bread, tasty spicy beef, hint of melted cheese, and cool fresh veggies is amazing!! I have yet to try their other subs because I cannot bring myself to separate from the satay beef but the quality of their food guarantees satisfaction.
The staff consists of mom, dad and son who are all very nice. You can tell they care about their business, product, and customers.
As I don't live in Calgary, it kills me that they are not accessible. It has honestly ruined all other banh mis for me. I wish I could franchise them; and if that wasn't possible, marry into the family to have an unlimited supply.
Only downside is it is cash only, and because the place is so small there is no seating. But really who cares when their food is this good? A must try!
Awesome Subs!. One of the best places to get Satay beef subs, small family shop that has been consistent year after year. The only thing that I would change is the amount of butter they add, butter taste great but is just too much sometimes.
Go! Right this instant.. Best viet subs in the game and the service is quick and friendly. NOM
Best original toasted sub. Ive gone to many Vietnamese sub shops threw out alberta and BC and none of them campare to thi thi's consistent food quality and taste well maybe one in Edmonton but still not as good once you have it you crave that flavor. Great job for how many years they've been open not to change their recipe like most places would. You can always count on what u get there to be delicious.
First stop to Thi Thi and it was incredible! Go early cause it lines up at around 1130! Already craving it for my next visit!
Best sub in town. No question. These people have the Viet sub market dialed in. Nothing compares.
Epic sandwich. The chicken/beef supersub was amazing especially for $7.
They put chicken on half and beef on the other half so initially I was disappinted but when I ate it all my concerns melted away. It was amazing. There is plenty of meat on it and the vegies where nice and fresh. We arrived at 11:30 and there was basically no line up but really even if there was one it would be worth it. I will be back to try everything.
I know I've said the other Vietnamese sub place around the corner is the best in the city but I have to rethink that statement a little. THI THI is amazing. The bread is a great mix of crunchy baguette and soft and fresh. I think the secret ingredient is the butter/mayo they spread on. It's so delicious. At lunch the line is a little rediculous but if you have the time it's worth the wait. I'd have to say the only negative would be no bubble tea. Definite favorite though.
Best Viet Sub in the City. I have tried many submarine places and none are as good as Thi Thi. You guys make the best. Love it
Good subs!. I love this place for a late night snack. Always delicious!
The Truthful Critique
+4.5
A Most Pleasant Surprise. I must admit, when family members encouraged me to give this place a try I shuddered. Images of caustic Chinese food ran through my mind as I wondered if I would even give a six dollar sub from a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Chinatown a try. Luckily, I did. And boy was I taken aback! Within the first bite all reservations I had had for this place were shot out the window and I immediately had a new favorite sandwich and place for lunch. I had the sate chicken sub, and everything was perfect. The bread was of a decent quality and wasn't too crunchy, nor too soft. The meat tasted fresh and authentic along with the vegetables, and the light cheese and sauce provided a flavourful finish with just the right hint of spice. The prices are extremely reasonable for the quality of sandwich you will be receiving, and the service (although a bit slow as there are only three working there) is always good. I highly recommend giving this place a try as I can guarantee that after just one visit you will be hooked and hungry for more!
Friday Tradition.... ...and any other day at that. Great baguette, fresh veggies, good quality meat with fantastic sate flavours.
Best viet sub in the city, I tell everyone about this place.
An Icon. Thi Thi is an icon. With its hole in the wall (like finding a pizza joint in an alley in Greenwich Village) and obscure (albeit central) location, this place is a revered institution for those "in the know" about Vietnamese subs. Due to its cramped confines and its amazing subs, it is literally always lined up out the door. It is a family run operation (dad's a little gruff, but mother and son are always smiling and polite) and you can just feel the familial vibe that translates into home cooked yumminess. The Sate Beef, Sate Chicken, Rib, and Ultimate, subs are legendary. I lived in Vancouver and worked often in Toronto, and have yet to find a flavor equal to Thi Thi. Prices have increased quite a bit over the years, but the flavor has always been consistently WOW. Like another reviewer noted, don't mess up the line mojo by not having cash when you're ready to pay, people are getting cold while waiting in line!
Best Subs in Calgary. I been to almost all the Vietnamese Submarine in Calgary and this place is tied 1st in my book! The bread is crispy & chewy, the picked carrot has strong flavor and the meat is tasty. This place is always packed at noon during the weekday for a reason!
The fkn best Viet Subs. By far the best vietnamese sub i have ever had.
Best Vietnamese subs (bánh mì), but come early at lunch or be prepared for a 10+ minute queue. Why would anyone ever eat at Subway after tasting a Thi Thi sub? Rib sate is my favorite.
Best sub ever. Yo my man YOU CAN COOK A SUB
HOLY SH** is this stuff good. I be lickin my fingers after takin' down one of them Sate Chicken mofos. Better than silk underwear and grape juice homie.
Best subs in town by far! Totally worth the line up!
Delicious. These subs are amazing, and a very god price. There is always a line outside though, so make sure to get there early or be prepared to wait.
Great spicy subs!. Once you have your first bite you'll understand why there's always a line up in front of this tiny shop hidden in Chinatown. It's delicious!
Take out only, the best thing to do is sit by the river and eat your fresh hot spicy sub in minutes after ordering.
Best Bahn Mi in Calgary!. I have yet to find a better bahn mi in Calgary! During the lunch rush you can expect to wait in line for up to 45 mins but it is definitely worth the wait! I have tried all of the subs and the no fuss assorted is still my favourite...there is someting about the pate they spread on the bread...soooo delicious!
I often cry now that I moved away from Calgary & can't go here for Viet Subs...THE best!!!
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Danger! Danger! Very Addictive.... Thi Thi serves the best sub around-hands down~! There are many who try to imitate (even the franchise shop on 8th ave SW) but none can compare to the first shop by moms & pops.
Depending on the time that you go you'll notice the long line up especially at lunch time. That itself is somewhat kind of annoying it could take up to 20-30 minutes to get your foot into the door...BUT~! is it ever worth it,thats when your mouth starts to water....
Thi Thi has the necessities of basic Veit. Subs. Satay Beef, Satay Chicken, Allsorted and the Veggie. They do have a Rib sub as well, but in my humble opinion it is a llttle too rich for my taste. The meat is very tender but some what greasy, i could eat half the sub and feel full.
As simple as the concept may seem, It boogles my mind how they marry 3 basic fresh ingredients; Onions, carrot, cilantro then a dash of special sauce, to make it taste sooo good~!
My personal favorite is the allsorted & the satay beef. both are out of this world, tough choice to choose the best thats why i usually get both (^ o ^). You have to eat the subs while they are still warm, they're still good afterwards but nothing beats fresh hot right out of the oven~!
Great food, great price. Ya you gotta line up, but it's always worth it. The Rib sub is great and I tried it without cheese and it was still very flavorful. The chicken sub is also good (and you can skip the cheese on this one too). I once had a veggie sub and that one does require cheese, but overall, they're fairly consistent and I'm always satisfied and full afterwards.
Absolutely the beat, hands down!
Best I have ever had in Alberta, awesome and unmatched!
BEST Vietnamese Subs in Alberta. Honestly, this is the best and most delicious Vietnamese Subs in Alberta. I have tried it all in Calgary and in Edmonton, and nothing compares to the flavor that Thi Thi has. I always get the sate chicken, and sometimes the sate beef just to change it up. They give you lots of meat and there sauce is absolutely amazing. It's so good, you must try it. Every time I go there, there's always a line up out the door. . . because it's sooo good.
Great bánh mì sandwich. Great blend of flavors, one of the better bánh mì sandwichs I've found in my travels. To go only, no seating. ****CASH ONLY****
Best Vietnamese subs. None can compare. Well worth the wait in the usually lengthy line upS
Seriously!! Best Vietnamese subs in all of Calgary!!
I Made You A Cookie...
+4.5
Great food and service. I feel like I can eat 10 of their subs for lunch.
By far the best banh mi (Vietnamese subs)in Calgary without a dought. The lines are long at lunch so arrive early. Friendly family run business. Everything on the menu is delious !
Delicious, fresh and really economical lunch treat. And not to forget that it's healthy too!
A good Bánh mi. I've been a fan of the bánh mì sandwich for many years and whether in the States, SE Asia or here at home I tend to look for these great sandwiches and grab one when I can.
Thi Thi is one of the best places locally to get bánh mì and I've enjoyed every one I've purchased from them. The sate beef and cold cut examples we had today were as good as the ones sampled on prior visits.
The staff is generally very nice and chatting with customers and the food is fresh. The lines at the door are a good indicator of the following this little place has built.
Now, the problem with Thi-Thi is that it is never open on Sunday. This poses difficult when I want fresh Vietnamese submarines to bring back home and the end of the weekend is always… Sunday. Feeling determined to get the glorified sandwiches, I picked them up that Saturday and stuck them in the fridge at our hotel. Something about their subs attracts Viet sub lovers far and wide. (There was a B.C. couple behind us looking curiously at the menu). Perhaps it’s the spicy beef or chicken saté that makes the place thrive, something a little different from the usual cold cut sandwich. While waiting, we overheard many phone orders of 10+ subs, not to mention a line waiting right out the door. I can’t even imagine what this place pushes out during a lunch on business days. If ordering in large quantities, I highly recommend calling in advance to avoid waiting. Our order of 3 beef satés and 2 assorted cold cuts took some time to make but they made each sandwich with as much quality as the firs
My personal choice of Banh Mi in Calgary is from Banh Mi Thi Thi (aka. Thi Thi Vietnamese Submarine) located in Chinatown on 1st Street S.E. and 2nd Avenue. All they do is Banh Mi so you know that they must do it well. For this trip I ordered 2 Assorted (kinda like a cold cut sub but with Vietnamese style hams and head cheese) and their Rib. Out of the two the Rib was eaten finished first. It’s not at all spicy, there’s very subtle heat to it and it’s very tender with great savoury sweet seasoning. The Assorted sub is a classic you can’t go wrong with either, it’s not at all spicy and meat is well… Vietnamese style sandwich meat. Heck, it’s still better than honey ham from grocery store right? It’s not overly salty, kinda sweet, a bit of black/white pepper and fish sauce makes up for the flavour. Last but not least, both subs were garnished with the standard pickled carrots, onions, cilantro, mayo and a drizzle of their special sauce which I have no idea what’s in it but it’s the bottl
I've been going to Thi Thi Vietnamese Submarine for about 11 years now, of course with about 7 years in between when we stopped going - as we weren't going to Chinatown as much. We went back, and there's still a line up outside - just as we remembered the good old days! It's the same owner and his wife, and now with someone else as well. The line does seem to move faster, no matter how big of an order ahead of us placed. It is often that a representative from a company or something would put in a huge order of 10 subs right in front of you! Everyone knows this is a great place to go if you're willing to wait outside. The prices are still very reasonable and competitive to other submarine locations, Vietnamese subs or not. I got my peppered chicken for $6.50, which seems less than I recalled, which is a good thing! I had the Peppered Chicken which has always been my all time favourite from Thi Thi. Yes, the amount of chicken has seemed to reduce, and it's not nearly as peppery as it use
Thursday was a wet one. It rained nonstop from morning to night. But David's gotta eat. Today would have been a good day to check out the TA Oasis as it is a block away, but crappy weather could potentially mean a shorter line up at Thi Thi subs. I was co
One of my favorite sandwiches in the world is the Bánh mì or what is popularly known as the Vietnamese Submarine. While little good has come from the French having occupied Vietnam, food is the one exception. Made with a crusty baguette and fresh ingredie
Hands down the best banh mi I’ve ever had. I wish they were in Toronto! I’d stop by at least once per week!
One of the best Sate Beef subs in the entire city. Flavourful, fresh, delicious. The bun is perfect Bd lightly toasted, the meat is glorious, the toppings are the perfect blend of flavours. The price is great for the sub that you get. Staff is friendly and genuinely curious about how you're doing while they make your sandwich. I literally can not recommend this place enough. My only complaint is that I'm almost never in the area at lunch time! Go here, eat food. You won't regret it. I'd add a photo but I couldn't wait that long to eat it.
This is my first stop always in Calgary. Satay beef is the way. If you’re fragile get the chicken.
One of the best Banh Mi! I had the assorted and it was perfect. Light, fresh, clean and best eaten immediately while warm. Friendly crew too.
I lived in Calgary for years then moved back to Ottawa. When I come to visit i make it a point to come here at least once to have a sate beef. I can't tell you how good it is you have to try it. Best Vietnamese subs in the city by far.
Best banh mi I've ever had and it's not even close. Everything about their sandwiches is amazing - bread, meat, pate, salad, all of it is delicious. And for less than $10! Only problem is the queue at lunch time, which can be anywhere from 0-40 mins+. Call ahead to order and/or see if they are busy.
The best satay beef viet subs in Calgary. I've tried a bunch of places (my tho, Saigon deli, Nhu Y, etc) and this is still my fave. There's almost always a line, and it can be a bit of a wait sometimes, but it's worth it.
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