17 Banh Mi Recipes That Are WAY Better Than Takeout

We’ve all had that late-night craving for banh mi — our favorite Vietnamese sandwich — only to find that our favorite spot is closed for the day. Lucky for you, there are plenty of delicious banh mi-inspired recipes that don’t require a one hour wait (or your entire weeks’ food budget). Plus, there are *SO* many great recipes, running the gamut from banh mi tacos to crostini and even nacho recipes. You wouldn’t dare call to order takeout and ask for a banh mi hot dog, but you can sure as heck make one yourself! Keep reading for 17 unique banh mi recipes that’ll ease your craving and help you learn how to make your own takeout at home.

1. Banh Mi Hot Dog: You won’t find this hot dog at any ballpark stand. It’s topped with shredded carrots, sliced cucumber and a spicy Sriracha mayo that ties together the hot dog and banh mi fusion. (via Lemons for Lulu)

2. Banh Mi Nachos: Think outside your typical queso and salsa nachos and munch on this Vietnamese-inspired version. After a night of bar crawling, these will be your hangover life saver. (via Impromptu Kitchen)

3. Banh Mi Spring Rolls: These spring rolls have all the classic banh mi flavors rolled into a tiny package. They’re filled to the max with root veggies, tofu and sweet chili sauce for an extra kick. Serve alongside extra chili sauce or creamy peanut butter sauce for dipping. (via Minimalist Baker)

4. Slow Cooker Banh Mi Chicken Tacos: Nothing is better than coming home to a hot and delicious meal waiting for you to devour. These slow cooker tacos combine warm and comforting chicken with fresh pickled vegetables, all wrapped in a colorful purple cabbage wrap. (via Kelley and Cricket)

5. Banh Mi Totchos With Cilantro-Lime Aioli: The only thing that *may* be better than nachos are totchos (AKA tater tot nachos). Finish these off with a couple fried eggs and a generous helping of cilantro-lime aioli for good measure. (via No Spoon Necessary)

6. Loaded Banh Mi Sweet Potato Fries: Warning: These fries will change your life. The smokey seasoning on the sweet potatoes is mind-blowing, and the miso-lime dressing poured over the top will be your new go-to sauce. (via Earthy Feast)

7. Banh Mi Barley Bowls With Seared Sesame Broccoli Rabe: Healthy doesn’t always have to mean boring! This barley bowl screams traditional banh mi while nourishing your body and your taste buds. (via Yummy Beet)

8. Banh Mi-Less Banh Mi Bowl: If you think you can’t enjoy banh mi because you’re a vegetarian, think again. This bowl has everything your standard banh mi would have except for the bread. Use crispy tofu as your protein and layer everything in a bowl before digging in. (via Keepin’ It Kind)

9. Banh Mi Noodle Salad: Shrimp, candied peanuts and rice noodles add a unique touch to this salad. If you bring this to work for lunch, your co-workers will be hella jealous of your homemade takeout. (via Brazilian Flair in the USA)

10. Banh Mi Salad With Sriracha Vinaigrette: This family-style salad is a meal that won’t soon be forgotten. There are so many fresh flavors mixed into it, everyone will most definitely clean their plates without question. (via A Farm Girl Dabbles)

11. Chicken Banh Mi Meatballs: You can never have too many meatball recipes, especially when they’re as unique as this chicken banh mi adaptation. You can serve these on a sandwich, in a pasta dish or on a toothpick as a quick appetizer. (via Cheap Recipe Blog)

12. Chicken Meatball Banh Mi Skillet Pizza: When you’re faced with the decision of ordering pizza or Vietnamese, the answer is simple: Neither! Make your own banh mi pizza at home and you’ve combined your two faves in under 30 minutes flat. (via Climbing Crier Mountain)

13. Banh Mi Crostini: A couple of these hearty crostini are a great way to start off your dinner party with a bang. Your guests will be VERY impressed that you made your own chicken liver and pork pâté to go on top, and you’ll revel in the secret of how simple it is. (via Foodmanna)

14. Meatball Banh Mi: Banh mi strictly refers to the roll used in the classic sandwich. Sure, there are traditional ingredients like pickled vegetables that are pretty standard, but the contents of the sandwich are really up to you. This one has savory pork meatballs that will serve as your new favorite filling. (via The Woks of Life)

15. Salmon Banh Mi: Your picnic date called, and they want this salmon banh mi STAT. These would be great for an outdoor gathering or a romantic lunch in the park. (via Leite’s Culinaria)

16. Vietnamese Banh Mi Street Tacos: These zesty tacos are worthy of any food truck, and you can make them in the comfort of your kitchen. They’re full of a ton of chicken that’s been marinated in lime juice, fish sauce and spicy jalapeños. (via A Spicy Perspective)

17. Vietnamese Pork Banh Mi With Sriracha Tahini Mayo: You can’t go wrong with the OG banh mi sandwich. When the craving hits, there’s no better way to subdue it than with a pork-filled hoagie roll complete with a spicy mayo drizzle. Go ahead and lose the number to your takeout spot ASAP. (via Gringalicious)

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It's almost time to return to Cousins! The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 is coming this summer, and Prime Video just gave us a first official look at Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad. The new episodes will open at the end of Belly's freshman year of college, and in addition to seeing the evolution of our favorite characters, author and co-showrunner Jenny Han says "there are going to be surprises" in the final season. Eek!

Here's your first look at Lola Tung, Gavin Casalegno, and Christopher Briney in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3, coming to Prime Video July 2025!


Jenny Han says 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' fans are in for a few surprises.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

"There are the things that [fans] know and then there are things they think they know, and then there's going to be, hopefully, things that surprise them," Jenny Han tells Entertainment Weekly. Listen, I am a very proud member of Team Conrad, and seeing how cozy Belly and Jeremiah are in these pics (not to mention the set leak that's definitely not in the third book), I'm starting to wonder if Prime Video is teasing I should switch teams.

But no matter which team you're on, Lola Tung promises the season won't let you down.

Team #JellyFish will get their time this season.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

"The one thing I've always admired about Jenny is that every season and every decision about what's coming next is purely to serve the story," Lola says. "She's never going to do anything that doesn't make sense for the story. It's all about this beautiful world she's created and giving the fans something really, really special and giving us something really special to work with."

And that includes some sweet moments which Jeremiah and Belly, who "are, at their core, best friends," Lola adds. "That relationship is something that's so special and so unique to them, so it's exciting to see this season and how their relationship blossoms."

And 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' images also feature Conrad.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

But don't worry Conrad fans, we also get a look at the elder Fisher brother who "we know that he went to Stanford, and so he's continuing on his journey to become a doctor, as you can see from that white coat," Jenny says. "I think people won't be surprised to see that."

Keep reading for more images from The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3!

Erika Doss/Prime Video

Jenny Han also teases this image is actually a flashback, "so do with that what you will." BRB, I'm off dreaming of a beach vacation. I also can't help but point out the warm color grade of this season! The golden look makes everything feel warmer and more magical — and offers a youthful glow as Belly gets older.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

But for those of us who care more about Steven and Taylor (Sean Kaufman and Rain Spencer) than the main love triangle, we got this single crumb from the new images. And I'm more than happy about it, thank you very much.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

Belly (Lola Tung) gets cozy on campus in a hoodie and sunglasses.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

And Belly and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) get cozy with each other at a party.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

But they work as hard as they play! I have this exact outfit Belly's wearing, and you best believe I'm adding it into my fashion rotation.

How many episodes will The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 have?

Erika Doss/Prime Video

Great news! The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 will have 11 episodes instead of 7 or 8 like seasons 1 and 2 did. Stay tuned for the official release schedule.

Who's in the cast?

Prime Video

The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 cast features all your favorites:

  • Lola Tung as Belly Conklin: a beach-loving volleyball player who's always dreaming of summer.
  • Christopher Briney as Conrad Fisher: Belly and Steven's lifelong friend who Belly's always had a crush on.
  • Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah Fisher: Conrad's sunny younger brother.
  • Sean Kaufman as Steven Conklin: Belly's older brother.
  • Rain Spencer as Taylor Jewel: Belly's best friend.
  • Jackie Chungas Laurel Park: Belly and Steven's mom and Susannah Fisher's best friend.

Meet The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Cast before the new episodes air on Prime Video this July!

1923 season 2 premieres on Paramount+ February 23, and Michelle Randolph (who plays Elizabeth Dutton in the cast) is "so excited" for you to watch the new episodes — and she's been keeping up with all your fan theories!

"There are some crazy ones. I feel like the biggest fan theory thing is the family tree," she tells Brit + Co exclusively. "I've seen many different family trees and so it's like, 'OK, which one's accurate?' I actually drew my own at one point."

Here's what Michelle Randolph had to say about 1923 season 2, and the Dutton family tree, in Brit + Co's exclusive 1923 interview.

Michelle Randolph teases '1923' season 2 finally gives us answers to the Dutton family tree.

By the end of season 2, Michelle Randolph says "we might be able to fill in some blanks" in the Dutton family tree, which is a very hot topic for internet users! "I had to make my own [family tree] because all of the ones I saw on the internet were like — every single one was different. I was like 'I'm confused.'"

The Dutton family is made up of incredible cast members like Brandon Sklenar, Harrison Ford, and Helen Mirren, and Michelle reveals that the cast are just as close as their characters.

"There's a giant group chat called Giddy Up, which started during cowboy camp of season one," she says. "A cute little name, and I think I mean we all were on location in Montana and all in the same hotel, and we would get dinners after [filming], so I think even though our characters are very different and in different story lines like we all really did bond, which was really helpful to have each other throughout the chaos of of shooting a show."

The actress also says Elizabeth would connect with her 'Landman' character Ainsley.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

And if you're a tried and true Taylor Sheridan fan, you've probably picked up on the fact that Michelle isn't just in 1923 — she also has a starring role as Ainsley Norris in Landman! But would Elizabeth and Ainsley get along if they met in an alternate universe?

"That would be a fun thing to witness. I think they would," she says. "They're very different, but the similarities between them is they're both young women who are finding their place in this world and I think that they both actually look at the world through very bright eyes and have a lot of hope, which is an interesting correlation between the two of them. I think Elizabeth has gone through so much more than Ainsley obviously, so there might be a difference there, but I think they would get along."

Check out the 8 Compelling Historical Fiction Books For 1923 Lovers and read our interview with Julia Schlaepfer where she teases the Spencer and Alex's future.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. And this post has been updated.

Leaders in the matcha industry are predicting a matcha shortage this spring. Sparked by a huge surge in demand, it’s possible that your go-to drink could be affected.

Here’s everything you need to know about this season’s matcha shortage.

Nataliya Vaitkevich / PEXELS

Per The Japan Times, increased demand for matcha powder put an “unprecedented strain” on the tea industry last year, and the same effect is predicted to take place in 2025.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan saw a 185% increase in matcha production from 2010 to 2023 in order to keep up with demand from cafes and home baristas around the world, The Japan Timesreports.

Cup of Couple / PEXELS

Seeing that over half of Japan’s matcha is exported internationally, matcha lovers are looking toward the country for their green tea fix. Search interest for matcha has nearly quadrupled over the past 5 years, and it shows no sign of slowing down.

Olena Bohovyk / PEXELS

This year, mostly organic matcha strains will be affected by the shortage, though lower-grade varieties could face the same issues if consumers begin reaching for them in favor of organic offerings. While top-tier, organic strains like ceremonial-grade matcha are known for being sweeter and smoother, the lower-grade kinds like culinary-grade matcha are noticeably more bitter and don't have the same vibrant color.

Charlotte May / PEXELS

Matcha can only be harvested in the springtime, so though a shortage may be happening now, there’s hope for increased supply in the near future. This year’s harvest will start in April.

Polina Tankilevitch / PEXELS

Even though production will ramp up, Jason Eng of Kametani Tea in Japan, a company that produces matcha for beverage companies around the world, says: “This year will be an interesting one. We haven’t hit a point yet where we’re going to run out, but it’s going to be really tight this autumn – not just for us but for everybody. The demand is off the charts.”

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