Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen

Madam Khanh, known as the Banh Mi Queen, runs one of the two banh mi shops most often compared by food writers in Hoi An. Her small shop is at 115 Tran Cao Van Street, a short walk from the old town, and it is the main rival to the better-known Banh Mi Phuong.

The menu is short and focused. The most popular order is the mixed banh mi, filled with pork, ham, pate, egg and vegetables, and there are also versions with barbecued pork (thit nuong), pork and ham, chicken with fried eggs, and a vegetarian option, so most diets are catered for. When you order, you can choose how spicy you want it: spicy, medium or not spicy at all.

The sauce is what sets the sandwich apart. A recent food guide described it as spicy, savoury and slightly sweet, and gave Madam Khanh's banh mi a slight edge over its more famous rival. With pork, ham, pate and egg in the mixed version, a single sandwich makes a filling breakfast or lunch.

The shop is small and cosy, with only a few tables, so many customers take their sandwiches away. It can get busy, but banh mi is quick to make and easy to eat on the move, which keeps the wait short. Prices are very low, in line with street food, making it an easy choice for budget travellers, families and anyone wanting a quick meal between sights.

Recent guides list the shop as opening from early morning until early evening, which makes it a good breakfast stop before the heritage sites open; Tan Ky Old House opens at 08:00 and the Fujian Assembly Hall at around 07:00. Phan Chau Trinh Street, where Banh Mi Phuong and Com Ga Ba Buoi are both found, is within walking distance, so you can plan a street food morning around the three.

If you have time, try both Madam Khanh and Banh Mi Phuong on different days and decide for yourself which you prefer. The mixed banh mi is the obvious first order, and medium spice is a safe middle ground if you are unsure.