What is it about the "queen" bread in Hoi An that makes it the best in the world?

Located on Tran Cao Van street, about 1 km from Hoi An market, Madam Khanh bakery has long been a familiar address for both locals and tourists .

On travel site TripAdvisor, this place is called “The Banh Mi Queen” and has received nearly 3,000 reviews, most of which praise the flavor, crispiness of the cake and rich fillings.

Madam Khanh's bread is a familiar destination for domestic and foreign tourists. Photo: Nguyen Dat

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Loc - the shop owner, who is known as "The Banh Mi Queen" - she used to sell sweet soup, then switched to selling bread for more than 60 years.

In the early days, the restaurant had no name until a Western tourist came to eat and named it after her husband, Mr. Khanh.

Before opening the shop, Ms. Loc went to all the famous bakeries in Hoi An to try, then researched and created her own recipe.

Now, she and her family have to wake up early every day to prepare the ingredients. The crusted bread is sourced from a reputable bakery in the city, contributing to the shop's unique flavor.

The shop opens from about 8am to 7pm daily. The menu includes 6 types of sandwiches: mixed, chicken, pork - sausage, fried egg, grilled meat and vegetarian sandwiches. Prices range from 25,000 VND to 30,000 VND.

Madam Khanh's bread in Hoi An is quite large compared to regular bread. Photo: Nguyen Dat

Mixed bread - the most popular dish - includes pork, chicken, sausage, eggs, pate, egg sauce, served with vegetables and papaya salad.

Vegetarian sandwiches are sold on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month or upon request, with fillings including eggs, tofu or cheese, vegetables, tomatoes, papaya, and cucumbers.

All fillings are served with a sauce mixed according to a special recipe, creating a distinct fatty and aromatic flavor. Diners can eat on the spot or take the cake to nearby cafes.

Ms. Phuong Thuy ( Thai Nguyen ) commented: “The bread is very big and full. I had to ask the shop to cut it in half to finish it. The price of 30,000 VND per loaf is cheap compared to the quality, especially in Hoi An.”

Full filling in a 30,000 VND sandwich. Photo: Nguyen Dat

A foreign tourist with the account Ruth C also shared on TripAdvisor: “We were introduced to Banh Mi Queen by a local tailor. It looks like a sidewalk restaurant from the outside, but the tables inside and upstairs are almost full. This is the best banh mi I have ever eaten.”

Many diners call Madam Khanh's bread the best bread they have ever eaten. Photo: Nguyen Dat

Banh mi is a popular street food in Vietnam, made from baguettes of French origin but adjusted in size and filling. Depending on the region, the fillings vary, creating diversity.

In fact, Vietnamese banh mi has been honored on international culinary rankings, including the Top 14 best street foods in the world voted by Taste Atlas in 2023 and the Top 23 best burgers in the world voted by CNN Travel in 2021.

In Hoi An, the success of Madam Khanh's bread is considered to be the combination of traditional recipe, adjusted to suit international taste, stable price and quick service.

Although not located in the center of the old quarter, the shop is always crowded from opening to closing, becoming one of the city's outstanding culinary brands.

Laodong.vn

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/am-thuc/banh-mi-nu-hoang-o-hoi-an-co-gi-ma-duoc-menh-danh-ngon-nhat-the-gioi-1555191.html