The Premium banh mi: how big is big size, and what makes it premium

How big is big size

The Thượng Hạng Premium is the largest of the five banh mi at Banh Mi XANH, at 75,000d. The loaf is longer and a little thicker than the Thập Cẩm or the Chả Lát Chay — enough to carry about half again the usual filling. Finish one and you are properly full; nothing else is needed.

On price it sits about 16,000d above the Thập Cẩm at 59,000d. That difference is entirely in the filling, not in a loaf baked large for show.

Premium is about the filling, not just the size

More layers

The Premium is built in layers: fried tofu, thin slices of plant-based cold cut, sweet-sour pickled vegetables and fresh herbs. Layering means every bite carries the whole range rather than the filling gathering at one end.

Its own sauce

The sauce mixed through the Premium is made richer and used only for this loaf rather than shared with the others. The extra body stands up to the raw herbs instead of disappearing behind them.

How to eat it

Eat it while still warm, the crust crisp outside and the crumb soft with sauce. Past about thirty minutes the crust softens and it is not the same.

For a drink, Black Coffee at 35,000d suits the morning, the bitterness cutting the richness of the filling. At midday or in the afternoon, Jasmine Lemon Tea at 36,000d is light and clean and keeps the meal from feeling heavy.

Who it suits

The Premium suits a big appetite — a full meal in one item rather than two. Office workers eating lunch alone, or anyone training and needing a meal that lasts, tend to land here.

If you eat lightly, or it is mid-afternoon, the Bơ Đường at 28,000d or the Đậu Hũ Cay at 56,000d is the better fit. Two or three friends can also take one Premium and cut it up to taste it before deciding what to order individually.

Produce by season

The sweet-sour pickles in the Premium follow what the market has: sometimes carrot and daikon, sometimes shredded green papaya as well. The same goes for the herbs — Thai basil or sawtooth coriander depending on the time of year. The core flavour of the loaf does not change; only the fresh element shifts a little with the season.

Ordering

Banh Mi XANH is open 24 hours at all five shops, so there is always someone to take an order. Call 0923.183.183 for delivery, or walk into any of the five: 38 Lê Thị Riêng, 15B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, 2B Trần Hưng Đạo and 148B Đề Thám in District 1, and 210 Bùi Văn Ba in District 7. Orders from 500,000d within 5km are delivered free.

Quick questions

How does the Premium differ from the Thap Cam?

It is larger, layered with more filling, and uses its own richer sauce. The Thập Cẩm at 59,000d is the standard size; the Premium at 75,000d is the big size for a proper appetite.

Is one enough for a whole meal?

Yes. It is the largest on the menu, with about half again the filling of a standard loaf, so one covers a main meal with nothing else needed.

Can two people share one?

Easily — cut it in half or in three when it arrives. The loaf is long, so it divides well.

Is 75,000d expensive next to the others?

It is about 16,000d above the Thập Cẩm, and the difference is in the quantity of filling and the dedicated sauce. If you eat lightly, the 53,000–56,000d loaves suit better.

Is delivery charged?

Orders from 500,000d within 5km are delivered free. Smaller or more distant orders are charged by distance; call 0923.183.183 for the figure.

Is the whole thing vegan?

Yes — fried tofu, plant-based cold cut and vegetables, with nothing animal-derived. Suitable for full-time vegans.