Located at 4 Luong Huu Khanh Street, Banh Mi Trang opened its doors earlier this year and quickly caught attention with its high prices.
The shop's owner, Nguyen Quang Huy, 40, has spent years perfecting his recipes, developing 13 different fillings, such as pate, cold cuts, and char siu. The seafood banh mi is the shop's most expensive product, priced at VND79,000.
Huy acknowledges that his prices are higher than most, even describing his sandwiches as the most expensive in HCMC. He justifies the cost by explaining that the pork and seafood he uses come from certified suppliers in Dong Nai Province that borders HCMC. The ingredients are then processed at his own facility in HCMC's Thu Duc City.
The bread, too, is made in-house. Huy claims his loaves are larger than those typically found in the market, with a lighter crumb to allow for more filling.
This control over every step of production is part of his effort to create a supply chain and reassure customers concerned about food safety.
"If there is ever an issue with the ingredients, I can trace the source immediately," he said.
Banh Mi Trang’s traditional sandwich features a double layer of pate, making it rich and moist without being dry. Alongside the banh mi, customers can enjoy additional condiments such as chili sauce, pepper salt, and pickled vegetables to customize their taste.
Quoc Dang, 30, from Bien Hoa City in Dong Nai, often visits the shop when he comes to HCMC. He acknowledges that the price is higher than at other places but feels the quality of the toppings justify the cost.
"I think it's reasonable if you share one with another person," he said.
Nguyet Huong, 34, from HCMC's Binh Tan District, trusts the shop's process and believes the high price comes with high-quality products.
Le Hung, 35, from Thu Duc City, tried the seafood banh mi after seeing it on social media. While he praised the variety of toppings, he felt the seafood option wasn't unique, just "more stuffed” than the traditional version.
The shop also offers frozen options for customers who want to take their sandwiches on the go. Huy encourages customers to enjoy the hot sandwiches for the full experience but assures that the frozen products maintain the same level of quality.
The shop can accommodate up to 20 customers and offers a waiting area for those dining in. Open from 6 a.m. to midnight, the menu includes not only seafood and traditional banh mi but also combo deals such as a banh mi with coffee for VND96,000.
The busiest times of day are lunch and dinner. Most orders are placed through delivery apps or picked up to go, with daily sales averaging 400-500 sandwiches.
The banh mi at the shop is larger than the typical portion for most Vietnamese people, so customers need to consider the quantity and buy accordingly.
Thanh Huong, 35, living in HCMC, said: "I was curious and came to try it but had to wrap half of it to take home because I couldn't finish it."
