Pretty good lemongrass chicken banh mi sandwiches. The size was pretty large and filling. Due to covid they do not take in person orders so you have to call ahead. They also take payment over the phone. Once the food is ready they call your name and put the food on the table. I waited about 30-40 minutes for 4 banh mi sandwiches. Tip: call ahead. read more

Banh Appetit - Lemongrass chicken - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Maine

Sort of hole in wall in behind the bustling Portland area. Friend insisted I try since it was the best thing she's had in Portland. The call to order system was sort of a bummer since they were taking extra precautions due to COVID but I was glad they were still survived. Got the sandwich 10 min later and it was to my surprise, piping hot! There was no outside dining area so we ate it on the street. The bread was one of the softest baguettes I've had with a slight crunch on the outside. Lemongrass beef was cooked to perfection with a juicy marinated sauce and not too salty. I would add just a tad bit more veggies to it but other than that, a pleasant surprise in Portland! read more

Banh Appetit - Lemongrass beef - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Maine

The bread is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and when you get the veggies and tofu (I got the tofu) in one bite, its very delicious! The only knock on this place is the wait-time. Be prepared to wait longer than expected but worth it if you have the time. read more

If you're looking for authentic Vietnamese coffee and banh mi, this place is it! They are priced really well for the portions you get, only gripes I have are: - they are very strict about dine-in. We arrived on a suppppper rainy and stormy day, and took the 15 min walk anyway straight out of the train station and hotel check-in because they had such great reviews. They had a sign that said "2 dine in" and then others that said "no dine-in" so I asked and they said not at all. Given that there's no shelter anywhere and the banh mi will definitely get soggy from the rain, we left empty-handed. I get state restrictions and all (as per staff because of a lack of bathrooms, but then why is there tables and chairs then...?) but also have to say that that wasn't a good experience. - we returned on a better day and the person there seems miserable. Now, I'm from Asia and I get the no-nonsense vibe many Asian restaurants/food place have, but she took it up a notch. No eye contact, monotone, and just overall cold. Maybe it's because they are short of manpower which I empathise. That said, we shouldn't bear the brunt of the struggles she's feeling from the business. These things accumulated is the reason why I knock a star off. They are not necessarily to blame for many of the above, but it has definitely affected our experience. We hope to have a better time should we visit the next time. read more

Banh Appetit - Vietnamese Coffee and BBQ Pork Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Maine

WOW! The best banh mi my partner and I have ever had! Amazing value, high quality ingredients, extremely tasty. Fast service. Small spot, nice employees (I think the place is family owned?). We dream about this spot. Can't recommend this enough. Tip: get the lemongrass beef! read more

I've been a regular at Banh Appetit since the first day they opened last year and I can confidently say they make the best Banh mi sandwiches I've ever had. An absolute staple to the East End and Portland as a whole, their spectacular food has never disappointed. Whether it's the Banh mi sandwiches, the pho, the curry rice plates, or many more on their ever-changing menu I can promise that you'll always have a fantastic meal that's a steal at the price. Additionally, the staff is always friendly and eager to answer any of your questions. If you haven't stopped by for a bite to eat then you're missing out! I cannot praise Banh Appetit enough and I hope they're here for many years to come! read more

Omg it is delicious cold cut banh mi! Love the fresh veggies, light crusty bread and tasty cold cold meat. Such a good deal for $8 Instead of Siracha sauce, expect thick seeded green jalapeño for spicy kick. Sweet family owned take out service can't wait to try their pho next time !!! read more

Love Banh Appetit! I love that it is a local family business That they are making some of the most delicious and well constructed Banh Mi in town, Heartily recommend, the BBQ pork and lemongrass chicken! Their fresh shrimp spring rolls are FANTASTIC They have specials every day, including sometimes soups They have a wall of Vietnamese groceries for sale as well Their price point is reasonable for the amount of excellent food you get back in return! Love Banh Appetit! read more

Top 3 restaurants in Portland and #1 for cost value !!! Delicious - have tried every banh mi and each one is great

Great food. Love their banh mi sandwich. Lousy attitude from the lady that works there. read more

It's a small little shop where you would just have to order to go. I got there about 15 minutes after it opened and the girl came out looking very annoyed maybe because she didn't expect to have customers this early. I ordered pork fried eggrolls, chicken lemongrass and cold cut banh mi. Had to wait about 25mins for that. You would think the moment a place is open they're ready to make/serve food. The eggrolls was a bit sour so I'm not sure if that is how it's supposed to taste or if the meat was spoiled. However the chicken lemongrass was good. The bread was nice and crispy and chewy. I wish they would add more vegetables though, there only seem to be a very light amount on top read more

Banh Appetit - Egg roll - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Maine

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First let me say my partner and I I understand it's covid times so things are different these days. And also we want to support local businesses. So we hope you try this place for yourself and make your own choices. I've spent considerable time living in Vietnam and my partner is from mainland China. In her words, she has "a taste for Asian flavor.." The banh mi was good... for Maine. I would actually go back for the banh mi ...decent taste and an exceptional value for what you get. My partner did not enjoy the pho. I tried a little and the flavor lacked a bit. Had more of a northern phô taste but not quite on. We prefer the southern phô taste as well. I ordered the pork with spring rolls over bun noodle. This is one of my standards at any Vietnamese spot. I was not impressed. The pork was very sweet and almost a Hong Kong style char siu style. The spring rolls dry and missing some flavor. The pickles were good, can't fault that and the bun noodle was alright but the whole plate didn't mix well, even with the nuoc cham. And nuoc cham usually makes anything taste better. I can mostly recommend for banh mi. For anything else, maybe look elsewhere. Or give a try yourself. My partner and I have specific tastes which may not be the same as yours. read more

Best sandwich in maine, no questions asked. Bahn Appetit always delivers. Friendly service and they are always busy.

A Bahn Mi restaurant in the East Bayside has become our new go-to spot for a quick and delicious lunch. Essentially take-out only, we did enjoy our meals on their sparse patio whilst people watching on Cumberland Avenue on a Saturday afternoon. We started with dumplings of chicken, onions, and cabbage that told us we were definitely in the right place. Subsequently, the pork sandwich was full of texture and flavor ( and a hint of heat!) and the Bun Cha Goi was a generous helping of pork eggrolls, in a vermicelli salad bowl. We were full and even took some home for a leftover quick tasty meal later. The icy lemonade was also tart and delicious. A cash or Debit only facility, with a kind, generous, and overworked staff, Bahn Appetit is a local treasure and just a short walk from almost anywhere on the peninsula. There is also 15 minute parking in front, so "grab and go" is a comfortable reality. Oh, one more thing- Bahn Appetit is very reasonably priced and as mentioned, the portions are generous. read more

I've been trying to find the Bun in town and I finally found it here! Incredibly tasty, quick and friendly!!

We wanted to grab something quick to eat in Portland on our way to Acadia and saw they had good reviews. The place is small, but They have the best bbq pork banh mi sandwich I've ever had! This is a must stop! You could taste every ingredient. Perfect amount of crunch, spice, so freakin bomb! read more

Great little lunch spot with great food and great people. We really loved our BBQ banh mi sandwiches and pork egg rolls! read more

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Best banh in tahn. Their phô is a major nguyen. lots of veggie & vegans. Quick, friendly & great price. read more

The food is outstanding. I love the lemon grass beef sandwich. The crab Rangoon are a nice starter. Definitely one I hit once a week while working!!! read more

This place has delicious banh mi! We ordered the cold cut, chicken, and bbq pork: all were super tasty and freshly made. All sandwiches were very reasonably priced as well. We also got the shrimp spring rolls which were super tasty. Would overall recommend this place for authentic banh mi. **Note: we did have to wait 35 minutes for our order and there is currently no dine-in / nearby place to sit and eat.** read more

This weekend I had a bbq pork banh mí from Banh Appetit and oh my god, yumm. I forgot to take a picture but trust me, it was delicious and filling. Haha. Due to Covid-19, they ask that you call and once ready, they'll call your name and place your order outside on the table. I also got the thai tea and it was a little sweet but good! read more

Banh Appetit - Outside of Banh Appetit - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Maine

This place is a gem!! Delicious BBQ Pork and Chicken Banh Mi and the shrimp spring rolls! Yum! Also had the Thai Tea which was decadent and their limeade was refreshing!! Will definitely come back if ever in Portland, ME! Thank you so much for a delicious meal during this pandemic and for taking the proper and safe precautions to ensure all our health is priority! read more

Banh Appetit - BBQ pork! - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Maine

Great takeout spot with delicious Vietnamese food and decent pricing. We tried the Banh mi sandwich with pork, a rice dish, and a noodle dish. The pork is fantastic, and the Banh mi sandwich was easily my favorite. Great spot! read more

Great food, the bahn mi bread is the best! It's takeout only, but 100% worth it and the prices are good for Portland

By far the best Bahn Mi in Maine and could very well be the best in all of New England! I have had the pleasure of trying every variety they have and can say they are all amazing! Nothing beats the original cold cut Bahn Mi but the Lemongrass Beef is simply delightful and I would reccomend to anyone who hasn't tried it before. Their appetizers are awesome as well and I think everyone needs to try a Vietnamese Iced coffee at least once in their lives. If you haven't had a chance to check this place out that needs to be at the top of your to do list, you are missing out!!! read more

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Banh Appetit is a true gem in Portland. We've consistently gone here for the 2 and a half years we've lived near and it's by far our favorite restaurant. We almost exclusively got takeout here during the covid lockdown. We've gone time and time again, and each time we are left raving about our food for days after. Snow runs a great place and I'll never get sick of the food or hospitality she offers. read more

Best banh mi (so far) in the Northeast. Sad it's not by us in Boston. It's not skimpy on fillings, has the right amount of crunch and freshness from the pickles and cucumbers, and the lemongrass chicken was super. I would definitely come back for more when I'm visiting again. I have been on the hunt for a good banh mi and I'm so thankful I found one. read more

Great spot, finally tried it today and was very impressed. My wife got the Tofu sandwich and I got the Lemongrass Steak and a Thai iced coffee. The sandwiches are good sized and the bread (I always consider the bread to be 70% of how good a sandwich is) was fresh and delicious. We'll definitely be going back. Call ahead as it's a small place and orders can take a little time. read more

A good fast take out option! I thought the cold cuts banh mi was a bit salty, but the tofu didn't have that issue. The bread could have been a little softer, and the flavor more complex. It was mostly dominated by raw onion. A pleasant sandwich overall, but not one to go out of your way for. read more

Love this place for consistently excellent and delicious food. The staff is always friendly and considerate too. Thank you for making great sandwiches and for offering tofu banh mi! read more

Great bahn mi place - the lemongrass chicken and the pork are some favorites. The tofu is really good, but could really use more sauce. I got their pork bun (bao?) once and it was a disappointment, but their sandwiches make up for it. A place I take anyone visiting! read more

Excellent! With so many overpriced restaurants opening in Portland, this is the perfect new addition to our growing food scene. Banh Mis are only $5-$6, and they are filling, fresh, and delicious. This price simply can't be beat. We also recommend the veggie spring rolls. Banh Appetit has quickly become our go-to for take out for both lunch and dinner. read more

My love affair with Banh Mi's continues, this time at the lovely new takeout shop of Banh Appetit. They just opened about a week ago and are still working out a couple minor kinks, like printing some menus for customers to take home, and getting the steamer fixed that keeps their hot specials warm. Besides that though, the place is great! They have a chalkboard menu listing their regular offerings, as well as a variety of hot specials when the steamer is working. They also have a small selection of Asian groceries and treats such as Pocky, which I most definitely indulged in. Regular menu items include Banh mi sandwiches with your choice of fillings: Vietnamese cold cuts, tofu, lemongrass chicken, lemongrass beef or bbq pork. The prices are very reasonable as well- only $5 for cold cuts or tofu, $6 for chicken or bbq pork and $7 for beef. They also have veggie or shrimp spring rolls, egg rolls, Banh bao (a giant steam bun with pork and egg inside), and Banh pate so, which is a puff pastry filled with meat that I was excited to try. They were sold out of that, so I chose to go with the shrimp spring rolls instead and was not disappointed! They are filled with fresh veggies, noodles and shrimp, served with a delightful peanut sauce. I also got a classic Banh mi (with cold cuts) and it was also delightful. The roll was soft and flakey, filled with savory and almost sweet meat topped with fresh veggies and herbs, all mixed in a small amount of spicy mayo. Calling it 'spicy' mayo is maybe overkill since it was pretty mild for the most part, so if you want more heat, speak up! It was most definitely the perfect meal for me on a hot day. Overall, this is a great shop to grab some takeout! There are 4 seats at the small bar by the window and adjacent wall, so you might not be able to eat in easily, but at least there's somewhere to sit while waiting for your food! I've heard the hot specials are great, so I'll have to swing by and try them soon. I have a feeling this might become my grab- and -go lunch place on the way to local breweries or Eastern Prom. read more

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Our new favorite Vietnamese place. We were big fans of the owners of this new location from Huongs (you can read our review). They just took it two notches. Small establishment with a more limited menu but the flavors, service and quality are outstanding. We ordered the Banh mi of course and it was awesome. Steamed buns filled with tasty well seasoned pork and rich juicy flavor. It was melt in your mouth. Our friends had their first Vietnamese spring rolls and sandwich here and were blown away!!!! A must try. read more

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Had an amazing Beef Bahn Mi! It had exceptional flavor and freshness. I'll be back soon to explore more of this menu!

This is a fantastic bahn mi restaurant. Easy and efficient, they're take out only. Great flavors and a hearty portion for a sandwich. I have tried their pho ans also enjoyed the broth but felt like the lack of Thai basil was surprising. read more

Best sandwich in Maine!!! Hands down. All the ingredients taste like they were plucked out of the garden that moment. But the bread is what makes it. It's the perfect size to satisfy you for the rest of the day. We just went there as they were closing for a huge order. They managed to fit in one more so my daughter and I could share a taste of heaven. Thank you!!! read more

Great vegetarian options and overall good value. Bahn mi is crispy and the sauces are perfect.

Best Banh Mi in Portland! I got the BBQ pork Banh Mi. The meat was tender, moist and full of flavor. The veggies were fresh and crisp all nestled inside a French roll that was soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside, the cost a whopping $6.00. I had an egg roll for $1.00 which was very good since they are made before hand and kept warm. I also had a Banh Pate So, which is a puff pastry stuffed with a pate like meatball which are awesome and only $2.00. I finished with a Thai Iced Tea $2.50. FYI, this was a lot of food which I did not eat all at once. I will be there often, can't beat the prices (hope they don't increase prices) and so worth the wait-or call ahead!!! read more

We're around Portland and trying to get some lunch, we're supposed to go to chipotle but the place that we went was already closed and we end up to it this place, and surprisingly no regrets about this place, we ordered the chicken banh mi and it was so good, the chicken was so tasty and well seasoned and all the vegetables were fresh and crunchy,even though the place is so small and the parking is not easy their food were so delicious, highly recommended. read more