banh mi

noun

ˈbän-ˈmē 

plural banh mi also banh mis

: a usually spicy sandwich in Vietnamese cuisine consisting of a split baguette filled typically with meat (such as pork or chicken) and pickled vegetables (such as carrot and daikon) and garnished with cilantro and often cucumbers

Here we have the original banh mi—a reliable favourite on a classic crusty baguette. Cold cut-style pork belly, chicken liver pâté (you can sub in avocado if that's more your thing), and soy-based Vietnamese sausage are finished with pickled carrots and daikon … , cucumbers, cilantro, aïoli and special sauce.

—Liza Agrba

In Queen Anne, the Vietnamese coffee shop Queen Càphê serves banh mis and spring rolls.

—Tan Vinh

Examples of banh mi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My husband makes a banh mi with pea protein inspired by one at Zabar’s that’s really good, but this sandwich would be the real pork version. —Alyse Whitney, Saveur, 29 Jan. 2026

The restaurant would focus on banh mi sandwiches and Vietnamese coffee, according to city staff. —Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026

Ease into the day at the charming French-Vietnamese Elizabeth Street Café, which greets the dawn with coffee and pastries, before evolving its menu as the day passes, with pho and banh mi tempting the casual crowd. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026

Thinly sliced ribeye and greens are piled onto a banh mi baguette and served with a side of pho broth for dipping. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Vietnamese bánh mì, literally, "bread, baguette," from bánh "cake, pastry" + mì "wheat"

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for banh mi

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy