Located in numerous locations across Toronto, but favorably at Yonge and Gerrard, you will find the quick fast food hit that will blow your mind!
Banh Mi Boys started off in 2011 as a family-run establishment, focusing on quality, flavor and trying new things. In 2013 they had grown massively and opened a second location, followed by a third and fourth location is 2015 and 2017. Banh Mi Boys is still owned and operated by the same family, but their workforce has grown massively as they began to take the Toronto Food scene by force.
I will stop by a Banh Mi Boys every time I am in Toronto, and that’s hardly an exaggeration. Once of their best features is the variety of hand-held food on their menu, from a quick Bao or Taco to-go to a massive Banh Mi that will conquer all hunger.
This photo is from my last dine-in visit in the Summer 2019, but I have since grabbed and devoured their goods too many times to count. My go-to will always be their 5-Spice Pork Belly Bao, with a side of Kimchi Fries. It’s my definition of the perfect meal when it comes to size, variety of tastes and portability. I can’t get enough of the warm savory taste of the pork belly, contrasted with the slight sour taste of the pickled carrots and radish. Their baos make for perfect walk-and-eat lunches, or if you can’t multitask like me it’s an easy carry until you can find the closest park bench. If your appetite is a little grander for just one bao, I would recommend their Kalbi Beef Banh Mi for a meal that won’t leave you disappointed or looking for a snack after. As much as I love the fluffy, soft texture of their baos, the Banh mi baguette with it’s flaky perfection is a strong rival and make deciding a tough choice. They also offer their same classic flavors in tacos now as well, and while I’m not opposed to them, I just love their baos and Banh mi baguettes far too much to really give them a chance.
My only qualm is that I wish they would expand outside of Toronto. They are definitely worth the commute and travel, but I know they would flourish in any community they would move to.