Bánh mì became a street food staple in Vietnam in the 1950s, about a century after French imperialism brought the baguette to the country. The sandwich took off in the states in the 1980s and you can find them in several places around Iowa — Pho Real Kitchen and Bar, Zavy Kitchen, TNT Vietnamese Restaurant and Pho Viet Restaurant in the Des Moines metro; Pho & Tea in Ames; Viet Thai Star in Pella; Viet-Thai Taste in Newton; Yummy Bánh mì in Hiawatha; California Pho and Rozz-Tox in the Quad Cities; and Iowa Pho, Nodo and Annie’s Vietnamese Sandwiches Shop in the Iowa City area.
Annie Duong, a native of Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City, and her husband Travis Duong opened Annie’s last September because they wanted to provide the most authentically Vietnamese bánh mì experience, using bread that’s baked in-house every day. The couple have lived in Iowa City for 15 years, and soon celebrate their first year in the restaurant business in a little spot facing Gilbert Street with oversized photos in the windows.
The menu is no-nonsense: sandwiches, egg rolls, spring rolls and a few drinks. Bánh mì start at $8 with a choice of fillings — Vietnamese ham, braised pork belly, Char Xiu pork, breaded fish or tofu — all served on fresh, cruchy bread with vegetables, cilantro, mayonnaise and sweet hoisin sauce (with vegan options available).
In a nonstop world teeming with choices that clutter our psyches day after day, a brief menu and a small storefront — just an open kitchen, a counter to place your order and three stools by the window — can be a real breath of fresh air.
My order: One #2 Char Siu Pork Sandwich (Bánh Mì Thịt Xá Xíu) with pâté (optional), served with cucumber, jalapeño, carrot, pickled radish, cilantro and sauce on the side. Flaky bread, crunchy vegetables, tasty proteins, a nice sauce and no extravagancies, wrapped in paper and out the door in three minutes flat, plus one Vietnamese Black Milk Coffee to go.
Annie’s Vietnamese Sandwiches Shop
221 S Gilbert St, Iowa City
Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Closed Sunday & Monday
Báhn mì near me
Other restaurants that serve stellar Vietnamese sandwiches
Eastern Iowa
Iowa Pho, 53 2nd St, Coralville, Sun-Wed 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (Closed Mon); Thurs-Sat 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Yummy Banh Mi and Boba Tea, Coffee, 1950 Blairs Ferry Rd NE Suite 116, Hiawatha, Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Closed Mon; Tues-Sat 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
California Pho, 3559 W Kimberly Rd Ste 5, Davenport, Sun-Mon 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (Closed Tues)
Central Iowa
Pho & Tea, 725 24th St #102, Ames, Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Closed Mon; Tues-Sat 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Pho Viet Restaurant, 5002 EP True Pkwy, West Des Moines, Sun-Mon 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (Closed Wed)
Zavy Kitchen, 111 E Grand Ave Ste 101, Des Moines, Sun 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Mon-Thurs 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. (Closed Tues); Fri and Sat 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
TNT Vietnamese Restaurant, 3452 Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, Sun 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Mon-Sat 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. (Closed Wed)
Pho Real Kitchen and Bar, 200 4th St, Des Moines, Sun 11 a.m.-7:45 p.m.; Mon and Tues 11 a.m.-8:45 p.m.; Wed 4-8:45 p.m.; Fri and Sat 11-1:45 a.m.
Viet-Thai Taste, 208 S 2nd Ave W, Newton, Closed Sun; Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Viet Thai Star, 905 W 16th St, Pella, Closed Sun; Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-8 p.m (Closed Wed)
Don’t see you favorite spot on the list? Let us know: editor@littlevillagemag.com
This article was originally published in Little Village’s August 2026 issue.
