With a remarkable score of 4.6 out of 5, Vietnamese Bánh Mì has claimed the top spot in the “Top 100 Sandwiches in the World 2024”, as voted by renowned global culinary guide TasteAtlas on March 15.
According to TasteAtlas, Bánh Mì (pronounced bun mee) is a staple Vietnamese dish that originated from the French baguette introduced during the colonial period. However, through Vietnamese creativity and taste, it has evolved into a unique and flavorful sandwich enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.
Vietnamese Bánh Mì typically features savory fillings such as pork, chicken, beef, seafood, cold cuts, pâté, or sausage, complemented with fresh herbs like cilantro, pickled vegetables, and chili. The result is a well-balanced, aromatic combination that reflects the Vietnamese culinary philosophy of freshness and harmony in flavor. One important note, according to TasteAtlas, is not to overfill the sandwich to maintain its delicate balance.
Over time, Bánh Mì has become increasingly diverse, with popular variations including Bánh Mì Thịt (pork sandwich), Bánh Mì Xíu Mại (meatball sandwich), Bánh Mì Chả Cá (fish cake sandwich), Bánh Mì Gà Nướng (grilled chicken), Bánh Mì Chả Lụa (Vietnamese ham), and Bánh Mì Ốp La (sunny-side-up egg sandwich), among others.
TasteAtlas also highlighted several famous Bánh Mì spots in cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hoi An, and even international locations in the United States and Australia.
In addition to topping the chart, other Vietnamese sandwiches also ranked high:
Bánh Mì Thịt placed 9th, described as a popular street food made with various cold cuts, cucumber, pickled carrots and daikon, liver pâté, mayonnaise, black pepper, coriander, and sliced chili.
Bánh Mì Heo Quay (roast pork sandwich) ranked 29th, noted for its use of crispy roasted pork belly.
TasteAtlas remarked that Bánh Mì is commonly eaten for breakfast and lunch but is available throughout the day due to the abundance of street vendors across Vietnam.
Vietnamese Bánh Mì has consistently earned high praise in global food rankings:
In 2023, it was ranked 14th in TasteAtlas’s “Top 100 Best Dishes in the World.”
In September 2022, it scored 4.8/5 and ranked 4th in TasteAtlas’s list of the “Top 50 Best Street Foods in the World.”
In early 2023, CNN named it one of the “24 Best Sandwiches in the World,” describing it as “crispy, fresh, flavorful, and incredibly delicious.”
CNN also previously included Bánh Mì in its “Top 50 Must-Try Street Foods in Asia.”
French newspaper Le Monde in 2021 even referred to Bánh Mì as a formidable rival to the American hamburger.
In March 2020, Google honored Bánh Mì with a dedicated Doodle on its homepage in over 10 countries.
The word “Bánh Mì” has also been officially added to several prestigious English dictionaries, including Oxford, Cambridge, and Merriam-Webster. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines it as: “A type of Vietnamese baguette sandwich typically filled with cold cuts, pâté, and vegetables.”
