Bánh Mi Vietnamese Street Food

About Bánh Mi Vietnamese Street Food

Bánh Mì brings the vibrant street food culture and culinary heritage of Vietnam to Invercargill Central. Located just inside the main entrance off Esk Street, the restaurant is led by Head Chef and shareholder Roy Nguyen, who combines traditional family recipes with quality local ingredients.

The menu showcases Vietnamese classics, from crusty baguettes packed with house-made pâté, pickled daikon, carrot, and fresh herbs to slow-simmered bone broth phở, vermicelli bowls, and grilled meat skewers. With a fully licensed bar and extensive vegetarian and gluten-free choices, it offers a welcoming dining experience for lunch, dinner, or takeaway.

Authentic Vietnamese Street Flavours in the Heart of Invercargill

Conveniently situated right inside the main Esk Street entrance of the Invercargill Central complex, Bánh Mì brings the authentic, aromatic cuisine of Vietnam to Southland. Under the culinary direction of Head Chef and shareholder Roy Nguyen, the kitchen crafts traditional street recipes using fresh local ingredients alongside quintessential Vietnamese staples.

From slow-simmered broths to sizzling grilled meats, the restaurant delivers an authentic tasting journey designed for quick workday lunches, casual weekend meals, or evening dinners.

Crusty Baguettes and Street Food Staples

True to its namesake, the restaurant crafts classic Vietnamese bánh mì served in crisp, freshly baked baguettes. Each sandwich is constructed with house-made pâté, aioli, cucumber, fresh coriander, spring onions, and a vibrant balance of pickled carrots and daikon. Fillings range from slow-roasted five-spice pork shoulder and garlic butter steak with jalapeño to vegetarian egg and tofu.

Beyond sandwiches, street-style plates include skewers marinated in hoisin and aromatic spices, steamed bao stuffed with slow-cooked meats and nuoc cham, and crisp fried spring rolls (chả giò) packed with pork, prawn, and vermicelli.

Comforting Broths and Refreshing Bowls

For noodle lovers, the chef’s special Phở Bò features deeply flavoured beef bone broth poured over shredded and raw beef cuts with rice noodles and fresh herbs. A comforting chicken phở (Phở Gà) and clear Saigon-style noodle soup (Hủ Tiếu Saigon) featuring shredded pork, pork mince, and prawns round out the soup offering.

Those looking for fresh, layered textures will find balance in the Bún Thịt Nướng, a vermicelli bowl topped with grilled pork belly, fried spring rolls, fresh lettuce, pickles, fried shallots, and tangy fish sauce dressing.

The Invercargill Central Dining Experience

Operating seven days a week from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, the dining space welcomes guests for sit-down service, quick counter takeaways, and advance reservations. The venue is fully licensed, offering a tailored selection of wines, beers, and spirits to match the aromatic spice of Vietnamese cooking.

To finish the meal, the dessert list pairs Vietnamese elements with sweet classics, including house-made fried coconut ice cream, steamed crème caramel (Bánh Flan), and Vietnamese coffee affogato.

Signature items

• Phở Bò
• Traditional Bánh Mì
• Bún Thịt Nướng
• Xiên Thịt Nướng
• Kem Chiên

Menu

Meals

• Xiên Thịt Nướng - Grilled Meat Skewers — Marinated with hoisin and spices, served with red onion, seasonal vege, and capsicum on a bed of steamed rice with rotating flavours.
• Penang Cà Ri - Penang Curry — With palm sugar and coconut cream, served with rice. Available with chicken or seafood.
• Bún Thịt Nướng - Rice Noodle Bowl — Vermicelli rice noodles, grilled pork belly, fried spring roll, lettuce, pickled carrots, daikon, spring onions, fried shallots, and fish sauce.
• Cơm Tấm Sườn - Pork Ribs & Rice — Rice dish with grilled marinated pork ribs, fried egg, steamed pork cake, pickled daikon, and carrot with fish sauce.
• Chả Giò - Fried Spring Rolls — Pork, prawn, onion, egg, carrot, spring onions, vermicelli noodles, and sweet chili.
• Gỏi Cuốn - Summer Hanoi Rolls — Wrapped in rice paper with pork, prawn, lettuce, cucumber, carrot, daikon, coriander, and hoisin.
• Banh Bao - Steamed Bao — Trio of steamed baos stuffed with slow-cooked meats, pickled carrot, daikon, and apple with nuoc cham.
• Bowl Of Fries — Served with tomato sauce and aioli.
• Thịt Bít Tết - New York Strip Loin — 300g New York strip loin served with rice (or chips), one fried egg, and salad.
• Bánh Mì — Freshly baked baguette with house-made pâté, cucumber, coriander, pickled carrots, daikon, spring onions, and aioli.

Desserts

• Kem Chiên - Fried Ice Cream — Banh Mi coconut ice cream coated in crispy crumb, served with chocolate sauce, cream, and cherry.
• Bánh Flan - Creme Caramel — Vietnamese-style steamed crème brûlée served with shortcrust biscuit and vanilla ice cream.
• Cà Phê Sữa Đá - Affogato — Scoop of vanilla ice cream served with Vietnamese-style coffee.
• Banh Xoai - Mango Brioche — Layer of sweetened cream, graham crackers, and fresh mango served with vanilla ice cream.

Phở & Soups

• Phở Bò — Beef bone broth with shredded beef and raw beef.
• Phở Gà — Chicken bone broth with shredded chicken.
• Hủ Tiếu Saigon — Vietnamese clear noodle soup with chicken broth, shredded pork, pork mince, prawn, and eggs.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Bánh Mì located in Invercargill?

Bánh Mì is located at 45e Esk Street, just inside the main entrance of the Invercargill Central complex.

What are the restaurant's opening hours?

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Are there vegetarian and gluten-free menu options?

Yes. Vegetarian options include egg and tofu bánh mì, vegetarian rice noodle bowls, rice paper rolls without meat, and egg and tofu bao. Gluten-free choices include fresh summer rolls, rice noodle bowls, phở bò, phở gà, grilled skewers, and rice dishes.

Is the venue licensed to serve alcohol?

Yes, Bánh Mì is fully licensed and offers a selection of wines, beers, and spirits.

Can I order takeaway or book a table in advance?

Yes, table reservations, pre-orders, and takeaway orders can all be booked directly through their reservation service or by phone.

Tips

• {"body":"Look for the restaurant immediately inside the main Invercargill Central complex entrance coming from Esk Street.","title":"Finding the Entrance"}
• {"body":"Advise the staff when ordering if you require gluten-free or vegetarian versions, as noodle bowls and rolls can be adapted.","title":"Dietary Requests"}
• {"body":"Save room for the Cà Phê Sữa Đá affogato, pairing vanilla ice cream with traditional Vietnamese coffee.","title":"Coffee and Dessert"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Vegetarian and gluten-free options available upon request."}