Banh Mi 782, a Vietnamese sandwich shop on Wilmslow Road in Didsbury, is quietly serving some of the best Banh Mi in Manchester, according to a review by the Manchester Evening News. Despite having no social media presence and no queues, the spot has earned praise for its food.
A hidden gem on Wilmslow Road
The review notes that long queues outside restaurants are often seen as a sign of quality, but this spot, which has no digital footprint aside from a few TikTok posts by food bloggers, relies on word-of-mouth. Google Reviews for the establishment are complimentary.
When the reviewer visited on a Wednesday evening, there was no queue, and only a handful of customers came in for takeaway sandwiches. The reviewer described the experience as "pure joy" to have the restaurant to themselves, compared to the drawbacks of social media popularity.
The menu and the food
The menu focuses solely on a selection of Banh Mi and Vietnamese coffee. There are eight options for fillings, including traditional ham, grilled beef fillet, chargrilled roast pork, duck, cold cuts, and tofu and veggie.
The reviewer tried the roast crispy pork belly (£7.80) and lemongrass crispy chicken (£6.90), accompanied by a Hanoi beer and a Vietnamese coffee (£4) made with condensed milk. The baguette was described as crispy on the outside and soft inside, with the chicken version featuring large strips of crispy chicken slathered in mayonnaise, topped with chicken floss and jalapeños.
Verdict and value
The reviewer preferred the crispy pork belly, which had huge chunks of juicy, tender meat. They noted that while the sandwich might be heavy on the mayonnaise for some, it offers great value for what you get.
The review concludes that the lack of queues and social media hysteria allows customers to actually enjoy the food, and the reviewer hopes more people will try one of the best Banh Mi spots in Manchester.
