There’s something undeniably magical about eating a sandwich in a bookstore—pages turning, coffee brewing, and somewhere in between, a perfect bite that stops you mid-sentence. That’s exactly the energy behind BANH, now open inside the Café at Books & Books in Coconut Grove, where Vietnamese flavor meets literary charm in the most unexpected, and frankly irresistible, way. And as the team puts it best: “Not just a sandwich, it’s BANH.”

At the heart of it all is Chef Phuoc Vo, who brings both polish and personality to every bite. He’s spent over a decade in some of the country’s most demanding kitchens, including the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott, with a résumé that balances classical technique and global curiosity. If he looks familiar, you might recognize him from Ciao House, where he made it to the finals, or Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, where he proved that even in chaos, creativity can thrive. But what makes Phuoc stand out isn’t just where he’s worked—it’s how he cooks: precise, intentional, and just playful enough to keep you guessing.

BANH is his latest venture, created alongside partner Aidan Friedson, and it feels like a natural evolution of everything he’s done before. The menu centers around the iconic bánh mì, but these aren’t your average sandwiches. Each one is built with care, layering crisp baguettes, savory proteins, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and sauces that hit with just the right amount of brightness and depth. It’s the kind of food that feels both comforting and exciting—familiar in form, but elevated in execution. In other words, exactly what you’d expect from a chef who thrives on balancing discipline with creativity.

Aidan Friedson brings his own flavor to the project—less on the plate, more in the vision. A two-time champion of Chopped Junior and a graduate of the Miami Herbert Business School, he’s been immersed in hospitality his entire life and sees food as something bigger than just taste. For him, it’s about connection, storytelling, and building something that brings people together. That philosophy shows up in BANH just as much as the ingredients do.

Together, they’ve created something that fits perfectly into Coconut Grove’s creative pulse. You can grab a sandwich and a drink from The Daily Sip menu, find a quiet corner between bookshelves, and suddenly lunch feels like an experience rather than a routine. It’s refined without being fussy, thoughtful without overthinking it, and full of the kind of flavor that lingers—in a good way.

BANH isn’t trying to reinvent the sandwich. It’s doing something more interesting than that. It’s taking something already beloved and treating it with the level of care, technique, and personality it deserves. So yes, you can call it a bánh mì—but once you taste it, you’ll understand why they say it differently: not just a sandwich, it’s BANH.

Here are their signature items with their distinctively fun and funky names:

Funky Banh Mi Sandwiches

All sandwiches come with BANH Umami Garlic Aioli, Cilantro, Pickled Carrots, Daikon, and Fresnos.

The OG Viet Deli: Cha Lua, Pork Sausage, Pate.

Don’t Cluck With Me: Lemongrass Chicken.

Lê Dunk: 24 Hour Pho Broth | Short Rib.

The Faux Real: Char Siu Braised Soy (Vegan).

The Crispy Pig: braised pork belly, crispy chicharron, house sate.

Funky Bubble Tea & Boozy Boba

Their drink menu features creative options like the Taro-based Unicorn Moon Milk, Cà Phê Rush (Viet Cold Brew), and various tea blends featuring boba and popping boba, including Golden Hour Sip and Rising Phoenix. Other options include Dreamy Darkness and Saigon Black, and Sake splashed in any of our drinks.

Come say hello 🙂

3409 Main Hwy, Coconut Grove, FL 33133