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

Found a half-block from Cesar Chavez Plaza, it’s become a state worker favorite for affordable yet tasty banh mi and pho. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 19 July 2024

Also on the menu: Vietnamese banh mi, turkey and avocado sandwiches and toasts topped with avocado, smoked salmon or honey almond and banana. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 10 July 2024

Just think of how the daikon and carrot in a banh mi adds the complexity to that classic sandwich, or how pickled Italian long hot peppers could be sprinkled on top of a pepperoni pizza to take it to a new level. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 2 July 2024

There's also a banh mi, a po boy and a fried chicken sandwich with hot truffle honey. —Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 28 Feb. 2024

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