Come to Bami Express during lunch time and you would find a long queue of office workers waiting for their dabao of Banh Mi.
30 minutes? 45 minutes?
Okay, pick an off-peak hour then like early morning (but not at 9am when not all the ingredients are ready) or after lunch. They have limited seats for dine-in as well.
Bami Express opened by a husband-and-wife team is found on the 2nd level of Tanjong Pagar Plaza.
It is not that straight forward to find – need to climb up a flight of stairs and walk in the direction near the kopitiam, though it is also possible to cross from Tanjong Pagar Food Centre over.
Is it the best Banh Mi in Singapore?
Well, hold your horses first. They do serve up pretty-good Banh Mi, perhaps one of the top 10 you can find around.
It is not difficult to understand why they are popular – offerings, convenience, price-point, and they do feel like a substantial, healthy treat.
One of my hair dressers happened to be from Vietnam, and she mentioned she only eats their Banh Mi because it tasted closest to home (Food conversations are common especially if you sit there for long hours.)
Though she admitted she has not eaten those from Ang Mo Kio which are highly recommended by her housemates.
On the menu are Bami Sai Gon ($5), Bami Fried Eggs ($4), Bami Meatball ($5), Bami Pork Belly ($5), Bami BBQ Chicken ($5), Bami Smoked Duck ($6), Bami Fish Patties ($5), and Bami Vegetarian ($4) filled with vegetarian char siew and mushrooms.
Top up $1 to make it a set with Iced Vietnamese Coffee, Hot Vietnamese Coffee or Fresh Sugarcane drink – subject to availability.
The baguettes are kneaded and baked fresh in-store, and they also supply their bread to several Vietnamese restaurants in Singapore.
The Bami Sai Gon ($5) is one of the signatures, with baguette of crackly crust filled with pate, pork ham, stewed pork, and topped with chicken floss.
Many of the ingredients are prepared in-house, and you can experience the various textures from the creamy pate, meaty cold cuts, to stewed pork with a lean bite (a tad but not overly fatty).
The medley of vegetables such as the sweet and light sour marinated carrots, daikon radish, freshly chopped cilantro, and thinly sliced cucumbers made this feel like a healthy yet flavourful treat.
A bit of sweetness, tanginess and spiciness all together.
The person at the shop mentioned that the Bami BBQ Chicken ($5) with grilled chicken, lemongrass and chicken floss was the best-seller. Okay, shall try that next time.
Bami Express
Blk 5 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #02-02, Singapore 081005
Opening Hours: 9am – 4:45pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 3pm (Sat), Closed Sun
Other Related Entries
Banh Mi Thit (Geylang)
Banh Mi Saigon (Ang Mo Kio)
Mrs Pho (Bussorah Street)
Co Chung (Plaza Singapura)
So Pho (VivoCity)
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