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Banh Mi Vietnam

A drive-through banh mi joint serving hefty tiger rolls to go.

Annabel Smith and Harvard Wang

Barbecued chicken banh mi, as seen in one writer’s car.
1 / 5Barbecued chicken banh mi, as seen in one writer’s car.Harvard Wang
Banh Mi Vietnam has set up in the car park of a wedding reception venue.
2 / 5Banh Mi Vietnam has set up in the car park of a wedding reception venue.Harvard Wang
Lemongrass pork banh mi.
3 / 5Lemongrass pork banh mi.Harvard Wang
Depending on how busy it is, you may have to park their car and wait.
4 / 5Depending on how busy it is, you may have to park their car and wait.Harvard Wang
Crackling roast pork banh mi.
5 / 5Crackling roast pork banh mi.Annabel Smith

Vietnamese$

You might ask yourself why there aren’t more places that unite the joys of banh mi with the novelty of a drive-through. As far as we can tell, Banh Mi Vietnam in Maidstone, located in the car park of a still-functioning wedding reception venue, is Melbourne’s only active drive-through selling crusty rolls filled with everything from cold cuts to lemongrass tofu.

Tiger rolls here are big – almost in Subway foot-long territory – crunchy yet pillowy in the middle, and have enough structure to hold everything without collapsing. Achieving the elusive combination of juicy meat and ASMR-crunchy crackling, the pork in the crispy roast pork banh mi is thickly sliced with nicely rendered fat. For the crackling averse, lemongrass pork is flavourful with sesame seeds throughout, a bit like a stir-fry in a roll.

No matter your choice of protein, the four Cs (chilli, coriander, cucumber, carrot) are present and correct, as are the four Os: spring onion spear, dark-green spring onion slices, white onion and crispy fried shallots. Rolls are served in a white paper bag and a cardboard box to minimise mess in your car.

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Annabel SmithAnnabel Smith is senior producer and innovation editor for Good Food.Connect via email.

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Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/goodfood/melbourne-eating-out/a-drive-through-banh-mi-joint-in-melbourne-s-inner-west-is-serving-hefty-tiger-rolls-to-go-20250704-p5mclc.html