I went to grab a quick bite at Banh Mi Boys located on Spadina and Queen over the weekend. The restaurant is a small trendy establishment known for their Vietnamese subs. Banh Mi Boys is actually touted as being able to provide a modern take on the traditional banh mi with an Asian twist. They also have a few other Asian-fusion items on their menu including variations of steamed bao, tacos and fries. A friend and I arrived a little after 3:30 pm thinking that the lunch crowd would have subsided. How wrong we were! The place was still packed, with line ups nearing out to the front door.
One thing that did catch my eyes was the kimchi fries ($5.99). While the idea of mixing fermented sour cabbage with french fries may
not sound the most appetizing. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try this rather interesting mixture, and ordered a box of it to share. The portion may look tiny from the picture, but it was enough for two. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised that the combination of fries, kimchi,
and pulled pork went well together, and provided an intricate taste.
My friend and I ordered the five spiced pork belly banh mi
($5.99) and kalbi banh mi ($5.99). The subs were cut in half so we had one of each. The pork belly was seasoned nicely and served on a toasted sandwich with carrots, Japanese pickle cucumbers, cilantro, and mayo. My personal favorite has to be the kalbi banh mi, as the marinated sauce that coded the sandwich provided a nice tang to the flavor. I also liked the fact that they didn't skimp out on the kalbi.
I also ordered the five spiced pork belly steamed bao ($3.49). I really enjoyed the combination of the tender pork belly and soft bun, as it created a very interesting contrast of taste. The only thing that I didn't like was that the pork belly was a little too fatty for me but overall it was good.
I also ordered the five spiced pork belly steamed bao ($3.49). I really enjoyed the combination of the tender pork belly and soft bun, as it created a very interesting contrast of taste. The only thing that I didn't like was that the pork belly was a little too fatty for me but overall it was good.
There wasn't much service as it's pretty much a takeout place. You'd need to line up, ordered your food at the cashier, and then move along down the line to grab your food when it's ready. Overall, I think that Banh Mi Boys is a great place to grab a quick lunch or dinner, and it's very affordable too for what you get.
RATINGS:
Quality of Food: 4.3/5
Service: N/A
Overall Dining Experience:4.3/5
Price: $ || Online Menu
Address: 392 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V 2A9
