Obanhmi East 2nd Ave Review: Stick to the Sandwiches

🥖 Spot Review: Obanhmi (East 2nd Ave)

What We Tried:	Chicken Lemongrass Bánh Mì ($10.70), Deluxe Classic Bánh Mì ($11.70), Spring Roll ($4.45), Shrimp Salad Roll ($9.45)
The Highs:	The lightly toasted, buttery baguette is perfect.
The Verdict:	Stick exclusively to the bánh mì sandwiches; the sides are a definite pass.

Happy Sunday! Funny story: the Obanhmi chain actually had a location right near our old place, but for some reason, we just never ended up going. I have no idea why! Today, after Mass and running a few errands, we decided it was finally time to give them a try at their relatively new spot along East 2nd Ave, right next to the hand car wash between Ontario Street and Quebec Street.

We ordered a bit of everything to get a proper feel for the menu, starting with the sandwiches.

Our full spread at Obanhmi: sandwiches and sides ready for tasting.

I ordered the Chicken Lemongrass ($10.70 / Gà Sả), and it was just okay. I was honestly a little surprised by the texture; it seemed more like a chopped, shredded, or slightly pureéed chicken consistency rather than actual slices of meat. On the bright side, the veggies were nice and fresh. The best part? The baguette. It was lightly toasted, beautifully buttered, and structurally perfect.

The Chicken Lemongrass sandwich, featuring a unique finely-textured meat filling.

My husband opted for the Deluxe Classic ($11.70), which comes loaded with two distinct types of Vietnamese ham and pork belly. After stealing a bite, I actually preferred his choice over my lemongrass chicken! It features the exact same fresh veggie setup inside that incredibly executed, perfect baguette.

The Deluxe Classic, featuring a generous stack of Vietnamese cold cuts and pork belly.

Now, let's talk about the sides. We ordered the Spring Roll ($4.45) and the Shrimp Salad Roll ($9.45). My honest advice? Skip them both. The spring roll wasn't very good, though I suppose it is passable if you are truly desperate for a fried fix. The salad rolls, on the other hand, had an overpowering amount of cilantro (or perhaps mint) that gave them a really strange flavour profile. To top it off, the accompanying peanut dipping sauce fell flat too. Save your money and stick strictly to the sandwiches!

The Shrimp Salad Roll, which was unfortunately a bit too herb-heavy for our liking.

A close-up look inside the fried spring roll.

When all is said and done, it is a decent neighbourhood option for a quick sandwich, but honestly? The crown for the absolute best bánh mi in Vancouver still firmly belongs to Viet Sub Sandwich along Robson Street. It isn't even close!

Have you visited this new East 2nd location yet? Let me know your thoughts down below!