Review Banh Mi Boys - Toronto

Quality had gone way down since my last visit many years ago when Bahmi Boys were the hottest place in town for a Bahmi sandwich but not any more. Pickled carrots ratio to bread/chicken was too much. More like a pickled carrots sandwich than a grilled chicken sandwich. Supposedly my grilled chicken sandwich was not freshly grilled. Grilled flavor was non existent with chicken only slathered in salty sauce. Bread was not as fresh crispy as it should have been. Although their side order of sweet potato fries was very good Nothing fancy, basic seating, They lost a customer, never going back. Many other bahmi sandwich places doing it right.

My cousin recommended me to try the kimchi fries - and they're really good! The pork is flavourful, and the kimchi balances the whole dish. I also ordered the banh mi with beef, which was okay - think there's something missing in there. Dishes are about under $10, so pretty affordable. Would recommend to try!

I got the chicken banh mi and braised beef steamed bao. The banh mi was so flavourful!! The steam bao was missing a bit of flavour, so I think they forgot to put the sauce in? Regardless the rating stays at 5 because the banh mi was so good! Definitely recommend it!

Friendly service! Good portions, fresh food. Lost a point on too much meat on the kimchi fries but you might like that, it was delicious.

Ended up trying a variety of things and overall reactions were mixed. The highlight and star of the show was definitely the Fried chicken baos which were nice and crispy. Kimchi fries were pretty good. The tacos are just okay to me, especially considering the tofu i expected to be more fried rather than it being soggy and had lemon grass as the primary flavoring. What really disappointed me was the kalbi banhmi. The bread was very soggy and unappealing. It lacked the firm and crunchyness of a freshly made banhmi bun. The Kalbi was also well over cooked and ended up being pretty chewy and dry depending on the size of the chunk.

I tried Banh Mi Boys few times already and everytime the food was fresh and very flavorful. I love the Kimchi Fries with grilled chicken, it was totally delicious and filling 👌. The Kalbi Beef Taco was tasty too, but don't expect the Kalbi to be like the classic juicy Korean Kalbi (that doesn't mean it was bad, it was still good). I also had the Fried chicken steamed Bao multiple times and every time I eat it, it feels like I'm eating Crispy Chicken wrapped in a piece of cloud. The steamed Bao is just sooooo fluffy and warm. Totally a hit😊 Last but not least I also tried the Grilled Chicken Banh Mi and my only complain about it was the way they put it together. The grilled chicken was all the way in the bottom of the bun and all the pickled carrots, cilantro and Jalapeno slices were right on top, which means whenever you bite you either only get veggies or meat. Overall, definitely a place worth trying and maybe becoming a loyal customer lol 👌

First time checking Banh Mi Boys. There did not disappoint! I never had bao it was so soft, chicken was nicely seasoned and cooked to perfect, price wise you can not go wrong. I really wanted to sit and eat but literally all the tables were dirty..that was the only con in this location sighh other then that it was good and worth the hype

The chicken bao was okay but the kimchi fries was awful! Since the prices are low I didn’t expect anything special but I had much better meals with the same price!

Had a pork belly steam bun. Flavour was really good but bun was a little mushy in some parts. What really turned me off was how dirty the restaurant was. Some staff seemed grumpy too.

This is my go to place for a quick snack when ever I am heading to Eaton. Love the baos there. I have had the fried chicken bao and the pulled pork bao

It’s good fast food bahn mi. Not as intricate as a proper bahn mi which would be more varied in terms of meats and vegetables. But my basic grilled pork with pickled carrot, sliced cucumber and a little coriander was tasty. Not the authentic construction where bread from the centre is pulled out and discarded to make more room for fillings so that the finished product is all crust and filling.

2.5<br/><br/>Not so sure as well what the hype is about. The ratings are very high and my girlfriend is Vietnamese. She was pretty disappointed with the taste and prep of this classic sandwich.<br/><br/>Bread is too dry and flakey. Stale is what she called it, I'm sorry. It's just being honest. Carrot were not pickled enough, prep is wrong. It's overly sweet for some reason. On the positive note, the dill and cilantro are fresh.<br/><br/>Would we come back. No...<br/>Service is positive and restaurant is clean. Staff is friendly.<br/><br/>

Had been here last week for dinner and they sure have some great people serving here. We placed the order through an app so never got an opportunity to order but they were prompt with the food. We ordered a duck and another chicken roll and both tasted awesome. The duck one was a bit dry for me(maybe that's usually how it should be). Accompanied them with sweet potato fries which were just perfect.<br/><br/>This is a very small resto very near to Eaton and serve some great food.

Tried the grilled chicken banh mi and I don't know what all the fuss is about. The chicken had this slightly gelatinous texture that I found kind of strange and off putting. The sandwich itself was also really bready. Overall pretty sub par food.

Must order: the fried chicken bao. It was one of the best bao I have eaten in Toronto. Super fresh and full of flavour! Their banh mi is good too but definitely don't go past the bao!

Omg I love this place! I ordered a variety of of delights here and loved everything! The 5 spice pork belly bao was so delicious! Seasoned perfectly and equal distribution of fat and velvety soft bao was music to my mouth! The taco, kimchi fries and bank mi was also very tasty! I am definitely returning back to try other tasty varieties!🤗👍

5.0?!? What?!? That's right. These guys absolutely deserve it. Righteous food with a Vietnamese twist to it and prices that will absolutely make you're wallet jump for joy.<br/><br/>The food is excellent here and so is the vibe inside. The music is awesome so you might also be forgiven for just being inside listening to the old school hip hop without ordering.<br/><br/>But other than that the food is dynamite from the time the order is placed till the time you get ready to devour it. The cooking is done in front of you with so much flair you'll notice these guys do their job with a passion.<br/><br/>We ordered the banh mi 5 spice pork belly and duck confit, bao pulled beef, taco kalbi beef and sweet potato fries. All were amazing. We started with 2 dishes first and after we realised how amazing it was we ordered another 2 and were not disappointed. There's no seasoning or sauce you could want to add because their dishes are already bursting with flavour and seasoned beautifully.<br/><br/>This place is dynamite, absolutely recommend coming here. And best of all is the prices, these guys know how to keep the place busy and getting customers back again for more. Don't miss this.

Finally made it to the Banh Mi Boys.I live 10mins from this place but for some reason never ventured in.The place was packed so I ordered take-out.I ordered a banh mi sandwich,tofu fried and extra kimchi.I should have gone by the previous suggestions and not ordered so much.<br/><br/>The food was enormous and enough for 2!I opted for extra spicy sandwich and it was spicy! When an Indian says its spicy,it is damn spicy ;) I loved the carrots and pickled cucumber with the spiciness.<br/><br/>The fired with kimchi was awesome too.The portion was huge and tasted delicious. I am a big fan of kimchi and loved the side I had ordered. Would love to try their baos sometime.

I can't get enough BMB. Last night I had the Kalbi taco ($4), 5-Spice Pork Belly bao ($3.75), and the Fried Chicken bao ($4). The veggie ingredients (cucumber, carrot, etc) are always nice and crunchy. The meat is always cooked to perfection. And the sauces definitely always bring it home! Not my first visit...and definitely not my last.

Great place for out of the ordinary fast food. The tofu fries are among the best things I've ever had in my life. The place isn't good for eating in. Definitely worth it for picking up food and bringing up to your apartment. Have eaten here 2-3 times already.

First time here. My friend recommended this place. I asked the cashier if they serve anything vegan and she recommended a tofu sandwich and she notified the kitchen staff. Its always appreciated when restaurants do that.<br/><br/>Service was quick and friendly. The sandwich was filling, fresh, and delicious. Comfy seats if you like to dine in. Prices are reasonable. Overall this is a tasty Vietnamese fast food joint. Worth checking out.

Recommend by my friend! And it actually meets my expectations! Awesome taste and the servicing speed is also impressed even I went there at rush hour. Tried all three kinds, taco, bao and Banh. The bread of Banh is a little bit too dry but acceptable. The chewy taco is actually really delicious. The spiced pork belly bao is also great. The pork belly is well seasoned and cooked perfectly, not too greasy or overcooked. The dough of the bao is soft. The pickle vegetables balance the tastes indeed. Definitely will go there again to try other options.<br/>

Before we had tried Banh Mi Boys, our only experience of the Vietnamese sub were the cold sandwiches at the grocery store, filled with soggy vegetables and questionable meats. But Banh Mi Boys' is so different from the plastic-wrapped atrocities you find at the supermarket. Having scored and kept the title of Toronto's most talked about restaurant, the Chau brothers have redefined the sandwich, which is the star of the menu, alongside tacos and steamed baos.

My first time trying this popular chain and it was a positive experience. I got in the surprisingly short lunch line around noon on a workday and didn't have to wait long.<br/><br/>I ordered the grilled pork bahn mi. I wasn't expecting any sort of "traditional" style bahn mi or Vietnamese food, and indeed it was not like other bahn mi I've had before. Nevertheless, their version was unique and tasty, although maybe lacking a bit of something. The bun was soft and the meat was fresh and hot. It made for an enjoyable lunch. I will have to go back to try their other items next time.

Visited at the recommendation of a coworker. We were very hungry and all really enjoyed the meal!<br/><br/>Food: I couldn't decided between the braised beef or pulled pork sandwich and went for the beef at the suggestion of the cashier. It didn't disappoint :) Bun was so soft and fluffy, beef was flavourful and there was plenty of it, and the medium Sriracha sauce was zesty but not overpowering. I'm not a fan of anything pickled/vinegar, but even though the sandwich was topped with pickled carrots, they actually complimented the sauce and beef very nicely. Oh! And the fries, while greasy and a bit smooshy, are GREAT! :)<br/><br/>Price: Sandwich was $6 plus tax; for the size of it, the price is reasonable. Fries were also a rather good size and came with mayo to dip for under $3.<br/><br/>Service: It wasn't so busy when we arrived; we were able to order asap but then waited 5-7 mins for our food, which is fine. Cashier was friendly enough and my friend stood in line for my food so I can't comment on the sandwich makers/cooks.<br/><br/>Summary: A busy place at lunch! Especially after 12:15. But a good sized sandwich with flavourful toppings and for a decent price. Recommended!

Came in when they opened at 11am. Menu board wasn't on so wasn't sure what to choose. Once it was turned on I opted for the pork belly banh mi. Took a good 5 minutes to cook but it was fine as not in a rush. Not healthy by any means (pork belly) and left still hungry. Price point was good though. Will come back.

Banh mi boys sandwiches are the greatest meal you'll ever get for such a low price. I tried every vegetarian option on the menu & was not disappointed at all. The flavours are fantastic, and even better when a little spicy (I chose medium). Overall it was a great place ,I will definitely come again.

Had the 5 spice Pork belly and the grilled chicken taco. I had been craving this for months and it did not disappoint. Sandwiches are small so make sure you get at least two!

This is a place that I go by myself, but order for 3 -- sad, I know; but, it's just that good. The price and unpretentious food is unbeatable. If you're looking for an Asian sandwich type thing (protein blanketed by carbs), you can't go wrong here. Savory, sweet, sour, spicy... perfect combinations of flavours in every option; there is not a bad choice here. I wish there was fast food like this elsewhere in the country!

Love love love this place for lunch. 5 spice pork belly steamed bao. Perfect combo of bun , meat, crunchy veg and sauce. Tofu fries! So decadent, need to share but can't resist.

Great Grab-And-Go Place with Interesting Food Variety on Yonge Street!  My first time eating at Banh Mi Boys was fantastic - I've only had Bao at Momofuku before, but there options were really great.  Recommend definitely if your looking for quick-bite!

I had the Braised Beef banh mi and was impressed with the size of the sub and the amount of beef inside of it. You can't really spend $6 and get as much food anywhere else. Only complaint is that the sandwich was a tad too sweet for my liking, but not a big deal. I can't wait to try their grilled chicken, squid, and duck confit. They were also very quick with getting our order ready. Highly recommended.

For me, this was nothing special. Bread was soft, meat was ok but the ingredients were not blending together very well and everything was kind of dry. I felt like I was eating mostly bun.<br/><br/>Don't think I'll be going back.

This was the first location that I tried Banh Mi Boys at when I first fell in love. The line up is completely worth it. I usually order one Braised Beef Steaed Bao and one Pulled Pork Steamed Bao to get the best of both worlds. The fries are awesome too but it's filling so I don't usually finish them all.

Had the fried chicken steamed bao and the kalbi beef taco. Both were so good. I rated the crispness of the grilled chicken combined with the softness of the steamed bao bun. Staff were friendly and is cheap!

Quick, friendly service and delicious food. The price is good, and the atmosphere was like any other fast food type restaurant. I got a sub from here and would definitely go back.

When a friend recommended Banh Mi Boys as one of the must-go places on her Places to Eat List, I cannot deny that I had my doubts. Some few months later, I finally made the decision to embark on a trip to their new location on Yonge St., between Dundas and College. From the extensive data that was conducted prior, it seemed that the eatery commonly experienced long lines throughout the day, and especially during lunch hours. However, users did remark that despite the length of these lineups, wait times weren't long at all.

Amazing Banh mi. My fav is grilled chicken (get it spicy hot with jalapeños!!) their tacos and baos are excellent. U gotta eat here! Lol! The food network show actually featured them - ck it out on YouTube.

Cheap, amazing flavor, friendly staff, MUST TRY. Ordered the kimchi fries, fried chicken steamed bao, and 5 spice pork belly banh mi. Everything was SO PERFECT. My favorite has to go to the kimchi fries where the pulled pork, mayo, kimchi, and fries came together perfectly. The crunch from the fried chicken with the light steamed bun was beyond words. Prices were dirt cheap, mere dollars! Everything about my meal complimented well with each other and I am glad I got to visit before leaving. Please come to Vancouver!

hands down best banh mi in toronto and at a fair price too! Service is friendly (at both locations) and super speedy like a well oiled machine. Highly recommend the 5 spice pork belly banh mi and the kimchi fries.

Banh Mi Boys is one of my favourite fast food places in Downtown Toronto. Everything here is amazing. The banh mis are held in soft & fluffy bun, full of flavourful meat, and complimented with fresh veggies. But their kimchi fries are a great spin on a poutine - a must try.

Banh Mi Boys, the ever so popular Asian fusion sandwich shop, serves up the unexpected when it comes to fast-food eats. With two locations in Toronto, the Chau brothers are dishing out Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches among a few other non-traditional items to satisfy the hungry Toronto crowds. Their newer location at Yonge and Gerrard is just as busy as the original at Queen and Spadina, with fast-moving line-ups that reach the front door. With that aside, the modern atmosphere of the restaurant includes a beautiful cherry blossom mural, which along with the bright food, give this small restaurant colour and energy.<br/><br/>Both locations carry the same delicious menu, including an extensive variety of hybrid submarine sandwiches with Vietnamese influenced flavours. A result of French colonialism, the banh mi sandwich combines both French and Vietnamese ingredients which create a flavour explosion in your mouth. Their sandwiches range from grilled pork ($4.99), to squid ($5.99) to a more apt duck confit ($7.49). With pulled pork being a crowd favourite, the banh mi ($5.49) is no exception, it’s just as tasty as you would expect. The sweet and smokey pulled pork is covered in their house luck sauce (a combination of oyster sauce, sesame oil and sugar), topped with creamy house mayo; fresh pickled carrots, cucumbers, cilantro and scallions, all wrapped up in a warm, airy baguette.<br/>Along with their sandwiches, they serve up a variety of steamed baos, a bread-like bun overflowing with a variety of ingredients, all priced at a very reasonable $3.49. The five spice pork belly and fried chicken bao are a few of the best picks. You get a nice big piece of tender pork belly, seasoned perfectly and topped with the same fresh ingredients as their sandwiches. The fried chicken is crispy, moist and cooked to perfection – covered with panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried. Each bao is topped with the same ingredients as the banh mi’s and are placed on top of a soft bun. They also have a rumoured secret menu circulating, so try ordering the club bao; a combination of the pork belly and fried chicken – with one bite you’ll be sitting on a steamed bun in bao heaven!<br/><br/>Also on their menu, added by customer request, are the Asian fusion tacos ($3.99). With varieties such as squid, kalbi beef and pulled pork, each topped with purple cabbage and kimchi, you can’t go wrong.<br/><br/>To round off their menu, they include a few sides – and for those who want to try something out of this world, do yourself a favour and order the kimchi fries (and thank me later). A pile of thick cut fries, smothered with their house mayo, topped with sweet and smokey pulled pork and green onions and, of course, kimchi ($5.99), this sweet, savoury, spicy and creamy, poutine-like creation will blow your mind. The shareable side (if you are willing to share) is dangerously addictive and will keep you coming back.<br/><br/>Open until reasonably late (11a.m – 10 p.m on weekdays) and with two locations to serve you in Toronto, there is no excuse not to visit and witness the Asian fusion experience for yourself. The food is a great price and the taste is even better. With such an extensive menu, you’ll find yourself exploring a new favourite dish everytime!

I LOVE the viet subs at this place! I have tried the grilled chicken (my favorite) in a sub on one occasion. I also tried a pulled pork taco and a squid taco on another day. The sauce they put on the subs had a wonderful spice to it. There is always a line at this place and I understand why. <br/><br/>Their steamed baos are also really tasty. The fried chicken leaves a lot to be desired. They have much better options on the menu like the kalbi bed and and the pork belly. <br/>The tacos are filling and well priced.

First time here with a friend. Ordered the duck confit and grilled pork banh mi. My friend ordered the tofu fries with kimchi. Food was fantastic. Fresh and beautiful. So much flavor. Service seemed a bit rough. Wait time was not too bad. Finding a table...good luck to those who enter. I'll definitely be back!

I love this place! Those freaking Banh Mi are so fresh pack with flavors. When you order the Five Spices Pork Sandwich, you just know you are about to eat something special... and a side of Kimchi Fries makes everything glorious. Plus the fact that it's really not expensive, there is no reason not to try those godlike sandwiches!

Good - everything on the menu. Tofu and kimchi fries especially, choose your own spice level, workers wear fun hats<br/>Bad - sometimes a bit of a wait but well worth it

45 Hipsters in line can't be wrong.. Well, usually they can, but the base level foodie will find that the hype is real. A full tilt flavour battle royale for deux is well under $20. That includes slightly obscure Coke variations to enable moderate feelings of cultural elevation in ones self. I don't know what is on the sandwich, nor do I care. If it were dead children I would still come here. It's terrific and thrifty, which is what street food should be.

This is a true weakness of mine. You get that urban Asian ambiance once you walk in, especially with the 90s to modern hip-hop music playing in the background. My usual order is the 5 spice pork belly with kimchi fries and they never ever disappoint. Love the food, how they recycle properly (!!!), and good looking staff if I may say ;)

So, so, so yummy!!! The pork banh mi and beef taco were delish!

Squid Sandwich. It was great! The tofu kimchi fries were also awesome, the sauces were really great.

Just an amazing place for great tasting Vietnamese subs. We've tried the pork, kalabi beef ribs, grilled chicken and each is full of flavour on a fresh tasting bun. This place should be 100% positive reviews

I loved it!. I really enjoyed my lunch/dinner at Banh Mi Boys. It was such a delicious and beautiful Asian fusion. I can see that their food items are stemmed from Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese ingredients. For my next visit here, I would like to try out their Banh Mi Lemongrass Tofu, Steamed Bao Tofu or Chicken and Jicama Papaya Salad. I would rate this place 5.0/5.0. Strangely for the first time, standing in the long line created some positive excitement if you know what I mean. It felt like watching a movie with twists, turns and suspense and you just would like to know how it would end. I would recommend anyone and everyone to try out the Banh Mi Boys if you are in the downtown area. Their customer service was excellent. I saw the staff wiping the tables whenever the opportunity arises. And people, don't be too afraid of the spice. Try the smallest amount of Sriracha sauce and one piece of jalapeño pepper on one side of your sandwich.<br/><br/>Please visit Hungry Michie to check out the photos!

A good solid place. This is a very busy, fast-food style place specializing in Vietnames subs. The sandwiches themselves are very good (but certainly not the best that I had) but definitely worth the visit. The sandwich variety is also good (e.g., duck, pork belly). They also have fries with interesting toppings (e.g., tofu fries) and steamed bun sandwiches. Overall, definitely worth a visit when looking for a quick and tasty meal in downtown Toronto.

Delicious!. Went to Banh Mi Boys on Yonge last friday pre-AFI concert for my first time... it was DELISH! Tried a bit of everything, enjoyed it all. You can't go wrong here.

So delicious. The soft tacos are very filling. Veggie options available!

Being a time poor member of society, I have never written a review about a place but I just had to for this restaurant's poor service. <br/>At this chain we ordered two Bahn Mi. We told the cashier that we did not want any cilantro on our sub's and she told us to tell the sandwich dresser when it was time for us to customize our order. After our names were called we were rudely asked once by the sandwich dresser about what sauce we wanted and she then began to put the same sauce AND cilantro without asking any additional questions about our individual preferences. Upon seeing her final product we kindly asked her to remove the cilantro, and with a sigh she grabbed the sandwich from the tray, and hastily picked off the condiment. She then threw the sandwich back onto the counter. Finally, she said with an attitude, "that's the best I can do.". (Err, what if I was allergic to it? People allergic to certain foods should definitely stay away from this poor service restaurant.)<br/><br/>The sandwich buns were also stale and the fries were burnt. At $6.00 a sandwich, I would expect higher quality when I could easily purchase one at $2 in Chinatown.<br/><br/>If you want better service and tasty banh mi sandwiches, go to a real Viet banh mi restaurant.

From out of town and came upon banh mi boys thought we would try it. It was amazing. Had the braised pork belly banh mi. It was the best Viet sub I have ever ate!! The kimchi fries are delicious too!! Two thumbs up! :)

Chicken tacos are flavorful and has great textures. Spiciness is up to you. Very good.

Love it!!!

Amazing taste and freshness! Definitely worth your dollar! You can get some decent spiciness going in these delectable sandwiches.

Interesting spin on Viet sandwiches. The concept of the restaurant is interesting, targeting hipsters more than somebody looking for authentic Vietnamese sandwiches/food. It's not your regular Chinatown Vietnamese sub for $2, the sandwiches are made fresh to order, and taste great... they are not your coldcut traditional sandwich. The kimchi fries are an interesting spin on poutine and delicious.<br/><br/>They take debit and credit which is really convenient, other places should take note to this.

Banh Mi Boys is probably a good place to start if you want to invest in a quick meal with a combination of many cultures. Popular since 2012, the two locations is known for their long lineups that reach the outside during the peak lunch hours. Although it is still primarily a grab-and-go place, a glossy interior with tables and seating welcomes you upon entering the shop. Again like most sandwich places, you are greeted by a large menu at the entrance. The specialty of Banh Mi is how elaborate and diverse the sandwiches are. The menu includes the classic banh mi, fusion tacos, and baos (sweet Chinese steamed buns) filled with a mixture of ingredients across the world: duck confit (French), pulled pork (American), pork belly (Chinese), squid (Japanese), and kalbi beef (Korean) to name a few. There is also a few side selections, including the franchises’ famous kimchi fries and jicama papaya salad. And, as I later found out, there’s a secret menu too!

Banh Mi Boys is a popular Vietnamese Asian fusion quick-serve restaurant with two locations. They have one on Yonge besides Ryerson and another on Queen West.

In a city that is receptive to multi-cultural, fusion cuisine, it only makes sense that Banh Mi Boys will continue to thrive considering its location on the verge of Chinatown, and its creative re-imagining of cultural delicacies.

.. duck confit was succulent and juicy, a luxurious treat fit for a king, yet priced for a pauper. We topped ours with jalapeno, which was a nice compliment to the richness of the confit and the onion chutney. The grilled chicken (ordered by Forky) was dressed with garlic soy and was, as a result, quite salty. Aside from this, it was flavourful. Each sandwich came on a soft, crispy baguette bun, and were topped with fresh and pickled vegetables, delivering a nice, crunchy touch...

A restaurant that specializes in bahn mis? Done. I’m already sold. Bahn Mi Boys is a little store found on both Yonge and Queen Street that offers a variety of not only delicious bahn mis, but Asianized tacos and interesting steamed baos (soft Chinese buns). Oh and you definitely can’t miss out on their famous kimchi fries which tastes like a Korean poutine. Lots of yum :) Everything on the menu looks mouthwatering but you have to admit that kalbi beef ($5.99) sounds like a winner. Filled with fresh carrots, cucumber, cilantro, kimchi and a hefty amount of juicy short ribs, this Vietnamese sandwich really hits the spot. The slightly grilled thin bun holds in all the juices from the meat and Asian bbq sauce and the vegetables add in a taste of crunchy freshness into every bite. Bahn Mi Boys But don’t forget the kimchi fries ($5.99)! Mayonnaise, green onion, and heaps of kimchi, and pulled pork piled onto a box of freshly fried fries is the recipe of mouthwatering greatness. Hot, cold, c

Vietnamese foods are usually cheap, right? Well this restaurant leans towards the higher-end of Vietnamese food but don’t worry it is still cheap “enough”.

Vancouver has as many Vietnamese restaurants as there are Starbucks. However, we don’t have a chain that focuses solely on Viet subs.  I had the pleasure of trying Banh Mi Boys, a sandwich shop in Toronto that specializes in sandwiches Asian/Viet style!

Here is my typical order: five spice pork belly bánh mì and five spice pork belly steamed bao. I love pork belly. If you frequent my blog often, you know about my love affair with animal fat. Delicious artery-clogging goodness!

Wow. These fries definitely hit the heart-aching, artery clogging, junk food craving right on the nail. The fries were crispy and the sauces were deliciously savoury. The kimchi elevates the flavour and was not overly spicy. All ingredients had an equal presence - even the chopped onions! Highly recommended! Note: These fries are quite fragrant. As delicious as these are my Mom complained about the overwhelming smell when I brought the leftovers home. Personally, I didn't notice it but my Mom sure did.

Banh Mi Boys is another restaurant that’s taken me too long to try. If I was still a student I’d be a regular, but as is, it’s hard to find a situation where I’m close by and looking for a fast meal. Really, I should try harder. The Yonge St location of Banh Mi Boys was a 5 minute walk from the Eaton Centre and close to Ryerson campus. The restaurant was quick serve and only seats about 20 people, lots of diners grabbed banh mis to go.

The kalbi beef banh mi ($5.99) arrives with hot pieces of meat topped with kimchi, pickled carrots & daikon, cucumbers and cilantro all sandwiched between a warm toasted bun.  A tangy Asian sauce tops the meat, which was unanticipated as I expected the sauce to be sweet and garlicky like the kalbi sauce at Korean restaurants.    

Their menu is simple with three different items - Banh Mi, Steamed Baos and Tacos with various ingredients. There are hundreds of reviews out there, most of them positive, so we made a trip to their newer second store, conveniently located on Yonge & Gerrard.  You can spot this shop with a big red star on their banner.  The front of the store provides an open window, which is perfect for summer. It's not a big store.  There's about 25 seatings available so when it's busy, you'll have to wait a bit to get a seat.  However, diners usually don't' stay more than 30 minutes. They have an open kitchen, which we personally like as we can see how everything is made.  It's also a sign of a honest restaurant that's proud of their fresh ingredients and transparent cooking.  The above and below pictures show what Clara got, the Five Spice Pork

I have come to enjoy their take on the traditional Vietnamese sandwiches, as they have added a fusion flare to the classic banh mi. I have walked by their second location to their original flagship nearby the Eaton's Center a couple of times. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I went inside to order. They offer the same fare that can be found at the original location, and the layout/concept of the design is same too. The one main difference was that their second location was larger as it can seat more people. One of my usual orders at their flagship store is the kalbi beef ($6.99) - short ribs, kimchi, asian BBQ sauce , so I ordered one here. The tender and well marinated short ribs tasted so good with the contrasting crunch of the veggies. Like I mentioned in the previous review; it's served on a toasted sandwich with carrots, Japanese pickle cucumbers, cilantro,

Scott and I split the five spice pork belly banh mi and kimchi fries. The sandwich was nice, I thought the bread was great and the meat was tasty. Nothing too spectacular though. The fries were OK. Too much mayo in my opinion. And maybe too much kimchi too. Maybe I just don’t love kimchi enough to appreciate the dish though.

The best part of these baos is the soft bun and the kalbi had a sweetness to it that tied the whole banh mi together very well.

I really enjoyed my lunch/dinner at Banh Mi Boys. It was such a delicious and beautiful Asian fusion. I can see that their food items are stemmed from Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese ingredients. For my next visit here, I would like to try out their Banh Mi Lemongrass Tofu, Steamed Bao Tofu or Chicken and Jicama Papaya Salad. I would rate this place 5.0/5.0. Strangely for the first time, standing in the long line created some positive excitement if you know what I mean. It felt like watching a movie with twists, turns and suspense and you just would like to know how it would end. I would recommend anyone and everyone to try out the Banh Mi Boys if you are in the downtown area. Their customer servi

I got the Tofu Fries and the Lemongrass Tofu Bahnmi. I had wanted to get the Kimchee Fries but the menu read that it had Pulled Pork on it. It did not fully describe the Tofu Fries so I was very pleased to discover that the Tofu Fries were actually Kimchee Fries with Tofu instead of the Pork. They are fresh fries with a nice sweet and tangy gochujang base sauce topped with Kimchee, Tofu and Scallions. The Kimchee tastes right and that's coming from someone who's mom not only makes 2 dozen of her own Kimchees but her own Gochujang, Fish Sauce, Soy Sauce and Miso. So yeah, it's good. They offer optional Mayo which I took and it added a nice creamy balance to the fries.

I have been to Bahn Mi Boyz a few times and have never been dissapointed. Its a great fast and cheap meal. I have probably gone to the Yonge street location the most. I love the fried Chicken Bao and the Chicken Banh Mi sandwich with he fresh cilantro and pickled carrots i takes fast food up a notch. My only complaint is that the place is small and always busy so so sometimes hard to get a seat and I wish it was uptown so i could go more often.

Banh Mi Boys is without a doubt my favourite sandwich shop in Toronto. I LOVE the chicken banh mi and they use Thai red chilies, which gives the sandwich that extra kick. <br/><br/>The chicken banh mi is simple and delicious. It comes on a baguette with cilantro, carrots, mayo (which tastes more like teriyaki sauce), and cucumber. You can let them know how spicy you would like it. <br/><br/>The cashier is always so friendly and will ask how my day is going. I have told my friend and family about Banh Mi Boys and they love it, too! There's a reason this place is always packed!

Love this place, and love that they have a location at Gerrard and Yonge. I love getting the bao. There is something about the fluffy white bread that I just love. I have tried everything on their menu except their sides and salads. I have noticed that people really like the kimchi fries. Every time I am dining in someone orders the fries. You gotta try the pork belly and pulled pork. If you are looking to dine for under $5, Bahn Mi Boys is the place for you. Several meat options or go with tofu, crispy vegetables, and fluffy bao. Or go get the taco. Can't go wrong!

If you are looking for a lunch spot near the Eaton Centre, make sure to check out this great Vietnamese sub place.<br/>Their sandwiches such as a Grilled Pork is flavorful, spicy and is great antidote to your regular run of the mill sandwiches.<br/>If you are feeling adventurous try their Kimchi Fries.

I was impressed by Banh Mi Boys. The food was excellent, I had the grilled <br/>pork banh mi and split an order of kimchi fries with a friend, I think we both<br/>ate for under 20 bucks, which is pretty incredible for Queen St. <br/><br/>The actual restaurant was pretty busy when I was there, which meant that<br/>the tables had crumbs on them &c. Not a big deal, but it did mean that we<br/>bussed our own table. It certainly didn't bother me, especially considering how<br/>good the food was despite the low price and the quick service.

Banh Mi Boys has the best Vietnamese sandwiches I've had in a while.Their menu is small and easy to choose from, giving you pocket friendly options.  I got the Grilled Pork Sandwich, but you can also choose from their salads, sides and steamed baos.The amazing thing about their sandwiches is that it's a good mix of meat and fresh vegetables, which makes the combination taste great.You can also choose from different levels of spice and make your sandwich mild or extra hot. I went for the hot, which had fresh japapenos in it and it gave the pork and the vegetables a fantastic zing.We also tried the kimchi fries which is a huge portion, so you can share it with someone else as well.All in all, a great and economical meal.

Banh Mi Boys is a popular Vietnamese Asian fusion quick-serve restaurant with two locations. They have one on Yonge besides Ryerson and another on Queen West. I have been to both locations and they look exactly the same (which made me doubt if I ever went to the Queen West location for a second).<br/><br/>If you haven't been already, Banh Mi Boys sell cheap Vietnamese subs with a fusion twist. For example, they have Lemon Grass Tofu and Five Spice Pork Belly banh mis. They also sell tacos and steamed baos, which I have tried both and enjoyed. However, my absolute favourite are the Kimchi Fries! It's like poutine but perfect for any Kimchi lovers out there. It's the same size as a regular poutine from Smoke's Poutinerie, in case you were wondering.<br/><br/>Banh Mi Boys is the perfect place to grab a snack when hungry, especially if you are a broke Ryerson (or any university) student. It's laid-back and a good place to relax with a friend for lunch or for grabbing take-out. <br/>

Banh Mi Boys is an awesome sandwich shop with some of the best pork sandwiches and the kimchi fries for sides is an excellent combo. I tried the Five spice pork sandwich the first time and the meatball sandwich the second time, they both were excellent but i would still say the pork sandwich was far better . The ingredients are fresh, the meat is juicy  and a little tip for people who don't like coriander I would suggest you tell them no coriander while order your sandwich.

Snuggled in a corner with an interior wall of community art (read artisanal graffiti) speaks volume of the street cred of this particular Banh Mi Boys. Wafting out of its open kitchen is the distinct smoky scent of grilled meats and the tangy excitement of exotic herbs and spices. It’s perfect for a quick workday lunch away from the hustle and bustle of the financial district, and its grungy and hipster interior provides a good respite from the walls of glass and metal typical of the downtown core. The menu includes several popular Canadian staples such as duck confit, kimchi and braised beef cheek and highlights the use of ethnic flavour profiles like the use of lemongrass and 5-spice powder.<br/><br/>Banh Mi is a vietnamese baguette sandwich which showcases its French influence during its heyday as IndoChina, which the owners of Banh Mi Boys very astutely incorporate for its Canadian patrons who cannot get enough of its French-Canadian heritage too. <br/><br/>For lunch today, I had the duck confit banh mi sandwich. With the melt in your mouth meat and the rich flavours carefully balanced with the sauces and the bread, allowing the protein to shine forth with the unique taste of a good piece of duck. Cutting through the depth of flavours was the adept use of acid in the accompanying slaw vinaigrette, providing a beautiful contrast in this humble sandwich which i happily devoured in 3 minutes. Bon Appetit!

Delicious sandwiches! Not only lettuce on the inside of them! If you enjoy South East Asian cuisine you'll love the pungent flavour in sub sandwich. It doesn't only have to be rice or noodles!

Location<br/>It’s like a 7 minute walk from Eatons Centre and possibly less than 5 minutes for students who go to Ryerson University. Great location? You bet! I’d say the closest TTC subway station is Dundas so if you are planning to go downtown, give this baby a try.<br/><br/>Service<br/>It’s not the type of restaurant where you order and sit to be served. You basically place your order at the front, wait in line along the side, grab it once your name is called, and either do take-out or quickly munch down your sandwich in the limited tables that they offer. It’s definitely not fine dining and serves the purpose of “fast food”. I think 40% of the customers actually do take-out and gosh I need to tell you about my experience which will follow after the food section.<br/><br/>Food<br/>I actually only tried the steam baos (or buns) and the poutine. They have a very small menu consisting of appetizers, long buns, and steamed buns. It’s absolutely great for lunch because their motive is to prep fast-food. The steamed baos aren’t HOT like you think but prepared warm. The kick here is their fillings and shit you gotta try the FIVE SPICE PORK BELLY because it’s delicious. <br/>So like I said when you first take a bite you are eating the edges of your warm white steamed bun but as you dive deeper into the core, you are digesting this fatty seasoned pork belly that is HOT, JUICY, and absolutely filled with flavour. You can actually order their secret menu item also known as the “Club Bao” which includes 2 ingredients for $2-3 more the original bao price. <br/>For the sides, I’d recommend kim chi fries. Now if you can’t handle spicy you might want to grab some water bottles. It’s absolutely filling and can easily be shared with 2 other friends. For us, we shared 2 buns and 1 box of kimchi fries for the 3 of us. I’d say one more bun would have filled us up but we were satisfied =)<br/><br/>The story on take-out…<br/>If you want a comfy place to sit, order a take-out and grab yourselves a seat either at the food court above the theatre or right underground in Eaton’s Centre. I was heading to a concert at the ACC and thought it was a good idea to buy take-out. Nope. The problem was I ordered too much stuff. As I walked from the restaurant to the subway station I realized that the oil had dripped from the bag and on my jacket (my fucking Canada goose jacket). Usually this would be okay cause I could drop it on a table (if I was in a food court) and rinse it off. Nope that was just the start. I had to go on the subway packed with all sorts of shit (this is 5pm people) then go to Union station. <br/>If you are ordering take-out, get LOTS OF NAPKINS to line the base or better yet ask them for another bag. What’s even better is bring a plastic bag yourself because they only offer paper ones. Anyhow, the food still tasted good so what is there to complain about?