ROCHESTER — Saigon Banh Mi , a new take-out sandwich shop, is on the menu for Rochester’s Lowertown. Doug Nguyen is revamping a house at 1002 North Broadway on the corner of 10th Street Northwest to remake it into a take-out sandwich shop with a patio for Minnesota’s warmer moments. He hopes to have it ready to open in early 2025.
ADVERTISEMENT Nguyen also co-owns Kung Fu Tea, which is next door at 1006 North Broadway, with his sister-in-law, Chau Nguyen , and their family. He hopes the banh mi sandwich shop will complement the popular boba tea business. He believes there is a demand for authentic banh mi sandwiches in Rochester, where it can be difficult to find a traditional version of the sandwich.
Banh mi, a staple in Vietnam, is served on a short baguette or French roll with a thin, crisp crust and a soft, airy texture. The baguette is typically split lengthwise and filled with meat and savory ingredients like pickled daikon radish. “We will make everything from scratch, including the bread, every day.
The food will be very fresh, healthy and light,” he said. The shop will sell a variety of banh mi sandwiches with different meats and fillings. He is still working on possible other menu items, though he hopes to add traditional Vietnamese coffee to the offerings.
Since the house does not have space for interior seating, it will primarily be a take-out shop. Nguyen does plan on creating a patio space, where customers can relax with food during the warm months. Th.
