Ordering for the whole family: which banh mi goes with which drink

Feeding the whole family without overordering

Ordering for one person is easy. Ordering for four or five is a different problem. The adults want something that holds until the evening, the children want something mild, and somebody always wants a cold drink to get through the middle of the day. This is how to match each loaf to the person eating it, and each drink to the loaf, so that you order enough without ordering food that ends up in the bin.

Which loaf suits whom

Thập Cẩm at 59,000d — the adult main meal

This is the fullest loaf on the menu: several vegan fillings together with pickles and fresh herbs. One of these holds you until the evening, which makes it the sensible choice for anyone at work, or anyone who wants a proper meal rather than a snack.

Chả Lát Chay at 53,000d — lighter, good at breakfast

Thinly sliced vegan cold cut: substantial enough to start the day on, without being heavy. It suits people who eat early and would rather not sit down at their desk feeling full.

Đậu Hũ Cay at 56,000d — for anyone who likes it bold

Crisp fried tofu with a moderate chilli marinade. If someone in the family eats chilli happily and wants a lunch with some edge to it, this is their loaf. Anyone who does not take chilli should ask before ordering — the heat here is real, not a hint.

Bơ Đường at 28,000d — for children and older relatives

Butter and sugar, nothing savoury, no chilli. It is also the cheapest thing on the menu. That makes it the safe choice for a small child, or for an older relative whose teeth are not what they were. With a warm nut milk drink alongside it makes a full afternoon snack.

Thượng Hạng Premium at 75,000d — big enough to split

The largest loaf and the most expensive. It is for a big appetite, or for two people who are happy to share one and still get up full. If somebody in the house trains, or needs real fuel in the morning, this is the one.

Matching drinks to loaves

Ordering whatever catches your eye works well enough, but pairing on flavour is noticeably better.

• Thập Cẩm or Thượng Hạng Premium go with Black Coffee at 35,000d or Nut Milk Coffee at 45,000d — a bold loaf wants a drink of equal weight.
• Chả Lát Chay works with Jasmine Lemon Tea at 36,000d, which keeps a light breakfast light.
• Đậu Hũ Cay is better with Nut Milk Bubble Tea at 45,000d or Jasmine Lemon Tea, both of which take the edge off the chilli.
• Bơ Đường, usually a child's order, pairs with Brown Sugar Nut Milk Bubble Tea at 48,000d — sweet, but rounded rather than sharp.

Three combinations that work

These are real orders with the arithmetic done, so you can scale them to the number of people at your table.

Two people, a light lunch

One Thập Cẩm at 59,000d, one Chả Lát Chay at 53,000d, and two Nut Milk Coffees at 45,000d each, 90,000d for the pair. About 202,000d in total — enough for an office lunch for two.

Three people, one of them a child

One Thập Cẩm at 59,000d for a parent, one Đậu Hũ Cay at 56,000d, and a Bơ Đường at 28,000d for the child, with a Brown Sugar Nut Milk Bubble Tea at 48,000d for the child and two Black Coffees at 35,000d each, 70,000d for the adults. About 261,000d in total.

Four people, eating properly

Two Thượng Hạng Premium at 75,000d each, 150,000d; two Đậu Hũ Cay at 56,000d each, 112,000d; and four drinks at roughly 40,000d each, 160,000d. About 422,000d in total. A little more on top takes you past 500,000d, which is where delivery within 5km becomes free.

Ordering so that it arrives on time

Banh Mi XANH has five shops in Ho Chi Minh City: 38 Lê Thị Riêng, 15B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, 2B Trần Hưng Đạo and 148B Đề Thám, all in District 1, and 210 Bùi Văn Ba in District 7. They are open 24 hours, so a midnight craving is not a problem. Call 0923.183.183 to order for the family, or order through the delivery page if you would rather look over the menu again before deciding. Orders from 500,000d within 5km are delivered free, so with a full house one combined order beats several small ones.

Quick questions

How much do I need to spend for free delivery?

From 500,000d, within 5km of your nearest shop. Below that you can still order, but delivery is charged separately.

How is Thượng Hạng Premium different from Thập Cẩm?

Premium is the big version, a noticeably larger loaf at 75,000d, where Thập Cẩm is the standard size at 59,000d. If you have a large appetite, or you want to split one loaf between two people, Premium is the better buy.

Which loaf should a child have?

Bơ Đường at 28,000d is the gentlest: no chilli, no strong seasoning, and the lowest price on the menu. It suits young children, and anyone trying vegan banh mi for the first time.

What should I drink with Đậu Hũ Cay?

Jasmine Lemon Tea at 36,000d or Nut Milk Bubble Tea at 45,000d both soften the chilli. A strong coffee tends not to sit well with this one.

Are the shops open at night, and do they deliver then?

All five are open 24 hours and take orders and deliveries through the night. Call 0923.183.183 at any hour.

What is the sensible way to order for a big family?

Put it all in one order rather than several small ones. It is easier to reach the 500,000d free-delivery threshold, and easier to keep track of how many loaves and drinks each person is getting.