An Alexandria Vietnamese restaurant offers a satisfying bánh mì and a charming ambiance for catching up with your friends.
Caphe Banh Mi sits in a quaint storefront on Cameron Street, flanked by greenery and vintage lamp posts integral to the historic architecture of Alexandria’s Old Town neighborhood. The restaurant is known for cooking up classic Vietnamese dishes, like bánh mìs, phở and vermicelli bún, and a broad selection of tea, coffee and wine.
After a 25-minute ride on the Blue Line and a 20-minute stroll from the King St-Old Town station through the cobblestone streets of Old Town, my roommate and I arrived at the eatery’s charming storefront. We ventured inside and grabbed a table sandwiched between a large window at the front of the restaurant and a leafy plant adorned with red lanterns. A few minutes later, our friend joined us at the restaurant and pulled up a chair to our sun-soaked table.
Caphe Banh Mi’s interior is warm and inviting, with yellow and terracotta walls complemented by brick accents with a wash of jade green paint. The restaurant also features a mural with an outline of Vietnam, surrounded by the names of Vietnamese cities from Hanoi to Da Nang, and a robust selection of wine bottles on tap in a large case beside the front door.
As we chatted about our friend’s lackluster date from the night before, a waiter saddled up to our table to take our order: three Thai iced teas ($5), two Phoenix bánh mìs with lemongrass chicken ($10.50) and one Vegan bánh mì with lemongrass soy chicken ($11.50).
The glasses of Thai iced tea, a drink typically made with black tea, milk, sugar and spices like cardamom and tamarind, arrived a couple of minutes later and showcased a satisfying ombre of orange. While the iced tea provided a refreshing start to our meal, the sweetener was a bit too strong for my liking with just a hint of the spices swirling around in my glass.
The waiter delivered our bánh mìs about 10 minutes later, wrapped in parchment paper on classic, deli-style sandwich trays. I was first struck by the amount of cilantro they packed onto the sandwiches — a bit heavy handed for my taste but ideal for my cilantro-loving roommate.
As I took a bite out of my sandwich, I was pleased to find the golden-hued baguette was well-toasted and flaky. The grilled chicken was tender and peppery, but the lemongrass marinade was subtle and I longed for more of a citrus kick.
Beyond cilantro, the Phoenix bánh mì’s toppings included the classics of carrots, cucumbers and a spread of their house garlic mayonnaise, as well as jalapeños on the side. The toppings paired well with the grilled chicken and the toasted baguette, as the carrots and cucumbers added a fresh contrast while the mayonnaise offered a savory hint of garlic. The vegetables in the bánh mì were pickled, albeit subtly, but I tend to prefer when they bring a stronger vinegar tang to the sandwich.
Making the journey to Caphe Banh Mi will satisfy your craving for this classic sandwich, as their take on a bánh mì is both true-to-form and elevated by the care they put into their ingredients — from the crisp baguette to the savory mayonnaise spread. With stomachs full and taste buds satisfied, you and your friends can take the chance to explore the surrounding historic streets and sights of Old Town.
