What to drink with a vegan banh mi: pair by taste, not by habit

Pair by taste, not by habit

Plenty of people pick up a banh mi and order coffee without a thought. That is habit, and it does not always fit. Each vegan loaf at XANH has its own character: one is savoury and layered, one is spicy, one is gently sweet. The drink should follow what is in your mouth, not what you happen to order every morning.

The rule is simple. The stronger the food, the more you want acidity or bitterness to cut it. Spice wants something cool and soothing, not a rush of caffeine. Gentle sweetness wants a gentle drink, so you are not stacking sugar on sugar.

The savoury loaves: Thập Cẩm and Chả Lát Chay

Thập Cẩm at 59,000d and Chả Lát Chay at 53,000d are both firmly savoury, with layers of filling on top of one another. After either, the palate wants something that tightens it up rather than more richness.

With black coffee

Black Coffee at 35,000d is clearly bitter and not at all creamy, which clears the mix of sour, spicy and salty left by the loaf. Good at breakfast, or at a lunch where you need to stay sharp.

With brown sugar bubble tea

For something gentler, the Brown Sugar Nut Milk Bubble Tea at 48,000d. The light creaminess of the nut milk and the caramel of the brown sugar balance the saltiness, and the meal finishes rounded rather than sharp.

The spicy loaf: Đậu Hũ Cay

Đậu Hũ Cay at 56,000d leaves a tingle on the tip of the tongue. The drink should be cool, and should not add more heat or hard bitterness.

With jasmine lemon tea

Jasmine Lemon Tea at 36,000d is lightly sour and floral, and calms the mouth immediately after a spicy bite. It is the best pairing on the menu for a hot lunchtime when you need to cool down fast.

With nut milk coffee

If tea in the morning is not your habit, take the Nut Milk Coffee at 45,000d. The light creaminess softens the chilli while keeping enough coffee bitterness to wake you before work.

The sweeter loaves: Bơ Đường and Thượng Hạng Premium

Bơ Đường at 28,000d is lightly sweet and rich, quick to eat, and suits an afternoon snack or a light breakfast. Thượng Hạng Premium at 75,000d is the big size — fuller, more layered, and a proper main meal.

Bơ Đường with jasmine lemon tea or black coffee

The loaf is already sweet, so the drink should not be. Jasmine Lemon Tea balances the richness; Black Coffee suits it if this is breakfast and the day needs starting.

Premium with nut milk bubble tea

A large loaf with layers of flavour pairs with the Nut Milk Bubble Tea at 45,000d — something to chew, drunk slowly, seeing out a filling meal.

The hour matters too

The XANH shops are open 24 hours, so people eat at every hour. Early on, when you are still half asleep, black coffee or nut milk coffee does the waking. Through a hot midday, jasmine lemon tea or a bubble tea is cooler and will not heat you further. Late in the evening or on a night shift, brown sugar bubble tea instead of coffee keeps you comfortable without costing you sleep.

In everyday nutritional terms, the nut milk in the coffees and teas here is a light source of plant protein and suits a vegan diet. That is ordinary food information rather than medical advice; anyone managing a condition should ask their own doctor or dietitian.

Ordering without going out

If you are near one of the five shops — 38 Lê Thị Riêng, 15B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, 2B Trần Hưng Đạo or 148B Đề Thám in District 1, or 210 Bùi Văn Ba in District 7 — call 0923.183.183 and order a banh mi with the drink suggested above. Orders from 500,000d within 5km are delivered free. Say which loaf and which drink, and staff will advise if you want them to.

Quick questions

Coffee or tea with a Thap Cam?

Either, depending on the hour. Black coffee at 35,000d suits a morning that needs waking up; brown sugar bubble tea at 48,000d suits a softer, rounder finish.

The spicy tofu was too hot — what settles it?

Jasmine Lemon Tea at 36,000d is the fastest relief. The light sourness and the floral note take the heat off the palate.

Will bubble tea in the evening keep me awake?

The nut milk bubble teas contain no coffee, so they affect sleep far less than black or nut milk coffee. Still, a few hours before bed is the safer bet.

Is the big-size Premium enough on its own?

The Premium at 75,000d is substantial and fills one person. With a Nut Milk Bubble Tea at 45,000d alongside, it makes a slow, complete lunch or dinner.

Is delivery charged?

Orders from 500,000d within 5km are delivered free. For smaller or more distant orders, call 0923.183.183 for the figure.

Are the shops open all night?

All five are open 24 hours, with food and hot or cold drinks at any time.