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| - This little shop located about a minute walk northwest of Queen and Spadina is one of my favourites for a quick fix of the Asian snacks or a full blown meal.
With a name like Banh Mi Boys, you'd expect a shop of just the Vietnamese sandwich, banh mi, but you'll find that they offer more than just banh mi, they also have sandwiches made with Chinese steam bun, as well as tacos for more of a health-conscious option. You're going to need sides to go with that sandwich or tacos of yours, that's why they have a selection of fries and salads.
While there are limited amount of seating at this shop, you'll see that many customers stop by for a takeaway order. It's not table service, so you order at the counter, pick up your order and freely seat yourself.
I still remember the first time I came here, I wanted their try their secret menu item, "The Club Bao". The menu lists bao options of beef cheeks, pulled pork, fried tofu, pork belly or fried chicken. The Club Bao is a bao with pork belly AND fried chicken. It was honestly the best thing ever and every visit since then, I have either ordered the Club Bao, or Club Banh Mi (only if I'm super hungry or taking it home). Yup, fried chicken and pork belly in a banh mi, it holds very well if you're not eating it immediately. But at the end of the day, club bao wins, because you have the soft bao so you can fully experience the texture of their crispy fried chicken, and the thick and juicy pork belly.
If you've ordered a banh mi, bao, or taco, you have the option to select the hotness to complete your order. I always go for medium as it's just sriracha and who doesn't like sriracha?
Kimchi fries were also ace (which you can also have in a bao, shh, secret menu).
I have visited this place many time and haven't once had a less than stellar visit. The music is always great, and when it's warmer outside, they open the garage door so if you sit by it, it's like a patio.
And word has it, that when Alton Brown was in town, this is where he went.
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