clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Mama Rouge
Mama Rouge
R. Lopez

Ten Non-Traditional Takes on Banh Mi in D.C.

From vegan takes to banh mi burritos, it seems every restaurant has its own take on the banh mi.

View as Map
Mama Rouge
| R. Lopez

It isn't tough to find a banh mi in the D.C. area — especially if you're willing to trek out to the Virginia suburbs. But the Vietnamese sandwich has gotten so popularized that many restaurants are putting their own, less traditional spins on the dish. Here are 10 sandwiches that offer something beyond the combination of baguette, pickled vegetables and classic fillings.

Curious about traditional versions? Consult Eater's Banh Mi guide.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Bacon N' Ed's

Copy Link

Silver Liners should not want for banh mis. Especially for banh mis featuring fried chicken. Chef Ed Hardy operates this "bacony food truck" will make sure eaters will get their banh mi and their fried chicken too. Check Twitter (@BaconNEds) to find out where the sandwiches are being served.

Bar Pilar

Copy Link

This 14th Street mainstay has an eclectic menu, including a banh mi with coconut pork shoulder. The sandwich comes with a pho dip.

Bistro Bohem

Copy Link

This may be a Czech restaurant in Shaw, but on the restaurant's brunch menu, Eastern Europe meets Southeast Asia with their chicken schnitzel banh mi.

Named after the sandwich, the restaurant goes for a "build your own" style to the Vietnamese sandwich. With five fillings, including 18-hour beef and chili garlic tofu, and five sauces to choose from, there are at least 25 different banh mis available. And that's before customers really get creative.

Duke's Grocery

Copy Link

Its proper burger may get all the attention, but Duke's Grocery in Dupont sometimes has a banh mi with marinated catfish on its menu. The restaurant's offerings change all the time so check its Facebook page to see the latest menu.

Loving Hut

Copy Link

Even vegans can enjoy the Vietnamese sandwich. At Loving Hut in Falls Church, the restaurant loves vegans and offers them (and others who are not in a meaty mood) a BBQ soy vegan banh mi.

Mama Rouge

Copy Link

Formerly Bangkok Joe's, Mama Rouge carries a coconut shrimp banh mi with pommes frites. And what Mama Rouge has to offer to seems to be pleasing the masses. All of the restaurant's banh mi offerings can also be served on a croissant.

PhoNation

Copy Link

This popular food truck is always roaming the streets of DC. And when hungry office workers come to the window, they order the burrito banh mi. It's all that's good about a traditional banh mi but wrapped in a tortilla so the sandwich is easy to grab, go and enjoy. Follow them on Twitter (@DCphonation) to find out where the food truck will be next.

The Chinatown restaurant has a "banh mi-inspired shrimp burger". And this sandwich is notable enough to be considered one of DC's 30 most iconic dishes.

Sprig & Sprout

Copy Link

Glover Park's Sprig & Sprout has banh mi baskets with more than half a dozen fillings, including beef or pork meatballs and lemongrass chicken. The least traditional of the bunch features a pork meatball in a "Viet" tomato sauce.

Bacon N' Ed's

Silver Liners should not want for banh mis. Especially for banh mis featuring fried chicken. Chef Ed Hardy operates this "bacony food truck" will make sure eaters will get their banh mi and their fried chicken too. Check Twitter (@BaconNEds) to find out where the sandwiches are being served.

Bar Pilar

This 14th Street mainstay has an eclectic menu, including a banh mi with coconut pork shoulder. The sandwich comes with a pho dip.

Bistro Bohem

This may be a Czech restaurant in Shaw, but on the restaurant's brunch menu, Eastern Europe meets Southeast Asia with their chicken schnitzel banh mi.

BONMi

Named after the sandwich, the restaurant goes for a "build your own" style to the Vietnamese sandwich. With five fillings, including 18-hour beef and chili garlic tofu, and five sauces to choose from, there are at least 25 different banh mis available. And that's before customers really get creative.

Duke's Grocery

Its proper burger may get all the attention, but Duke's Grocery in Dupont sometimes has a banh mi with marinated catfish on its menu. The restaurant's offerings change all the time so check its Facebook page to see the latest menu.

Loving Hut

Even vegans can enjoy the Vietnamese sandwich. At Loving Hut in Falls Church, the restaurant loves vegans and offers them (and others who are not in a meaty mood) a BBQ soy vegan banh mi.

Mama Rouge

Formerly Bangkok Joe's, Mama Rouge carries a coconut shrimp banh mi with pommes frites. And what Mama Rouge has to offer to seems to be pleasing the masses. All of the restaurant's banh mi offerings can also be served on a croissant.

PhoNation

This popular food truck is always roaming the streets of DC. And when hungry office workers come to the window, they order the burrito banh mi. It's all that's good about a traditional banh mi but wrapped in a tortilla so the sandwich is easy to grab, go and enjoy. Follow them on Twitter (@DCphonation) to find out where the food truck will be next.

Proof

The Chinatown restaurant has a "banh mi-inspired shrimp burger". And this sandwich is notable enough to be considered one of DC's 30 most iconic dishes.

Sprig & Sprout

Glover Park's Sprig & Sprout has banh mi baskets with more than half a dozen fillings, including beef or pork meatballs and lemongrass chicken. The least traditional of the bunch features a pork meatball in a "Viet" tomato sauce.

Related Maps