Authentic Vietnamese cuisine with a standout banh mi featuring crackle-crusted bread; also praised for turmeric catfish and interactive rice rolls.
Will Hartman reviews Bánh Anh Em, an East Village spot celebrated for its exceptional bánh mì with a unique crackle-crusted bread, alongside other Vietnamese delights like turmeric-marinated catfish and interactive rice rolls.
This East Village establishment offers a highly authentic Vietnamese dining experience, celebrated for its exceptional banh mi with a distinctive crackle-crusted bread. Standout dishes include tableside-cooked turmeric-marinated catfish, interactive rice rolls, and a rich, flavorful pho with housemade noodles. While service can be a bit chaotic, the quality and unique preparation of the food, such as the buttery morning glory and indulgent scallops in salted egg yolk sauce, make it a must-visit.
The restaurant is lauded for its authentic Vietnamese dishes, with particular acclaim for its banh mi, especially the OG banh mi and its unique crackle-crusted bread. Other highly recommended items include the turmeric-marinated catfish, interactive rice rolls, flavorful pho, and bun rieu. Some dishes, like the banh uot and com tam, have been noted as potentially overpriced or small in portion for their cost.
"Highly recommended dishes include the OG Banh Mi, Banh Mi Pate Hai Phong, turmeric-marinated catfish (Cha Ca La Vong), interactive Banh Uot Chong, and Bun Rieu. The pho and a buttery morning glory dish are also praised."
Customers consistently praise the restaurant for its authentic and high-quality Vietnamese cuisine, though some find the prices high and portions small for certain dishes.
Important Note
Some customers have raised concerns regarding the restaurant's initial health inspection report. Additionally, certain dishes like banh uot and com tam have been noted as being potentially overpriced or having smaller portions.
"This user highly recommends Bánh Anh Em, specifically mentioning the Bun Rieu as scrumptious."
Positive"This user plans to try Bánh Anh Em once the lines decrease, expressing gratitude for the review."
Neutral"This user expressed interest in trying Bánh Anh Em and asked about the wait time after seeing the review."
Neutral"The author visited Bánh Anh Em's new location and found the fish and DIY Banh Uot to be highlights. They mentioned the line was long, but the wait was minimal for their group due to early arrival. The cost per person was around $35-$40."
Positive"Banh Anh Em is listed among various international sandwich recommendations, with a focus on banh mi."
Neutral"Visiting for lunch around 11:40 AM, the commenter was third in line and experienced a 20-minute wait. They highly recommend the OG banh mi and mini pate banh mi, praising the bread."
Positive"The commenter arrived at 6:03 PM on a Thursday and was 16th on the waitlist, being seated around 7:30-7:40 PM. They suggest arriving by 5:45 PM on a Friday."
Neutral"Banh Anh Em in the East Village is mentioned as a Vietnamese restaurant."
Positive"Banh Anh Em is listed as a Vietnamese restaurant option."
Positive"Arriving at 6 PM, the commenter was 29th on the waitlist and did not wait."
Neutral"The commenter found the portions small and the prices high for the food received. They also noted being served after a later-arriving party despite arriving early."
Negative"The commenter suggests having a drink at a nearby bar while waiting for a table. They received their table by the time they finished their drink."
Neutral"The commenter suggests arriving half an hour before opening to avoid long waits, citing a recent data point where someone waited 1-1.5 hours for a 5:30 PM arrival."
Neutral"This commenter mentioned Banh Anh Em as a solid Vietnamese option in NYC."
Positive"Banh / Banh Anh Em is recommended as a good option for casual solo dining in Manhattan."
Positive"The reviewer generally praises Banh Anh Em for bringing true authentic Vietnamese food to NYC, stating it's a fantastic restaurant where every dish is worth trying at least once and recommended for frequent visits."
Positive"The post author views Banh Anh Em's food as akin to 'Vietnamese Vietnamese food' rather than 'Vietnamese American,' emphasizing its authenticity as a key strength that justifies its pricing."
Positive"The reviewer provides a positive assessment of Banh Anh Em's pho, praising its deeply rich broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and high-quality meat, despite it not being their top 5 pho in the city."
Positive"Hailing from Hanoi, the reviewer confirms that the xoi xeo at Banh Anh Em is very authentic."
Positive"The commenter, who frequently passes by Banh Anh Em, expresses an intention to visit the restaurant one day, noting the consistent line outside."
Neutral
