Hidden gem in Geylang with $4 banh mi & rustic vibes that remind you of Vietnam Hi Bánh Mì

Who doesn’t love loaf of bread? I do know I can’t resist one, particularly the crispy banh mi that originates from Vietnam. Recently, we bought to check out Hi Bánh Mì at Geylang.

I’ve come to the realisation that Geylang is stuffed with hidden foodie gems. The unassuming, old-school exterior of store homes with wealthy architectural heritage actually disguises the several types of meals that you just’ll discover right here.

Along the sides of 340 Geylang Road sits Hi Báhn Mì, which specialises in Vietnamese delicacies. Within its proximity are different Vietnamese-run stalls, from goldsmiths to salons. Like their stall identify, the store was easy and compact, merely greeting us with a gesture of “hi”!

To my nice shock, Hi Bánh Mì additionally had low tables and chairs that added to the entire genuine Vietnamese expertise. It was solely throughout my latest journey to Ho Chi Minh that made me study extra about Vietnamese tradition and the way they’d previous time.

Their nationwide favorite previous time is individuals watching, which explains why you’ll see low stools scattered outdoors most cafes in Saigon. I cherished how Hi Bánh Mì supplied a glimpse of Vietnam over again, particularly with the pop music and native language filling up the background noise.

What differentiates Hi Bánh Mì from different banh mi stalls in Singapore is the huge menu of 9 banh mi flavours. They also have a Sunny Side Up Sandwich (S$4) and a Sardine Banh Mi (S$5.50), which I feel isn’t very generally present in Singapore!

What I attempted at Hi Bánh Mì

Well, the one method to make certain that these banh mis are of high quality is to check out signature flavours that style just like those I had in Vietnam. Hence, I opted for the Homemade Special Sandwich (S$6.90) and Crispy Roasted Pork Sandwich (S$5.50). Perhaps, these can be extra acquainted to our palates since they’re within the much less experimental vary.

During my meal, I seen that the Homemade Special Sandwich was a typical merchandise that was consistently ordered. This is the very best vendor containing 4 sorts of do-it-yourself pork, freshly cured by Tammy, the proprietor. This course of ensures management over flavours, permitting her to customize the salt ranges of the meat.

Think of this selection as a standard banh mi in Vietnam the place you’d get all cuts of meat, from sliced ham to chopped cuts of cartilages. However, how they stand out is the addition of pork floss that ties in properly with the salty flavours of ham and crunchy bites of contemporary radish and greens.

In addition, their do-it-yourself sauce and pate unfold provides in a sprinkle of sweetness into the entire meat-filled baguette— a chic play of flavours.

Next, we have now the Crispy Roasted Pork Sandwich. I used to be actually excited to check out this selection as a result of it comprises pork stomach, and who doesn’t love pork stomach?

Just fascinated by the layer of crispiness from the pork fats coming along with a chunk of their crusty baguettes is making me salivate. Oh, this was nice!

To begin, the buns had an ideal ratio of softness, crispiness and flakiness. They had been fluffy within the centre and flaky on the skin, so if you take a chunk, it isn’t troublesome to chew.

This possibility was comparatively greener than the opposite, in all probability to stability out the flavours from their sinful alternative of meat.

I’m not complaining although— the addition of coriander made the hearty pork stomach extra pronounced. The floral, earthiness of coriander acted as a foil to the wealthy meats, and the contrasting flavours made it much more addictive. I assume the saying of how opposites entice is reinstated on this state of affairs.

You’ll get slices of chillies inside in case you go for the spicy model. I notably appreciated how this sandwich hit all elements of spiciness, sweetness and saltiness.

And… We’re onto desserts! We had the Vietnamese Fried Bananas, generally known as goreng pisang. They’re nearly the identical factor, besides Hi Bánh Mì provides sesame seeds into the coated batter.

Freshly made to order, these got here in piping scorching. The pure luxurious of biting into the tender melted banana introduced me utmost pleasure. Every chunk got here with a golden crisp of aromatic twice-fried batter that blended properly with the contrasting candy flavours. As the self-proclaimed lover of something banana flavoured, I approve!

Final ideas

Hi Bánh Mì is actually a hidden gem in Geylang. To allow you to in on my ideas, I’m already considering of the Beef Banh Mi or the spicy noodles (bun bo hue) within the secret menu that I might like to check out on my subsequent go to. I used to be trying to find them in the principle menu, however apparently these are secret menu objects that solely true regulars learn about. Now, you’re in on the key too.

Furthermore, at such inexpensive costs, you don’t even want to purchase a ticket to Vietnam to understand their tradition and meals. Just seize a bun, sit on one of many stools, and watch the busy streets of Geylang at Hi Bánh Mì.

Expected harm: S$4 – S$6.90 per pax

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