Where to fulfil that craving for a perfectly balanced banh mi

Craving a fresh, crisp bread roll filled with juicy pork, perfectly pickled veg and a spot of spicy chilli? Here are five hotspots battling for the title of Sydney’s best banh mi.

Craving for a fresh, crisp bread roll filled with juicy pork, perfectly pickled veg and a spot of spicy chilli? Here are five hotspots battling for the title of Sydney’s best banh mi.

Marrickville Pork Roll

Marrickville

Marrickville Pork Roll. Picture: Supplied

The legend. The blueprint. The humble hero of Illawarra Rd. Marrickville Pork Roll has been doling out absolute bangers since before hipsters knew what banh mi was. The pork is juicy, the pickles are punchy and the baguette shatters in all the right ways. It’s affordable, cheerful and incredibly hard to beat. You’ll be able to spot this little hole-in-the-wall store by the perpetual queue of tradies, locals and food nerds outside debating coriander ratios. Even our PM has been spotted there, waiting for his lunch. Hot tip: Get two – you’ll want a second before you’ve finished the first.

236 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville

Top Ryde Baker’s House

Ryde

Top Ryde Bakers House. Picture: Supplied

You can tell that this bakery, inside the Top Ryde City Shopping Centre, is a hot ticket going by the ropes set up to manage the perpetual queues they draw daily. Yes, these banh mi are so good, they cause traffic jams. The crispy pork belly is legendary, with perfect layers of crunch and fat balanced by fresh, snappy veg and warm, flaky baguettes. The vibe? Old-school, local and a little bit nuts. To wit: Do a silly dance for the staff between 11am and 3pm and, if they approve of your moves, you’ll score $5 off your order.

LG2 Top Ryde City, Cnr Devlin St & Blaxland Rd, Ryde

Banh Mi Bay Ngo

Bankstown

Banh Mi Bay Ngo.

Tucked away in Bankstown’s vibrant Vietnamese precinct, Bay Ngo makes banh mi that is a masterclass in balance. The bread rolls are light and just crisp enough to contain their very generous contents, while the fillings (especially the traditional cold cuts) are vibrant and fresh. There’s a sweetness to Bay Ngo’s pickled veg that pairs beautifully with the creamy smear of house-made pate. They’re generous with herbs and chilli, too, so prepare for a little spice-induced enlightenment. Not big on pork? The fish ball banh mi is an aquatic treat. This is a local gem that’s absolutely worth the trek.

49 Bankstown City Plaza, Bankstown

Viet Hoa Hot Bread

Cabramatta

Viet Hoa Hot Bread. Picture: Bill Hearne

Open 24/7, because cravings don’t clock off, Viet Hoa is a Cabra institution. Get to the front of the queue and you’ll walk away with two things: One of the city’s best pork rolls, and icing sugar on your shirt from a rogue custard bun that you just couldn’t resist. These rolls are textbook perfect: Springy, crisp-edged baguettes filled with smoky pork, crunchy veg and just enough chilli to remind you you’re alive. Get the classic or try a meatball roll … either way, no matter what time you wake up after dreaming about banh mi, Viet Hoa will be open.

107 John St, Cabramatta

Hong Ha Bakery

Mascot

Hong Ha Bakery.

There are two types of people in Sydney: Those who have queued outside Hong Ha and those who haven’t … yet. This busy counter is where crispy pork belly dreams are fulfilled – explosive crackling with a meaty centre. And the classic pork roll with its array of cold cuts and the lemongrass-marinated chicken are both worthy fillings, too. The bread? Perfectly crusty. The chilli? Proceed with caution. You might need a nap afterwards but, hey, it will have been totally worth it. Lunchtime crowds don’t lie – this place is a pilgrimage site for anyone who’s serious about their banh mi.

1151 Botany Rd, Mascot

Originally published as Where to fulfil that craving for a perfectly balanced banh mi