Australia’s ABC News reports a growing nationwide appreciation for Vietnam’s iconic banh mi, driven by a passionate community of enthusiasts who have helped elevate the humble sandwich into a cultural favourite. In Sydney’s Vietnamese neighbourhoods, long queues form outside popular shops, while a Facebook group of more than 155,000 members actively celebrates and recommends the dish. Loved for its vibrant flavours, banh mi now attracts a diverse Australian following and has become a defining feature of the country’s multicultural food scene.
In Sydney, this enthusiasm is most visible in the long queues outside banh mi shops, particularly in suburbs with strong Vietnamese roots such as Cabramatta, Marrickville and Ryde.
Nearly a decade ago, Rowan, a Sydney resident from the city’s inner west, founded the Facebook group Vietnamese Banh Mi Appreciation Society. A self-confessed banh mi devotee, he said every neighbourhood he has lived in featured a Vietnamese bakery.
Today, the group has grown to more than 155,000 members, who actively review and recommend banh mi shops across Australia, from Sydney’s Vietnamese communities to Darra in Queensland and Parap Market in Darwin. Members often discuss the balance of flavours: the crisp baguette, tangy pickled carrot, fresh coriander, chilli and cucumber, rich pâté and the savoury depth of various meats. Rowan said he is delighted to see people nationwide, including those in small regional towns, passionately celebrating Vietnamese banh mi.
Several Vietnamese bakeries have also become social media sensations. Marrickville Pork Roll, established in 2008, and Top Ryde Baker’s House, operating for over 15 years, are among the most talked-about. A recent TikTok review of Top Ryde Baker’s House alone attracted 1.5 million views.
Vietnamese cuisine, particularly banh mi, enjoys widespread popularity in Australia. Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared photos on Instagram of himself enjoying the sandwich at a local shop in his electorate.
While traditional cold-cut banh mi remains a favourite among Vietnamese customers, crispy pork belly has emerged as a popular choice among broader Australian diners.
Today, Vietnamese bakeries continue to thrive across south-western Sydney, with Australians from all backgrounds embracing not only the flavours but also the culture behind the dish. Many see banh mi as one of the most successful culinary contributions of the Vietnamese community to Australia’s multicultural landscape.
Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam 