Best bánh mì
Bánh Mì Thit Nguoi, aka the Lee's Special Sandwich, is the most popular sandwich at Lee's Bakery in Atlanta, your pick for best bánh mì. Staff photo.
YOUR PICKS
1. Lee’s Bakery
You say, “For me, Lee’s Bakery narrowly beats out Quoc Huong. Lee’s bread is light and not too crusty and the BBQ is perfect every time” and “Lee’s Bakery has the best by far. Incredible sandwich for $2.50.”
2. Quoc Huong
3. Huy’s Sandwiches
4. Viet Tofu
OUR PICKS
1) Quoc Huong
The AJC dining team’s specialist in International Cuisine Gene Lee says, “Ultimately, it’s how the flavors all come together on Quoc Huong’s banh mi sandwiches ($2.50 each) that easily make the Vietnamese restaurant my number one choice. The sandwich baguettes (sourced by a local bakery) are replenished daily, and the sweet charred flavor of the grilled barbecue pork sandwich — cut with pickled carrots, daikon and cilantro — alone is worth the trek.”
2) Pho Viet
3) Lee’s Bakery
4) Viet Tofu
5) Huy’s Sandwich
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63 comments Add your comment
Jeff Parker
June 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
Lee’s Bakery on Buford Highway. Good pho too, with a half-sandwich/pho combo available.
Donkey200
June 27th, 2011
3:27 pm
I’m with Jeff on Lee’s Bakery. The little hispanic grocery in the corner of Lee’s shopping center has stellar chicharrones and fresh vegetables.
Lee's Bakery all the way
June 27th, 2011
4:26 pm
yes, Lee’s Bakery, excellent sandwich and friendly people.
Keeball
June 27th, 2011
4:28 pm
Who Cares!…Lets do BBQ
Big Bob
June 27th, 2011
4:31 pm
Lee’s all the way!! Their croissants are amazing too!!
Demanda
June 27th, 2011
4:36 pm
Quoc Huong, also on Buford Highway, gets my vote.
Inga
June 27th, 2011
4:38 pm
Quoc Huong has the best bahn mi’s in Atlanta. They are always crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, and filled with delicious toppings!
Yellow Jacket 89
June 27th, 2011
4:40 pm
Quoc Huong is great. Drove out of my way to eat there today for lunch. Delicious and very inexpensive.
FoodFan
June 27th, 2011
4:46 pm
Pho 24 – and they are open 24 hours.
DD
June 27th, 2011
4:47 pm
Inside every banh mi there’s an American trying to get out!
DD
June 27th, 2011
4:51 pm
We allways end up eating food from places we were at war with, I guess that means we will be eating dirt in a few years.
kevin
June 27th, 2011
4:55 pm
DD
June 27th, 2011
4:51 pm
Congratulations on having the most idiotic post of the day!
Atlanta Native
June 27th, 2011
4:55 pm
Quoc Huong and Lee’s Bakery are the best. The difference is in the heft. Lee’s sandwiches are heavier and less crusty. Quoc Huong’s are lighter and crustier. I go to the one I am closest
to at the moment.
Jennifer
June 27th, 2011
4:58 pm
Lee’s FTW!
Atlanta Native
June 27th, 2011
5:00 pm
Note: While the special at Lees is great, share an order of chef’s special spring rolls when eating at Quoc Huong – wrap them with the leafy veggies provided and enjoy.
GA Peach
June 27th, 2011
5:04 pm
Coming from someone who’s Vietnamese, Lee’s bakery is the best.
George
June 27th, 2011
5:07 pm
Lee’s; no question. BTW, Keeball, the pork in the Lee’s banh mi rivals Harolds and other good BBQ joints.
Edward
June 27th, 2011
6:26 pm
I would have to concur with the nomination of Lee’s Bakery.
Deb
June 27th, 2011
6:34 pm
The McDonald’s on Buford Highway.
Meatand3
June 27th, 2011
6:35 pm
For me, Lee’s Bakery narrowly beats out Quoc Huong. Lee’s bread is light and not too crusty and the BBQ is perfect every time. Quoc Huong is excellent much of the time but is a bit more inconsistent with respect to both the bread and meat. Quoc Huong’s iced coffee is much better than Lee’s, though.
Anon
June 27th, 2011
6:47 pm
I love “best foreign food” articles like this, because xenophobic racists like Deb or DD always come out to give their worthless, close minded opinions.
Also, Lee’s Bakery.
Matt
June 27th, 2011
9:31 pm
Quoc Huong and Lee’s are my two favorites.
NAM
June 27th, 2011
9:55 pm
There’s a new one on Jimmy Carter call HUY SANDWICH . it is awesome
Reds
June 28th, 2011
12:46 am
Isn’t this like the 15th time AJC has covered the best banh mi? And it’s always the same 2 places for the last 10 yrs with the exception of the newcomer Huy’s. Next week, who has the best burger.
Hardlyeverpost
June 28th, 2011
8:44 am
Quoc Huong all the way
Jessica
June 28th, 2011
8:56 am
Check out the pork one from Munch food truck…delicious!
Deb
June 28th, 2011
9:10 am
Hey, Anon you twit. I’m not a xenophobic racist. I’m of Asian, Latin, African and Jewish ancestry. Who do I have to be racist towards? Ignorance such as yours is what scares me. My comment is meant to be funny. I LOVE the Buford Hwy vibe and eat at any number of restaurants there at least 4 times a week. Bon appetit! ;0)
Atlanta Native
June 28th, 2011
9:30 am
@ Reds – I think they use this for a “Best of” each year, that may be why. Or, then again, maybe its because they are so darn good and “hatas” like Bill and DD need to try one.
Drew
June 28th, 2011
9:35 am
Lee’s Bakery
Ben A-E
June 28th, 2011
10:01 am
Lee’s Bakery has the best by far. Incredible sandwich for 2.50.
db
June 28th, 2011
10:34 am
VN Tofu on Buford hwy at Chamblee has the best bahn mi in my opinion. I usually have the special combo.
db
June 28th, 2011
10:34 am
chamblee tucker
AO
June 28th, 2011
11:17 am
Lee’s Bakery!!!!!!
DD
June 28th, 2011
11:40 am
Anon, Kevin and Atl. Native lighten up, I’ve had the real deal in Tam Ky, Chu Lai that be in the Viet Nam Highlands , kids.
SLJ
June 28th, 2011
1:14 pm
There’s only one place to consider – Lee’s Bakery.
Heather
June 28th, 2011
1:19 pm
Lee’s Pho in the Assi food court on Pleasant Hill Rd. in Gwinnett. Always fresh, cheap and delicious! Great Pho and spring rolls, too.
Dixie Cybill Presley
June 28th, 2011
1:28 pm
Quoc Huong is first with Lee’s Bakery close behind. Lee’s is just around the corner from my house, but the drive to Quoc Huong is worth it.
Kar
June 28th, 2011
1:40 pm
Anyplace that listens to you when you say “No cilantro and no culantro!”
Atlanta Native
June 28th, 2011
4:15 pm
@ DD, I just wanted to say “hatas”.
Just sayin'...
June 28th, 2011
4:21 pm
This will not be a popular choice due to inauthenticity blah blah blah… but star provisions is very tasty (and very expensive)
southgate
June 28th, 2011
4:39 pm
Lee’s. no one is even close.
Mark
June 28th, 2011
4:51 pm
I love Lee’s…..their French bread is awesome. Now for best Pho, head to “Pho 24″. Upbeat, spacious and the Soup Bowls are the best on the Buford Hwy. But may want to skip the Gui Quan – can be chewy.
Bill B
June 28th, 2011
5:36 pm
Lee’s Bakery!
Mike
June 28th, 2011
5:53 pm
I say Quoc Huong is best, followed by Lee’s. But, for a change of pace, sometimes Star Provision’s has a wonderful bahn mi. Not a “classic” version, but delicious all the same. Still, for $2.50, you can’t beat the BBQ pork bahn mi at Quoc Huong. Put a little of the red chili garlic sauce on it and savor every last morsel.
Thatguy
June 28th, 2011
6:00 pm
Not in Atlanta, but the Bahn Mi at Just Pho and More in Athens is pretty damned good.
Sam
June 28th, 2011
6:29 pm
@bubba – that all you got? that was a weak jab at best. also, i had you figured for more of a possum/armadillo man than pork barbecue…
jdg
June 28th, 2011
6:43 pm
I always get mine at Viet Tofu on Jimmy Carter just East of I-85, same shopping center as the Hong Kong Supermarket; great sandwiches, as well as all of the other great stuff you can get at a Vietnamese deli (noodle plates, spring rolls, bbq chicken, tapioca, etc. – all packed up to go!).
steveo
June 28th, 2011
7:14 pm
I love em at Quoc Huong but based on the other posts I’ll have to give Lee’s a try for sure
Tom
June 28th, 2011
8:22 pm
Don’t drive very far from my midtown haunts, but I think that Star Provision’s take on the the Bahn Mi is pretty good…
darktoaster
June 28th, 2011
8:37 pm
Quoc Huong is my favorite. I have given Lee’s a try several times and have always been disappointed in the bread.
I guess I am a sucker for nice crusty bread.
Nicki
June 29th, 2011
11:45 am
Definitely Quoc Huong, I’ve tried other banh mi but no one comes close to Quoc Huong! I want one now!
My vote
June 29th, 2011
5:05 pm
Quoc Huong over Lee’s Bakery.
J and K
June 29th, 2011
9:58 pm
Lee’s Bakery fo sho. Totally.
Ted Bogard
June 30th, 2011
4:35 pm
Great atmosphere, friendly folks, the best banh mi this side of Portland, Oregon.
Ted Bogard
July 1st, 2011
11:36 am
I just finished beef soup at lees bakery. It is a gastronomic delight, and I heartily recommend it to all who have an appreciation of all things fresh and exciting! An A in my book!
R. Thompson
katz
July 1st, 2011
7:40 pm
VN tofu(inconsistent but can excel), Lee’s(generous), Quoc Hong(tastier but skimpy on filling compared to Lee’s) are all good. The problem is that every time the AJC does this banh mi thing, I have to wait three times as long for lunch!
The best thing at Lee’s is not the banh mi, it’s the beef stew, the jook(congee) is also very good.
How about a best Lao food survey? I want to know where I can get good duck heads!
Edward III
July 2nd, 2011
5:34 pm
@ DD… Your comment is still idiotic! With your attitude I doubt that you were in VN! We went to war with England and won our independence in 1776. We still enjoy a good meat and potato. Go on enjoy your life, eat some good food, and stop the hate… the war is over! Quoc Houng is the best in Atlanta.
dwx
July 2nd, 2011
6:57 pm
I’m a big fan of the ones at Pho&Com in Roswell.
JL
July 2nd, 2011
7:25 pm
To Anon at 6:47 p.m. on 6/27/11 — you said “I love “best foreign food” articles like this, because xenophobic racists like Deb or DD always come out to give their worthless, close minded opinions.”
No, some of us are NOT xenophobic racists. We respect and admire other nations and things about their culture. We just also happen to be very strong supporters of AMERICAN culture, and perhaps we prefer foods we grew up with and have enjoyed to perfection by our families or our favorite restaurants. To me, some of you hip, cool, little progressive people just love to go try something different BECAUSE it’s different. I don’t fault you for that, and I’m glad you have found some unique places to enjoy. Personally, other than a really good, classy Chinese restaurant, I find VERY little in Far Eastern food that I enjoy, and I’m not even going to bother trying Vietnamese or Indian food because I know I won’t like it, and based on the ingredients, I find some of it a bit disgusting to be honest with you.
I’m not politically correct nor uber-trendy and hip, so I didn’t even know what “bánh mì” was. Then I saw the description in the article… “… most of them come on a crusty baguette and feature crispy pickled vegetables such as carrrots and daikon radishes, cucumber, cilantro, pâté and pork.” Sorry, yuck, not impressed, I won’t try it. More power to those of you who like this, and I’m glad the AJC has a variety of ratings and “Best Of” series, but for my taste, I’m not crazy about pickled radishes, I don’t like cilantro, and pate and pork don’t go together in my book… so I won’t be trying bánh mì anytime soon.
So don’t look down upon some of us that choose to be less adventurous in our food choices. Palates are highly individual, and anything out of the norm of mainstream Americans is going to have less appeal. Please don’t try to “force us” to try it, like it, or accept it as the norm… it’s more of a specialty and a niche, so just accept that and be fine with it.
Just because some of us enjoy a good steakhouse, fine wine, traditional Georgia BBQ, a nice Tex-Mex bar, or a small town meat-and-three place, it doesn’t make us any less intelligent or less cultured that you folks. Maybe it means we’ve tried some things and find we don’t like it, so to each their own. However, don’t get on your high horse and be pretentious and condescending just because we don’t love your random, niche international foods… just accept it and move on, and no harm done.
Mark
July 2nd, 2011
7:42 pm
Pho Bac on Buford is pretty darn good compared to Lee’s, which is a little mild. Pho Bac bites!
Edward III
July 2nd, 2011
8:26 pm
@ JL… Why are you here spewing your political persuasion? This post is about food, the love of food, and to recommend to others what we have enjoyed. If you have never eaten banh mi than I think you’re missing the point. I can’t imagine anyone would be discussing about the politics of Georgia BBQ or cheese burgers. By the way, banh mi is not a Vietnamese food in origin. It’s a derivative of colonial French…you should try it. It has bread, homemade mayonnaise, roast pork, and an Vietnamese twist, which you may have a problem with, but it’s delicious and it actually has its origin some where in Europe. Try it at Quoc Houng, Tofu House, or Lee’s Bakery, you will love it!
dirty souf
July 2nd, 2011
8:46 pm
I know who JL is. JL grew up 30+ miles outside of Atlanta in a mostly white suburb, went to UGA, so he thinks he is “cultured.” He now lives in Roswell/Alpharetta/Hiram/[insert suburb here] and drives a SUV in which he takes his 2 sons to and from baseball practice. He will act like he respects other cultures in front of you, yet he is a firm supporter of all anti-immigration law and will often yell racial slurs in his SUV while driving alone.
I was born and raised in Atlanta, as were my parents, and banh mis rock the socks off any other sandwich I’ve ever had. If you want to get political, I think Americans could learn a lot from the far east’s culture. As a whole, we are a whiny and overweight bunch who want everything handed to us on a silver platter. I’m glad I’m not a closed minded person who thinks they are open minded like you. Shame on you and your Tahoe. I can’t hate on you though. I have friends just like you. Have a happy 4th!
Jessmess
July 3rd, 2011
9:46 am
Lee’s Bakery, no contest