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

In an area of town known for Southeast Asian cuisine, Vin Xuong’s fresh banh mi keep customers coming back. — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 July 2026

Amid Orange County’s hypercompetitive banh mi price wars and constant menu innovation, Lynda Sandwich’s secret house sauce and made-to-order banh mi keep regulars lining up. — Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Another Adams County favorite for farm-to-table cuisine, Sign of the Buck in the 1804 Union Hotel serves dishes that run the gamut from braised venison to a pork belly banh mi sandwich to a crab cake eggs Benedict at brunch. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 27 June 2026

Vietnam Cafe will try out the new banh mi recipes in Overland Park before moving them over to the Columbus Park location. — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 15 June 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