banh mi

noun

ˈbän-ˈmē 

plural banh mi also banh mis

: a usually spicy sandwich in Vietnamese cuisine consisting of a split baguette filled typically with meat (such as pork or chicken) and pickled vegetables (such as carrot and daikon) and garnished with cilantro and often cucumbers

Here we have the original banh mi—a reliable favourite on a classic crusty baguette. Cold cut-style pork belly, chicken liver pâté (you can sub in avocado if that's more your thing), and soy-based Vietnamese sausage are finished with pickled carrots and daikon … , cucumbers, cilantro, aïoli and special sauce.

—Liza Agrba

In Queen Anne, the Vietnamese coffee shop Queen Càphê serves banh mis and spring rolls.

—Tan Vinh

Examples of banh mi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The menu consisted of banh mi sandwiches, pho noodle soups, Korean corn dogs, appetizers, pastries, boba teas and Vietnamese coffees. —Michael Deeds december 15, Idaho Statesman, 15 Dec. 2025

The Northland Broken Rice Located in Gladstone, Broken Rice serves Vietnamese favorites like banh mi and pho. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2025

Its extensive menu goes beyond barbecue classics, including an extensive lineup of sandwiches like the pork belly banh mi and its massive 1LB BBQ Superstack, topped with pork belly, brisket, pulled pork and bacon. —Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025

As the sun sets, diners dig into burgers dressed up like banh mi, with pickled daikon, rich duck liver mousse, and a burst of cilantro. —The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Vietnamese bánh mì, literally, "bread, baguette," from bánh "cake, pastry" + mì "wheat"

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for banh mi

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy