Banh Mi Aha

Banh Mi Aha is a Vietnamese street food takeaway on Endell Street, on the northern side of Covent Garden near Seven Dials. The kitchen describes its food as true Vietnamese made fresh, and the name gives away the signature dish: the banh mi, the crusty filled baguette that grew out of Vietnam's French colonial years and became one of the country's best known street foods.

The Endell Street shop is one of a small group of Banh Mi Aha branches in central London, with sister sites listed for Holborn and Farringdon. Beyond the counter, the business runs catering and wholesale arms and has opened a franchise route, which says something about how far a simple baguette concept has travelled. It also keeps a small grocery line of Vietnamese ingredients alongside the prepared food.

Banh mi in Covent Garden, built for the lunchtime rush

The banh mi in Covent Garden follows the traditional pattern: a light, crisp roll filled with meat or a vegetarian alternative, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs and sauces. The menu is deliberately compact rather than sprawling, which keeps the queue moving and the food consistent. The emphasis is on fresh preparation and the balance of textures that makes the sandwich work, crunchy bread against soft fillings and sharp pickles. Bookings for groups and catering orders can be arranged through the company directly.

What to expect on a visit

This is counter service for people eating on the move or carrying lunch back to a desk. Endell Street runs between Long Acre and High Holborn and carries a steady stream of office workers and shoppers passing between the Dials and the market, so the shop is busiest in the middle of the day. Covent Garden and Holborn Underground stations are both within a few minutes on foot. It sits comfortably among the Vietnamese street food and other quick options listed under takeaways in Covent Garden, and the street has a little food history of its own: Bagel Factory opened its very first shop on Endell Street back in 1997.