MELBOURNE | Long Bánh Mì, opened yesterday on Lygon Street in Brunswick East. As a local, I’ve been awaiting their opening since I first saw their signage go up about a month ago. There’s been a gap in the market for a good bánh mì spot down this end of Lygon Street for a while, and if the constant stream of customers at Long Bánh Mì this weekend is anything to go by, they’re onto a winner.
Long Bánh Mì doesn’t have a presence on social media, and their website is clearly a work in progress. It’s run by, from what I could gather from a ‘congratulations’ card attached to a bouquet of flowers I spotted, a trio called Anh, Phong, and Thủy.
When I visited, the place was heaving. A steady stream of customers placing orders, with loud calls and conversations in Vietnamese coming from behind the counter and the kitchen. The roast pork, sold out, followed by the chicken. I don’t think the owners anticipated such a hectic opening weekend. Despite it all, they were getting food out efficiently, and with a smile.
On the menu, it’s a selection eight bánh mì, five pho options, rice paper rolls, and your selection of protein over rice of vermicelli. I went for the bánh mì thịt nguội (cold meat loaf), and bánh mì nem nướng (grilled pork sausage). Both were tasty, with top notch bread made on site daily and a good ratio of fillings to bread. I also tried the combination pho (four different kinds of beef), and some Vietnamese coffee. Again, tasty stuff, particularly the pho broth and quality of beef.
I’m not going to do that thing that ‘influencers’ do where they tell you that everything is OMG ‘must try’ and the ‘best in town’. Does Long Bánh Mì fall into my ‘S Tier’ of Melbourne bánh mì spots? Not as things stand. Should you travel from across town to try it? Not really. Does this matter? Not at all.
Not everything needs to be ‘the best’. Long Bánh Mì does exactly what I, as a local want. Friendly owners selling good bánh mì and a few other Vietnamese dishes. I’ll be a regular here when the craving for a bánh mì hits. If you’re a local, or find yourself in the area, give it a go.
Long Bánh Mì
112 Lygon Street
Brunswick East
Victoria 3057
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9499 2050
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Mon – Sun: 10:00am to 9:00pm