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Banh Mi Boys
Categories: Restaurants Vietnamese Restaurants Asian Fusion Vietnamese, Asian Fusion [Edit]
392 Queen St WToronto, ON M5V 2A9
Neighbourhoods: Alexandra Park, Queen Street West
(416) 363-0588
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11 am - 8 pm
Sat 12 pm - 8 pm
Sun 12 pm - 6 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
Jiao S. said: "I admit that I went in because I saw the sticker on the door "people like us on yelp":) I ordered hazelnut latte, very rich foam, although instead of hazelnut, it has a caramel taste to me, but i loved it. Love the cream flake cake,…" read more »
21 reviews for Banh Mi Boys
21 reviews in English
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Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
1/5/2012
Yes, it's worth the hype. Note: Owners are renovating January 15 and will reopen early Feburary.
VIBE
Um...slap a counter and some tables and chairs together with a cute sticker sign on the window and that's Banh Mi.
I EAT
It's all about the food. Having not eaten all day, I got the chicken banh mi (they'll top it for you) and the chicken taco with a little hot sauce and kim-chi. The taco was my favourite and for the amount of food you get, it's good value.
I rounded out the meal with sweet potato fries. It was a good balance between sweet and salty, with a mayo sauce as an accompaniment.
PS Cherry and vanilla coke are on hand. Plus, mini coke bottles! I ended up spending $14.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Banh...me from wanting to come here all the time! The guys were great. You can tell they genuinely care about their customers and what they want. I was hacking a lung and they gave me a free water. It's places like this that I hope prove to the government that we need to get street food on the streets of Toronto. Until then, I'm hoping there will be more little establishments like this and I'm happy to support them. -
Review from Marco B.
Toronto, ON
1/18/2012
I decided to take up a friend on the offer to get food at Banh Mi Boys this past Saturday, their last before closing for renovations. I am glad I did.
The wait was a little longer than I am used to (compared to, say, Ginger), but I am a strong believer that good food takes time to create.
I ordered their pork banh mi and my friend ordered the chicken banh mi. Both were absolutely delicious. The meats were seasoned as to not make the meat itself unrecognizable and I liked the fact that I am able to choose and moderate the sauces and toppings on the banh mi. Portion size is just enough to fill you (or me, anyway) without feeling bloated. Victory!
I am hopeful that when they reopen after renovations they have not decided to increase their price points or portions. Nothing is more frustrating than a place that increases prices and decreases portions, banking on their clientele to not notice (cough-Gandhi's-cough).
I would have rated the place with 5 stars, but having not tried other items on their menu and feeling a tad apprehensive about the forthcoming renovations, I will reserve the 'As good as it gets' rating for another day. -
Review from Mel L.
York, ON
1/13/2012
Great bahn mi! Definitely a step up from the usual cold cured meats and worth the step up in price. I can't decide if I like the grilled pork or the five-spice pork belly better. I think the grilled pork is more flavourful, but I love pork belly when it's done nice and tender the way banh mi boys did it. Sure you can find a cheaper sandwich, but I felt like I got my money's worth for the amount of meat they put in it, plus the bread was extremely fresh and delicious.
My only complaint was that I two other things I wanted to order, tacos and kalbi bao, were both sold out by the time I got there at 8pm. But the guys behind the counter were super nice so I couldn't be mad at them...
If this place were neater/cleaner looking (I'm down with bare bones take-out style, but the counters and food prep area looked like they belonged in a back kitchen, not at the front of the shop), it would be a five-star for sure. Maybe they'll take care of that during their renos.Listed in: Best Sandwich
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Review from Lynn C.
1/12/2012
I feel a bit bad about giving this small place a 3-star when everyone has given it mostly 5 and 4 stars, but I was kinda disappointed with the place.
First, it was hard to find the place. There were no big signs on the top and I wandered around Queen St. before I finally found the tiny un-renovated eatery. When we walked in, the narrow pathway and bare walls completely took me off guard. After moving in and out and around the pathway to let people through and being confused about where the line begins, I finally was able to place my order. Despite knowing its blatant limitations, the place still had no method to its madness and people behind the counter didn't have a properly assembly line to dictate who takes the order and who makes what part of a sandwich.
I ordered a spicy beef bahn mi and a kalbi taco and sat down in their dining area that resembled a restaurant from a taiwanese night market, or a barely furnished cafeteria.
The spicy beef bahn mi was neither spicy nor all that impressive. It tasted like 5-spice braised beef that hasn't been cooked long enough to get the full aroma in the food. My mom used to braise all kinds of beef and stuff them in sandwiches and this was reminiscent of that, but nowhere as good.
The kalbi taco was less of a disappointment and quite enjoyable. No complaints about that. I think next time I'm going to try to ask for that in a steamed bao.
Their toppings and condiments are up to par though. The pickled daikon and carrots were done right, and there was a delicious mayonnaise type of condiment that accompanied the bahn mi which allowed me to almost finish the bahn mi (left about a quarter).
I'll give this place another change after the renovation, and perhaps try other things on the menu and maybe I'll change my mind. -
Review from Vicky W.
North York, ON
1/9/2012
Another fantastic find!!
Food: I ordered the pork belly for $3.49 and was in heaven. It was perfect. The dough - the filling - the sauce. I couldnt have been happier.
Atmosphere: It wont be featured in a Decor Magazine anytime soon. A bit bare bones - but the food makes up for it.
Service: OK. Nothing to write about it.
The lay out of this restaurant needs to be reconfigured.
When you walk in - there was a line so I stood there too, ONLY to find out that they had placed their order already and were just waiting around to pick it up.
I also wish there website would have INFO on it. i.e hours, a phone number - you know, basic stuff!!
I hear they are renovating and will reopen in Feb!! Looking forward to this. -
Review from Johnathan N.
Brampton, ON
Oh holy damn. Cheap, fresh, tasty lunch eats.
A line snakes nearly out the door into the wintry December daylight. Single file, they wait, corralled by stainless steel prep counters and, beyond them, the open kitchen and the smell of sizzling pork belly. I join them.
"Five spice pork belly banh mi, please."
As with so many momentous utterances, it sounds prosaic in the moment. Only through the lens of history can we see those moments -- inflection points, say academics -- when the world changes and a new reality is ushered forth.
"As for toppings, make it tasty."
The new reality is this. Meat cooked fresh to order. Vietnamese sandwiches. Korean tacos. Vegetables to balance and excite the palate. Something called "luck sauce." Prepared with a smile, by people who want you to enjoy it. Cheap.
Pro-tip: Luck sauce. Do I need to say it again? Do you feel like you have all the luck you want in life? Not interested in any more luck today? Luck sauce.Listed in: Food near Mozilla Toronto
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Review from Rob C.
Moncton, NB
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I like sandwiches. I take them very seriously. When I heard about a Vietnamese/Korean place within walking distance of the office, I thought to myself, "I'm gonna get me one o' them vietnamese sandwiches and I'm gonna eat it".
There was a line outside the door today at just before 1pm. The line moved briskly and we were soon inside savoring the delicious smells coming off of the grill. Fully five people before me ordered the Five Spice Pork Belly Banh Mi so I thought I should do the same. I didn't want to stick out like some kind of oddball.
Shuffling down the line, it was eventually my turn to have the sandwich dressed up. "Everything, please," I requested. Everything in this case means pickled radish, pickled carrots, pickled cucumber (or, as I like to call them, "pickles") and some coriander. Hot peppers? Oh yes, some sliced green chilies right in there. Hot sauce? Sure!
I carried my sandwich back to the office tucked under my arm like a stolen baby. We ducked into alleys and through secret entrances to questionable buildings. Back inside, I took a moment to smell my lunch. Yup. I smelled it and it smelled Nice.
[redacted]
After cleaning up, I put on my lab coat and went back to work. I think I'm going back to Banh Mi Boys this week to try the Kalbi Beef tacos. I would go tomorrow if I thought I could get away with it with HR.Listed in: Downtown Toronto
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Review from Danielle D.
Toronto, ON
1/5/2012
I'm a huge fan of Vietnamese subs, I find myself ducking into the tiniest of venues to try spicy pork sandwiches all over the city from the Vietnamese shops in old Chinatown to P-Mall or the now defunct corner shop in the Junction Triangle.
But downtown Toronto has a new game in town with Bahn Mi Boys, the grilled spicy pork sub was delicious but the pork belly ($6) is a NEW GAME ENTIRELY. While more of a sweet spice than a hot spice, you can play it up with the toppings you choose to your liking. A fantastic sandwich and despite people's complaints, the wait really isn't that long for the quality.
The owners and staff are really nice and sweet and will advise you with whatever you choose and the food is so fresh it's fantastic. For a few dollars more, it's worth the price.
I'll give this place a 5 once I've fully tried the tacos and steamed bao, but for now, it's looking like there's longevity and staying power here. Hopefully they make their rent, it's not the cheapest postal code. -
Review from Joanne W.
I don't think I've ever been so happy eating food. My friend and I trekked through the cold to get to this place because everybody on yelp was raving about this place. And you know what? They had every right to, and it was totally work fighting the cold.
The service was great. We got there a little bit before 12 and we quickly got served. Afterward, there were quite a-many people that were in and out of the place.
I had ordered myself a kalbi taco - with beet, cilantro, daikon, carrots, kimchi, and yellow radish. BBQ dressing on it as well. My goodness, it was probably the most delicious thing I had eaten in the last little while. My friend had ordered himself a spicy beef viet bun, and that was great too - made fresh, and it was warm.
Sadly, it's apparently under renovations starting on the 15th. So everybody should go NAO to go grab as many Korean tacos before they go under renos! -
Review from Matt M.
Toronto, ON
12/13/2011
I've never had a $2 banh mi sub because mystery meat is repulsive. So, I'm comparing this to what you can expect to get in the neighbourhood for $6--hence, the five stars as Queen & Spadina sucks for cheap lunch spots.
They have cherry and vanilla Coke, which is nice. The guys are super friendly and enjoy recommending how to dress each particular banh mi or taco. Three of my coworkers and I were in and out in ten minutes with our take-out subs but that will likely take five or ten minutes longer once this place inevitably blows up and the lineup starts to stretch out the door.
The five spice pork belly was amazing, with three large chunks of fatty meat crammed into a fresh, crunchy baguette. The kimchi was a perfect compliment (obviously). The pulled pork was given two thumbs up all around. I was the only one to not get it. One of my coworkers got the sweet potato fries, and they were not bad and the portion was enormous for $3.
I'll be eating here twice a week until it becomes unbearably busy. Next time I'm going to destroy two kalbi tacos, and I apologize in advance to anyone who will bear witness to that gruesome spectacle. -
Review from Bijan V.
12/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Bahn Mi boys have big plans for their little sandwich shop! Taking the place of a rather dilapidated Shwarma place, they've pretty much kept everything as is (for now!).
They have a very small menu (5 or 6 items only) but they're incredibly great tasting and made fresh! Served on a nice soft bun (rather than the hard baguettes they're served in other places), they still kept the unique bahn-mi flavour, added some great meat to it and still kept the prices relatively low (around $5 for a 'gourmet' bahn-mi sandwich that should fill up a good portion of your stomach).
I would be a little disappointed of the space but I overheard one of the owners speaking of what they're planning to do with the space (move the kitchen to the back, renovate the space, etc) and it should be a pretty great shop once they start going for real! -
Review from Jen C.
The newly-opened space is still shiny and spartan; a gleaming coke fridge and a coke-themed clock gives the space a slight diner-esque note. But it's far from diner-fare here. This shop has opened its doors for Toronto to taste their take on that cheap-eats staple: the banh mi. But man can not live by banh mi alone! Rounding out Banh Mi Boys' menu are pork buns and tacos. Since I was a stomach of one, I went for the basic grilled pork banh mi.
Now, $5 for a sandwich isn't that expensive, but given that banh mi is usually in the neighbourhood of $2, my first thought when ordering was: is it worth the price hike? I guess that's what I was there to find out.
I asked for them to dress it as they feel it a banh mi should be dressed and watched them assemble it. On the visual scale, Banh Mi Boys' version is slightly bulkier, with lots of pork and none of the mystery meat. Toppings looked fresh and aren't stingily placed on. So far, so good. But on to the important part: taste.
Biting into the sandwich, I was happy to note the bread was crusty, but soft - no need to worry about cutting up the roof of your mouth here. All the veggies had the right pickled taste and crunch. But the biggest difference to me was the pork. Nicely sized chunks of meat and well-seasoned to give it a really good rounded-out flavour. It made the sandwich just-warmed - a nice touch as the weather gets colder.
Was it worth $5? I think so - but it may be borderline for some.
Overall, a promising first visit. I would return to eat this again but would explore the rest of their menu first. -
Review from Andrea T.
Toronto, ON
12/29/2011
Other reviews talk about the food and the value so instead of being repetitive I'll validate what they said.
Now I understand what everyone is talking about. Unlike many places I've gone to, this place is worth the hype. Taking advice from Yelp and others, I got the pulled pork banh mi. It was excellent and great value. I liked the pickled daikon and the sweet-acid balance of the carrots. They're generous with the cilantro. The balance of flavours overall is excellent. I'm not a fan of white bread but I liked the soft fluffy inside, the crunchy outside and the density of the dough. It tasted freshly baked, which it was (the owners' parents own the bakery that supplies the bread).
A large sandwich with lots of meat and toppings for at total of $6.20 (after tax) seems reasonable to me. Any time I can get lunch for under $10 I'm happy, and this is good food.
Believe the hype. -
Review from Juliana H.
Toronto, ON
12/10/2011
Grabbed a grilled chicken sandwich for lunch from Banh Mi Boys today. I have to say, I was a fan. Normally, I pass these sammys up because I find the buns dry and tasteless. Not here! The bread was actually yummy. The toppings were all good - nice and fresh tasting and there was plentiful chicken. And I thought the price for the quality and quantity of the sandwich and the location of the shop was totally justifiable.
I will be back! -
Review from Kent P.
12/18/2011
I had the 5 spice pork belly sandwich which after tax came in at $6.77.
It was quite large with those long white buns they bake in house, came along with carrots, mayo, their bahn mi sauce, some jalapeños, cilantro, and cucumbers.
It was more than enough to feed an expansive man like myself. Only issue I had was that it took a little longer than I would have expected to prepare (of course, if you've got time then it's not an issue).
The sandwich tasted pretty good, the pork belly wasn't too fatty, and the vegetables gave it the necessary refreshing crunch and texture to compliment the richness of the meat.
If you're a sandwich guy and never have had bahn mi, I think this is a good place to start. -
Review from Flouny S.
Toronto, ON
1/3/2012
This place is absolutely the best, I fell in love with them when they were at the T&T waterfront market. When they announced their store I was not only happy, I was elated that they decided to open it so close to me. How considerate of them!
They have not fully renovated yet and due to their popularity, service can be slow though it's not there fault. I have tried a few things and they are definately winners.
The grilled pork banh mi, there are not enough words to describe how good this tastes. Not being familiar with banh mi, after I tried had a banh mi boys grilled pork banh mi, I wandered endlessly around chinatown looking for a grilled pork banh mi. When I found one place, their version of grilled pork was a thin slice of sausage like meat. Definately what I was accustomed to at the waterfront market.
The bun is crispy yet soft, so the roof of your mouth will not suffer a few days after eating this. The meat is grilled fresh and the abundance of picked carrots and clinatro tops it off. They are not stingy on the toppings unlike spadina.
Another favourite is the steamed pork belly bao, only down side is that by the time we get it home the bao is cold and it isn't the same. If I had time I would gobble this down at their store. Never been a fan of pork belly becauase it was stomach but it isn't. Don't like the name fool you, pork belly is really asian bacon literally.
They are open everyday except Mondays. I wish you were open on Mondays but I guess you have to take a day off! -
Review from John M.
Toronto, ON
12/19/2011
After hearing some good reviews of Banh Mi Boys I went out of way to stop by and grab and sandwich. I am so glad I did.
The Five Spice Pork Belly banh mi is one of the best sandwiches in the city, Great flavour, fresh toppings and don't forget to ask for luck sauce and some cabbage and kimchi.
The guys behind are super friendly. And they have cherry coke! Yes, it's a little more expensive the the standard "Vietnamese sub" found around town but it is so, so worth it.
Banh Mi Boys is going to be my new go-to for grabbing a bite to eat in the Queen/Spadina area. -
Review from Rj P.
12/21/2011
Gourmet Banh Mi! About time!
It is funny how the Spadina Banh Mi places seem to always raise their prices at the same time. I figured it was about time someone came in and said "ok, I'm going to charge a little more but the sandwich is going to be bomb". Banh Mi Boys did just that.
I had the 5-spice pork belly and tried the beef dahbi taco and both were perfect. Great flavor, everything was high quality and the price was reasonable ($11 for both dishes, tax-in).
I will be back! Way better than what you get for $3 on Spadina. YUM! -
Review from Ramanan S.
Toronto, ON
12/14/2011
Imagine a Banh Mi sandwhich: awesome and cheap and filled with questionable meat, right? Now imagine a Banh Mi sandwich that is still pretty cheap, but made fresh and out of awesome. That's what Banh Mi Boys is all about. You can get several different sandwiches: Grilled Chicken or Pork, 5 Spice Pork Belly, Veal Meatball, or Spicy Beef. My lunch group tried everything but the Spicy Beef, and we were all quite happy and impressed. They also make tacos and wraps out of Chinese steamed buns, using the same sorts of ingredients that they would put in your sandwich. These also got a thumbs up from my lunch group. This has to be one of the cheapest places to eat at Spadina and Queen, and one of the best. People: do this thing!
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Review from Linda M.
12/23/2011
Reading all the hype on Yelp definitely put Banh Mi boys on my list of places to try asap - as did the fact that I've never had a banh mi before. So when I was meeting my sweetie for some Christmas-themed mushiness at Underground Cinema (in the form of Love Actually on the big screen), I was happy to be reminded that the two are very close.
It's fairly non-descript from outside - my guy admitted that he probably wouldn't have given it a chance without my recommendation. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by three things - the warmth of the grill, the guy staffing the grill, and a menu board. We quickly made our selections of pulled pork and pork belly, and they were cooked fresh in front of us. The cook also topped our sandwiches, and was nice enough to make suggestions for the two banh mi virgins in front of him. I topped my pork belly with pickled carrots, cilantro, kimchi, hot peppers, mayo and lucky sauce. It was delicious! Even the bun was great. The SO and I were both impressed. For the same price, you could go to Subway - but if you have this as an option, why would you? Quality meat with interesting flavours and toppings, or blah lunchmeat with your regular toppings on a crappy bun? Not much of a contest.
As far as atmosphere, there wasn't a lot, but a place like this is for a quick bite not a romantic evening. For around $5 you can have a filling sandwich prepared fresh, and sit to eat it if you want to. Considering street meat isn't that much cheaper, I'd say that's a good deal. I wish there was one closer to me!
All in all, this is amazing value. A super tasty hot sandwich for a great price, and friendly service. I'll be recommending to all my friends, and will definitely be back. -
Review from Joe C.
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
not a bad start to some tasty sandwiches. guys landed a great location. the pulled pork taco was very good not too dry and excellent flavour to it. the pork belly is a fantastic idea but i didnt think the two flavours (salty and sweet) matched well together in this sandwich. A little bland pork belly would have been great no need to mix those flavours together.
Great value quick service! ill be back soon once after the renos are done.
