Head to Mr Bánh Mì for cheap and damn tasty sandwiches

The Avocado Lady just got a new neighbour. File under: one more reason to hit up Wulumuqi Zhong Lu.

Mr. Bánh Mì is the dream kid of Ricky Hoang from the team behind excellent Vietnamese restaurant Cyclo. The idea is simple – a small walk-up counter with two sizes of banh mi made to order (35-40RMB for small, 45-50RMB for large), cold vermicelli bowls to go (60RMB) and a few other snacks like fresh or fried spring rolls (veggie or shrimp and pork; 25RMB for two, 45RMB for four).

The sandwiches have great versions of all of the banh mi essentials: sticks of crisp, pickled veggies, sprigs of fresh cilantro, and rather than straight-up pate, they’ve whipped up a slightly sweet pate mayonnaise spread that you’ll be wishing every sandwich joint was packing – all stuck into a soft, flaky baguette that’s covetable in its own right.

You’ve got your choice of eight fillings. Don’t be turned off by the name ‘BBQ fish ball’; because that means fish cakes, and they’re out of this world (especially after they get a healthy lashing of sriracha). You’ll also love the BBQ pork meatballs and BBQ chicken. The meats are perfectly seasoned, nicely grilled and flavourful to the max.

One final tip: don’t leave without a cup of the super-dark, ultra-concentrated Vietnamese iced coffee (30RMB) – it’s delicious, and bound to put a bit of hair on any caffeine addict’s chest.

You can find Mr Banh Mi at 272 Wulumuqi Lu, near Wuyuan Lu, Xuhui district.

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