Sluurpy > Restaurants in Melbourne > Banoi Cbd

Review Banoi Cbd - Melbourne

Jabin Landayan
With generous food portions, definitely good value for money. You wouldn't expect rich flavors from a joint like this in the city, but they come through very well. The food looks, smells, and tastes as good as the menu suggests. The coffee is strong. The ambiance has no frills. The staff could be friendlier, but I guess the food more than makes up for it. Highly recommended.
Robert Dark
Food is interesting and what we ordered was tasty and we ate it all. Cocktail drinks you might need to be careful on ordering, like all cocktails their cost can total more than the food bill. Couldn't fault the wait staff, he was attentive friendly and helpful. We went on a Tuesday night and it was easy to get a seat.
EWRE
What an experience, I have been bragging about this place all week. The most Delicious modern Vietnamese food at affordable prices. My mouth was doing back flip exercises. Every single moth full was packed with amazing flavors. For drinks we enjoyed the Lychee Mojito and the Hot & Sour Sip - fabulous. I cant fault this place, other than they wanted to shut the doors to early on a Saturday night night. For me, I dont liked to be rushed out of a restaurant especially after a hard day working on a Saturday doing Open inspection and auctions. Keep up the great work, CEO & Founder, Elizabeth :-)
Virgo V
Came here on a friday night was attracted at a sign outside says "friday special crispy pork" me and my partner are not local was actually looking for a italian restaurant but had a changed of mind for crispy pork. BUT the crispy pork was actually just available for lunch, i pointed to the waitress the sign was still outside and it was 8pm already i thought she would think to take the sign down but she didnt. We decided to stay as we already ordered drinks. Vietnmese coffee is good. Salt and pepper chicken is good, atmosphere and set up of the place was great, However the food was blunt nothing special. It wasnt that good. I would not recommend at all. No toothpick in the counter and empty soap at the wash area.
Louise McGrath
Delicious and flavorful Vietnamese food. We were after 2 and service was a little slow, but food worth the wait. Used EatClub voucher without any problems.
Suchismita Hota
Super delicious! Never had such a soft and taste bun. Chicken curry and pho are delicious. My fav is custard apple shake. A must try!
Erika
Nice atmosphere and good service, the one thing that let's this place down are the prices and serving sizes. Food wise, flavours are almost there, however I wouldn't call it authentic vietnamese food (I was a bit confused why I got soy sauce instead of the chilli garlic sauce for my noodles...)
Greg Facer
This could have been so much better. The service was average and relatively unpleasant. The Beef Pho was oily and the stock pretty much lacked any kind of flavour. Felt very very generic almost just like hot water. Was expecting big thing from reading the previous reviews but was let down. The prawn and pork spring rolls were good but with dipping sauce. The restaurant itself is nice with plenty of tables and a it doesn’t feel cramped at all.Nice place to have a sit down meal especially during cold wet weather. I was looking for a good go to Viet place in the CBD but missed the mark on this visit.
Daisy
Got a lemongrass pork vermicelli salad for lunch. The serving size was generous and the salad was tasty. The seating area outside is quite comfortable.
We.eat.travel.love
This place is always quite full specially during lunch times. They have a self writing ordering system which is quite cool. They also offer a good variety of Vietnamese food and the food is quite fresh. The prices are a bit on the higher end and they don’t do split bills if you are in a group. The food is good but the portions are a bit small of an compared to the price.
Withaknifeandfork
We loved 😍<br/>The prawn spring rolls here are a favourite of ours!<br/>We also really loved the BBH. It does have a bit of a westernised kick to it. <br/><br/>We disliked 😖<br/>The BBH, although it wasn’t too spicy, was loaded with chilli flakes which made drinking the soup hard.
Food4life
Poor quality food, saw how they handled the food unhygienically at the kitchen with bear hands and I was picking up dropped food, and misleading advertising on specials. Stated clearly item was available but staff provided a very poor excuse to charge full price. Beware and check with them prior to order!
Jess
Didn’t like the managers attitude at all, she’s rude, was cashing up at the register early whilst people were still inside eating. I walked in and kindly asked for plastic take away cutlery and she wanted to charge me for it. I stood there shocked and just said ok how much and she was deciding whether to charge me 10 or 20 cents. I walked out and will never return . The cutlery was actually for my pregnant friend.
Priscillia
The pho actually was pretty good. Ordered a Vietnamese coffee martini for the drink, but that was a little bit too sweet for me. The service was good. All of us were happy with our meal
Joanne | Melbournecitay
I’m always on the lookout for a cheap and good lunch in the cbd area, and banoi is one of the places that delivers this. Sure, the bbq pork bahn mi is not the best in Melbourne - there’s a bit too much hoisin sauce. The pork meat itself was quite tender though and the bread is crispy and fluffy. The price point is also good at $5.50. Would def be back!
MissBollywood4eva
Excellent food. Love the fast & friendly service aswell. Very chilled out and classy place. Has a creative menu with dishes that aren't usually available in Vietnamese restaurants. Must visit for anyone who loves to try new dishes.
Leila
Cute little Vietnamese joint tucked inside little Bourke. Staff were very accommodating of my preferences. I had the spicy pork and beef noodle soup, udon substituted with rice noodles instead. Really lovely, fragrant flavors that warmed me right up.
Kotix
Had a very average experience today, unfortunately, which is a pity because their food is pretty good.<br/><br/>Was waiting for 35 mins for our order, had to get people's attention multiple times for the status. Eventually someone comes over to tell us that "the system is broken" and that there will be a further wait. Couldn't have told us this earlier? This is an office area and you can't expect people to wait an hour for a Pho...
Nay Nay
The concept of this place has hit nail on the head. Banoi is well styled and the menu is great. This Vietnamese place has some style. Amazing happy hour deals brought us here with $4 beers and $6 dishes. The food was well made and full of flavour
Mustard
Another Vietnamese restaurant in the CBD to gamble on, what better way to get a taste of a restaurant than to get one of their lunch sets. Although it seems like a great deal, on paper it's kind of expensive compared to you suburban haunts.<br/><br/>Firstly the Vietnamese iced coffee, my friend got his black coffee in a drip whereas mine came already premade. It was decent, not as strong or smooth as what I'm used to and it was sweeter than normal.<br/><br/>On the platter I got half a banh mi thit, the major let down was the baguette which wasn't crusty nor had any bounce. I had to also look inside wondering if there was any pate, it was very subtle. Basic and uninspiring.<br/><br/>The bowl of pho came in a cup and was difficult to eat and see what was in there. While digging though there wasn't much noodles, the meat on the other hand was decent and I enjoyed the brisket (1 piece). Broth was overly salty, luckily I did not get a full sized one as I was not able to stomach my own portion. On the other hand this is not the way pho is supposed to be enjoyed, a full bowl is required.<br/><br/>The saving grace was the imperial spring rolls which had a crispy exterior paired with sweet chilli, I would have preferred nuoc mam however. You can't beat fish sauce.<br/><br/>You'd expect something more homely from a place called Banoi (grandma) but can't say I enjoyed her cooking. Best get auntie to cook.<br/>
Food Junkie
Early dinner before attending a show. Beautifully decorated Vietnamese restaurant with a modern twist and licenced.<br/>We ordered some small dishes and a main to share. The food served quickly by a really sweet waitress. The bun with fried chicken is delicious! The rice and grilled pork is nice but nothing special. It wasn’t that busy when we were there so it’s really nice to be able sit and chit chat. If it weren’t for the show we’re going to we would probably stayed longer. I would come back again.
Alijargalb
Walked past this place and decided to check it out. The food was quite good and had very good flavour. The noodles were the stand out. Love the tangy and sweet spicy flavour to it.
Greg Stan
Love coming here on my lunch breaks, awesome food with a great vibe and a very reasonable price. Wagyu beef salad and Vietnamese iced coffee are 👌👌👌
Flying Forward
Points for: the banh cuon<br/><br/> Having recently returned from a trip to northern Vietnam, I was eager to get right back into it through the cuisine.<br/>* Imperial spring rolls - wrapped in rice vermicelli sheets and deep fried, these have good texture and crunch. Not sure about the pairing with sweet chilli sauce, it feels quite western.<br/>* BBQ pork patty skewers - not the same bbq pork you're thinking of, this is like a curated pork paste and ends up sweet and garlicky.<br/>* Banh Cuon - not common in Melbourne, but it's a delicious plate when done right. The rice sheets are steamed and soft, and encases a pork and woodear mushroom mix. Served with a light sweet fish sauce, it hit the spot for me.<br/>* Spicy beef and pork noodle soup (bun bo hue) was a clean beef stock which is hit with lemongrass and chilli. It's flavoursome and one of the other Vietnamese favourites aside from pho. <br/>In terms of satisfying my crave for Northern Vietnamese cuisine, it was a bit of hit and miss for me. I could have gone with Hoi An noodles, but the cold night needed that BBH goodness.<br/>As a modern Vietnamese eatery with cocktails and drinks, it does pretty well, but the location is a bit far off from central CBD.
Andrew Shelton
You want good pho? You’ll find it here. Sure, there’s probably somewhere with more “authentic” pho (yawn) but Banoi does it very well. Large steaming bowls and an abundance of fresh herbs. The spring rolls are piping hot and most excellent. There’s good reason Banoi is always packed at lunchtime.
Marcel S.
Had a pork belly bun and beef pho. The bun was really nice, properly seasoned and with a great texture. The pho was good enough, but I wouldn’t go there just for that dish. My standards are quite high for pho... so don’t take my palate for it.
Eat And Be Merry Crew
I’m pretty pleased to have Banoi right behind work. I’m loving their recently updated menu. There’s the healthy tasty options and then there’s the deliciously decadent comfort food in case it’s been one of those day where only fried chicken can make it better.<br/> They’ve recently introduced maple sriracha chicken ribs - they are a sticky, slightly spicy mouthful of happiness. The chicken pho rolls had a lovely texture. The steamed rice skin was beautifully textured - soft and lush, with a gorgeous soy, chilli and lime sauce that legatee the dish from bland to delightful!
Chey_ct
I'm a bit torn about this place. I like the set-up; indoor/outdoor feel with tables and chairs both indoors and outdoors or in-between. I like the funky stuff they have on the walls. I love the fact that the food is very well presented and the portions are big. However, I have spent a month and a half in Vietnam and I thought the rice pancakes were very bland. Even the pork was flavourless. The spring rolls were delicious though and the bun bo hue was better but again, I think it needed the flavours to stand out more. Saying that, the dishes did taste fresh and healthy.
Salil
Banoi seem to have a rustic look at the restaurant and barfront. The staff are courteous and food service is not slow.. The Pho is also pretty good. But the best part in my visit was the dessert- fried banana in Ice cream. Loved it.
Smita Acharya
We went here during their inaugural promotion. This was at their little Bourke outlet. We ordered their chicken pho and I'm not kidding when I say that's the best I've had yet.<br/>We had fried bananas for dessert. I don't see it on their menu here. But it was so good. I think we have to go back someday soon.<br/>The staff were friendly and the service was good too.
Tinmans Treats
Had low(er) expectations but two things were impressive. 1) A price point for traditional banh mi thit (pork roll) that almost rivals Richmond and Footscray ($5.50) - which tasted pretty good. 2) their 'pho rolls', pho noodle rolls with pho meat filling, with a broth flavoured dipping sauce. It was quite clever. I'm not sure if I would actually eat these again, I prefer pho, but I give it points for originality. <br/><br/>It does a good trade for takeaway on a weekday, the lawyers need their carbs! Best banh mi i've had in the city so far. I'll be back.
Sanj Tanya
My friend and I came here for lunch and I got the mushroom pho. It’s a great serving size, had lots is veggies and the broth was delicious. I just feel the price is a little high for pho, but I would go back since it’s so near by and tastes great!
Juhi- Culture And Cuisine
Extremely over rated.<br/><br/>Wasn’t a fan of the food. Ordered a Tofu Bahn Mi and it was very bland. <br/><br/>The wait for insane and wasn’t really worth it. <br/><br/>Well priced tho 👍🏼
Nicklefoodreviews
Hi there ladies and gentlemen, a few days ago I was feeling extremely hungry to the point where I felt like I could have eaten an entire skyscraper, however I resisted the temptation as I was looking for something a little more 'palatable'. That's where I came across Banoi. Now I didn't do any research on this place. Didn't check any reviews. But what I did know is that they sold my favourite sandwiches of all the time - the super simple AND delicious Bahn Mi. I'll start off with the service. The lady asked me how my day was but her facial expression told me that she wasn't interested. I got the 'Grilled Garlic & Soy Chicken' Bahn Mi which was $5.50. Price was appropriate considering the portion and taste. If it was $6 or more it'd be hard to justify unless they did something special, like cover it in gold. The bread was crisp af which is always a good thing (imo crisp or crunchy bread is the best). The filling was very fresh, however the coriander didn't have that distinct 'coriander' taste that I usually associate with it. Maybe it isn't coriander season this time of the year? Everything else like the carrot and what not were top of the line, the carrot especially had that nice 'pickled' flavour. And they also threw in some fried onion flakes which I thought was a nice touch. Some sort of 'mayo'-like sauce was used, the only distinctive difference between actual mayo is that this one was subtle in taste. And lastly the chicken was not bad, which is good by definition. However, I didn't notice any 'garlic' or 'soy' flavours popping off. Tasted just like a regular roast chicken to me. After all being said, can I recommend Banoi? For the Bahn Mi, absolutely. I don't think you can go wrong with their sandwiches. I'd say check it out if you've never had a Bahn Mi sandwich before, or if you need a Bahn Mi fix, or if you're like me and you're hungry 24/7.
Lizzie Eats Melbourne
DROPPED to a 3 because of poor service <br/><br/>😱Lizzie’s first impression: I have been to Banoi quite a few times and have experienced both eat in and take away - both just as quick service. <br/><br/>🍩Lizzie enjoyed: The Vietnamese vermicelli salad is a winner here and gets me every time. The banh mi is also very yummy and affordable. The coconut crush is delicious and sweet enough for my liking. I love the idea of the takeaway stand for the banh mi so you’re not expected to wait in line for a long time. <br/><br/>🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: It is a great place for a quick lunch but don’t expect full table service. I came here again and I could easily say the staff are very nasty and not welcoming at all. Really didn’t like that they were rude and not attentive. <br/><br/>🥇Lizzie rates overall: I love a good Vietnamese place and especially so close to work - this place has it all.
Sivashankar Sivam
Grabbed the sliced beef pho and the pork belly taco on this visit, unfortunately this place failed to impress. <br/><br/>When I walked in it felt like I was gonna have a great time but...<br/><br/>The prices aren’t competitive enough for the quality of food served and for a place with such a great fit out, service was found wanting. Waited for 10mins to be served when there were only 4 other customers. Had to get up from my seat to order at the bar, to which I received a half hearted apology for name’s sake.<br/><br/>The waitress didn’t bother smiling and seemed to have an off day. What’s the point of such a great fit if food and especially the service is abysmal?<br/><br/>With hundreds of restaurants nestled in the same vicinity, it makes me wonder if they are even trying, given that it’s really competitive around the area. I wish they get their game sorted out.<br/><br/>
"JT" Jeffrie Trika
A bit loud but can be quite promising ...<br/><br/>If you are here for a conversation with your fellow diner, forget it ... dining alone, is good, no need to converse as the place is so loud, not enough sound absorption., funky venue though.<br/><br/>Food wise ... we've ordered a few to share, best way to enjoy this vietnamese inspired restaurant, not as authentic but can be quite promising. JT-09/01/2018
Simmyeats.Melb
Ordered via Uber Eats, it was frustrating that the delivery time kept changing and also the wait time was very long.  I understand we ordered at lunch time but almost an hour is quite a long time. <br/><br/>I ordered the beef vermicelli which was nice but not outstanding as I felt the meat was tough. The lemongrass and satay sauce was really nice and the addition of spring rolls were a real treat. <br/><br/>Not sure if I would order from here again, perhaps dining in is a better option.
K K
I love the food here. I normally get the takeaway banh mi with roast pork. The coconut red bean smoothie is delicious and refreshing for a hot day. Pho is good too
Marcella
decided to try Banoi from leaflet in my letterbox..ive eaten a lot of rice paper rolls in my life and these were bland and boring rice paper rolls. the rolls seemed to contain mostly vermicelli noodle and iceberg lettuce and some deep fried dry and chewy prawn..needs more@ herbs and even some shredded carrot...bland bland bland... not worth going back...should have listened ..ordered Chicken pho..look how oily the broth is! (see pics) waiter told me it's always like this...okay well why does the pho at Homi noodles not have the same oily broth?..I personally thought I was too oily and would not order again due to this.
ChiPs
Food is ok, had rice paper rolls and beef salad. Service was extremely slow (20+ minute wait) despite there being only two other customers inside. Wouldn't come again, plenty of other good Vietnamese around.
Lachlan Mos
The dish was sososo cute. Hahaha, it looks like a small dear fattie. The meat tastes so good as well. Always love this little kind of stuff. Gonna go there again
Don'tMessWithMyFood
I’ve been a customer of Banoi for over a year and they’ve recently had a whole new expansion to their menu. <br/>The CBD branch has a similar menu to Banoi in Docklands however, a different ambience. <br/><br/>I’m still sorely disappointed that the vermicelli noodle salad with soft shell crab has been removed from the menu and has not made it back with the many other additions to the menu. This was by far my favourite dish, (beautifully made soft shell crab, spicy chilli sauce, spring rolls) ☹️<br/><br/>Nevertheless, the grilled chicken or chicken curry options have kept me happy so far. <br/>Tried their newer additions recently - the dry combination noodles with soy glazed pork has a sweet taste to it but was well made. <br/>Coconut/red bean Smoothie was amazing! <br/>Service here was warm and attentive. <br/>Recommend 👍🏼<br/>
Phuong Diep
Banoi has amazing food! A cross between traditional and modern Vietnamese food. Atmosphere is great, I always go to the CBD location and despite how busy it can get sometimes, the service is always so friendly and efficient! Their happy hour has amazing deals as well!
Oodreiilittlepotato
1. Grilled chicken banhmi! I think the banmhi was mean to be eaten cold,, but since i have it for take away i reheat the banhmi in the oven. Not a big fan or coriander tho..... however the grilled chicken taste really goooodd<br/><br/>2. Fried tofu banh mi~👌🏻🌸
Y S
By chance Inwent here and I was very surprised. <br/>Excellent value for quality product.<br/>Fresh bread, fresh ingredients. Definitely go here for a cheap tasty lunch.<br/>
Justin B
I visited Banoi because the menu is clearly marked gluten free, which is a requirement for me. Luckily we double checked that everything we had ordered was in fact gluten free, because not only were we told that everything there could contain traces of gluten, but one particular item we picked (marked GF) is now cooked with wheat flour. No effort had been made to update the menu to reflect this. This kind of laziness and negligence gets people sick. We cancelled our order and left.
Picky Glutton
Banoi was my first attempt at Vietnamese cuisine and experience was palatable. We went with spring rolls and chicken ribs for nibbles which were amazing. For the mains we opted for grilled chicken with rice, chicken was juicy and full of flavour. Servers were courteous and visited every table often yo check if all was ok. Ambience is warm and welcoming. Overall a good place to have a quite dinner with family ad friends.
Got_2_lunch
Not bad, not amazing. Vietnamese would have to be my favourite asian cuisine so I'm happy to see a slight serge of viet eateries popping up in the CBD and surrounds. Unfortunately as with most 'trendy' foods, the authenticity is somewhat lost while the portion sizes decrease and the price goes up.<br/><br/>Came with work friends for lunch and knowing it would be busy had booked a table. No booking was recorded (even though I had a confirmation email and all). Was told we could wait 15 minutes for a table to free up, but we ended up settling on the curbside seats to get things moving. Small heater was turned on but it was still pretty cold and windy. <br/><br/>From here service was pretty great! fast, efficient and they even threw in some spring rolls on the house for the missing booking! Different bowls of soup in my group all looked generous and delicious. My bao where pretty much as expected, could have had some more generous pickles or greens perhaps but pretty tasty!<br/><br/>A little out of my way but may come back to try some other dishes and get a more rounded overview :)
Erwin Ng
Just noticed the rating which is lower than what I thought and wonder if there has been a change in management because the staff were amazing.<br/><br/>Great place to go for good food and drinks to chill after a long day at work!
Jel_J_Chriee
Nice food, <br/>Had rice rolled with pork minced inside. It comes with donut and pork loaf on top. Very delicious! <br/>But soft shell crab bun isnt much to recommend. Meat is very small, sauce was so so and no veggie...<br/>Overall, food is pretty good. The staff is friendly. Will surely go back and try other menu.
@twogoodtoresist
Last night we were treated to a Vietnamese voyage at Banoi. We love the relaxed vibe of banoi that simultaneously serves amazing food at great prices. We opted for the banquet which catered extremely well to vegetarians and boy were we treated to a Tofu feast though for those who eat meat then banquet is seriously incredible and such value for money. What we love about banois menu is that every dish has a mouthwatering pork/meat/seafood option. Though it's tough to choose, the taco bao stood out to us as one of the best dishes, as did the tofu curry which was truly exceptional and flavoured to perfection! We also loved the Vietnamese omelette which was super crispy contrasted with silken tofu and sautéed greens. Make sure if ordering the banquet you go super hungry as they are extremely generous in portion and dishes! The banana dumplings served with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce were a perfectly sweet and unique ending to a great meal!
Antonia
A great spot for traditional Vietnamese food and really friendly staff. Their menu is quite extensive and everything we had was really tasty and authentic. Would definitely go back!!
The Dear Luncher
When you google the word Banoi you expect you might uncover some small Vietnamese town and learn about the place and how it came to be that a restaurant in Melbourne took that name. Sadly no such page exists and so you just have to pretend it's named after a small town near Hanoi. Anyway, enough preamble, just use your imagination. This place is set up extremely well, lots of different seating options. Friendly staff immediately greet you and ensure from the get-go that you are familiar with their ordering system. This system involves marking down a number on a pad that correlates with items on the menu. The menu seems pretty pan-Asian. Lots of non-Vietnamese dishes.<br/><br/>As is always the way when trying out new dishes, The Dear Luncher tries to go for a few items where possible. So a pork bun, some sriracha chicken ribs and the wagyu (rare) beef salad were the selections made. The menu really is quite expansive, choices were difficult to make. <br/><br/>The pork bun was elite. One of the best ever experienced. The ribs were a little disappointing on the taste side. They looked great but there was just something NQR with the taste. Perhaps this is down to taste. The salad was good. Not great – just good. It just lacked a bit of pizazz. The beef did not seem to be of the standard Your Dear Luncher was hoping for. The Dear Luncher is also not that enthusiastic about fish/oyster sauce in a beef type salad. It was not listed as an ingredient, but there was a definite hint of fishiness in the dressing. The sesame rice crackers were a nice touch though. <br/><br/>All in all, quite the positive experience and the aforementioned range of menu options lends itself to the idea of returning one day.
Ashleigh7713
Ducked in for a quick bite and a beer before a show.<br/>Funky vibe in the place and staff were really nice and attentive.<br/>Didn't eat much but enjoyed what we had, the salt and pepper chicken ribs were so, so, so good. <br/>Tried the tofu rice paper rolls, they were play, pretty bland though and not much sauce.<br/>Couldn't try any other flavours as they had ran out.<br/>Also tried to spring rolls, vegetarian ones - good flavour and crunchy.<br/>Would be interested to go back and try more from the menu.<br/>All up $45 for two people, two drinks and three snacks.
Georgia Marett
I had the bun bo hue on the recommendation of the waitress and was not disappointed! Didn't really get the lemongrass and pineapple flavours that were described on the menu but it was really nice. Everyone else's dishes looked really nice as well. On a Friday lunch time we got there at 12 and had a booking so we were fine but a line quickly grew out the door.
Theculinarytale | IG: @theculinarytale
Came here for the first time. I love the interior decor.<br/>Ordered Banoi Lunch Set A. Got beef pho, pork banh mi, prawn and crab spring rolls with sweet chilli, and Vietnamese iced coffee.<br/>Overall tastes okay. From all food that I got, my fave one is the spring rolls.
Gee
So it wasn't bad but it was by no means amazing. Had the prawn bites and a few bao to begin and then the bun bo hue noodle soup and a beef curry.
KnowingMelbourne
This is another CBD eatery and is perfect for lunch. The lunch special offers great value & leaves you feeling full. It includes a cup of pho, half a Bahn mi, spring rolls and a drink for only $15! Everything is delicious from the soups, won tons, curries & bahn mi. My personal favourite is the won ton soup. A huge bowl of soup with succulent won tons cooked to perfection. Can be a little busy at lunch, but that's what you get for being good and popular.
Sean Slabbert
Really good first experience of Vietnamese food. The spring rolls were spectacular and the pork belly tacos, delightful. Friendly service and a good vibe for lunch.
Donutsam
Banoi is a Vietnamese restaurant right in the heart of corporate CBD focusing on the lunch crowd. I went one Friday with a friend from work to try out their Friday special – Crispy pork. Being a big lover of Pork belly i was very excited and definitely not disappointed with the Pork being crispy and well cooked.   The accompanying salad was acceptable and went well with the Pork. My only slight criticism was that the ratio of pork to salad was a bit off for me with more Pork significantly improving the dish in my opinion.  Dishes were reasonably priced based on the food and service and I will definitely be back to try out the rest of the menu.
Lakmonsta
This is your usual "fill out a form" type eatery. Nobody really likes completing applications for food. Having said that, the humans are friendly and once your submit your application, you get the yummy stuff pretty quickly. It was rather yum so worth the paperwork.
Daniel Gawronski
Waited 15 minutes for the Beef Pho to arrive. When it came it had a white piece of plastic floating around in it. Be careful when tucking into your Pho!
Keeely
Decided to try the $15 combo which consisted of half a fob roll, cup of pho, iced coffee and 3 spring rolls. I quite enjoyed the spring roll as it was different to most places and had a good crunch to it. Not the best fob roll I've had but overall was a nice combo.
Maddie Kingham
I love Banoi, and have been many times- to both the CBD venue and the docklands venue! The food is always delicious, generous portions, reasonably priced and friendly staff- you can't go wrong!
Northern Hunter
Love the quick takeaway window where you can get a quick lunch. The service is fast and efficient. The food isn't the best Vietnamese you can get but it certainly packs a punch. It is good for an affordable lunch either with colleagues or on your own
The Hangry Hippo
Went in store and they need to learn what customer service is. They also need to sort out their technical issues if they want regular customers coming back.
Lanna Nguyen
After a long, hard-working morning, my colleagues and I decided to order some lunch via Uber eats. <br/>After an hour of waiting, we were sorely disappointed to find that 5 out of 11 dishes were missing. <br/>We then promptly called the restaurant who directed us to Uber eats who then proceeded to go into a lengthy process of refunding our money and advising us to order from the app again. Most of my colleagues decided to order elsewhere however I thought I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and ordered two servings of prawn spring rolls. Now, after another hour of waiting way past my lunch hour, I was again shocked to find a poor excuse of what they refer to as spring rolls. <br/>Overall, not only did they get our order wrong, they were hardly apologetic and could not even manage to provide mediocre service that would've been expected. Would not recommend to other patrons and would highly advise against ever ordering from here again.<br/>If i had the option of leaving a 0/10 rating I most definitely would. Please see the attached photos for further reference of what the restaurant claims to be prawn spring rolls.
Amelia Polim
First timer for Banoi, ordered through Ubereats. How should I say this in a nicer way? I will do my best. Our order came, however there were missing items. Not 1 or 2, but 5 items were missing. Called the store and hoping to get them delivered to us again, but uber said we will be refunded and had to order one through again. Fine. <br/><br/>Gave 2nd chance, ordered 2x prawn spring rolls now instead of 5 items because my friends wouldn't order anything more from Banoi, we have been waiting for almost an hour now. The delivery is only to South Melbourne from the Melbourne CBD. <br/><br/>Really not happy with the service at all. Where is the quality control and service control? I don't understand. Hope the food is here soon.
Jesskaar
My new favourite Friday lunch food destination. Banoi do crispy pork Fridays, which is pretty self-explanatory. I always order the crispy pork cau lau, which is pretty much cold udon noodles dressed in a savoury-sweet sauce and topped with fresh herbs, veges, crispy wonton wrapper things, and, of course, crispy pork! Ugh, it's disgustingly moreish. Opt for the custard apple smoothie for an extra treat!
Brungiel
Pretty happy with this place nearby the office for a lunch option: Friday's they have a crispy pork banh mi and an OJ for $10. The pork in the roll could have been crispier, but it was still pretty tasty nonetheless.
Timinmelbourne
I went here today when looking for another place to be honest. But this place looked good so and being time limited I thought I'd give it a go and get take away. <br/><br/>I'm glad I did, I brought 3 rice paper rolls which were all delicious. I had the chicken, soft shell crab and the pork belly but there was a lot of rice noodles in each one and not much meat. <br/><br/>I tried 3 different sauces, the sweet chilli, the peanut sauce yummmm haha and the home made BBQ sauce. Mnnn that didn't taste too good. <br/><br/>It was really good overall and I'm going back. <br/><br/>
Tracey @ NoWongFood
During the busy office lunch hour, we were able to score a table of 5. It was extremely busy, so advice is to arrive at a not so popular time to get comfortable seating indoors in icy winter!<br/><br/>Seating and atmosphere are both urban/modern.<br/><br/>The five of us all ordered the $15 set meal which had half a banh mi, small bowl of pho, 3 spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce dipping and it comes with a Kum Quat lemonade or Iced Coffee. My friend says vietnamese iced coffee is really nice because they use condensed milk. For those sweet lovers, try it! Whereas i had the Kum Quat lemonade, it was reasonably flavoured, I felt like it was a pre-mixed drink plus a couple of slices of orange (?).<br/>I don't think the $15 set meal is available in zomato's menu currently uploaded.. so it could be a limited time.<br/><br/>The best were those 3 spring rolls, they are so crispy and light that you know it's been deep fried with not very old oil! a like there. Pho was very nice, similar to the traditional pho, unfortunately, you don't get to pick the type of pho (it's the standard beef pho). the soup base was slightly oily for my liking, but quite good in flavour. As for Banh Mi, although it had the flavours + ingredients, the pork meat felt like it had a bit of ham to it - not the traditional Banh Mi that I get from Springvale or any other traditional vietnamese places. One thing to add is that they put the soya sauce on the baguette first and then the pork & pate etc. This made the Banh Mi very salty, as it soaks the bread :( ... it just got too salty as I got to the end.<br/><br/>Service was just right! they were so quick with the drinks & food came out right after the drinks.. wonderful for 1 hr lunch breakers. Very nice waiters - my friend accidentally knocked her Banh Mi (her fault) but the waiter was happy to make her another one! <br/><br/>Would recommend a visit.
CLABEL
Tried this place for lunch as it is nearby and heard it was good vietnamese fushion kidda food. I guess the food was alright, we got the chickem vermicelli salad and the lunch special for $15 where you got half pork bahn mi, 1 cup of pho, 3 springrolls and a drink (kumquat or iced coffee).<br/><br/>The chicken bùn was alright, it's different from the usual one I eat as the sauce was not fish sauce. The chicken was not bad but the portion was just too small.<br/><br/>The lunch special was a pretty good deal but again I wasn't completely satisfied with it (in terms of the portion size). The pho soup was refreshing and a heart-warming dish. The pork roll was also nice but the springrolls were the most fave one. The skin was so crunchy and delicate, love it.<br/><br/>The place has a cool, modern and loud environment. However some of the staff did not really showing love and care to the customer. They didn't smile, said thank you or even not confirming the order (just took the paper order and left). Hope they can improve the customer service and increase the portion size.
Josh C
So happy they're in the city now!!<br/><br/>The fit out is very cool and has that same funky vibe as the Docklands one. <br/>The wall art is wacky and the ceiling tracks make you think a train will come rolling through.<br/><br/>Food was just as good if not better than Docklands! Tried their steamed rice pancake (banh cuon) and Salt & Pepper chicken ribs. Both were on point!<br/><br/>Food didn't take long and staff were friendly as always.
Our Foodie Finds
Pouring rain on a Thursday night after a late finish, what better than bowl of Pho to warm the soul and a glass of coconut juice to sweeten your experience.<br/><br/>Banoi Little Bourke is tucked away behind Goldsborough Lane in the centre of the Law and Insurance hub of Melbourne. Sister to Banoi Docklands, it brings the same feel in terms of decor and set up but is lacking in the same "grandmother" authenticity that the Docklands branch has. Maybe it's the broth in the Pho which is just missing that something that makes everything all better? Didn't mind that there also wasn't any offal or tendon but that broth...needs work! Can't help but compare and say Docklands tastes a lot better. Other than that though, it wasn't bad.<br/><br/>Staff are welcoming and polite. Very helpful and attentive.<br/><br/>Parking 🅿 right in front of the shop was convenient but there were other secured parking spots available just a few steps away.<br/><br/>Not bad overall and wasn't disappointed. It's close to the Mrs. head office so will probably visit again. Till next time, this is Our Foodie Find!
Faye
Banoi is our regular go-to work lunch place to satisfy our Vietnamese food craving. We tend to go for the $15 lunch special which includes a cup of pho, spring rolls, half a banh mi and iced coffee or lemonade. We've never had a bad experience. Gets quite busy after 12 so I suggest rocking up earlier to get a table if dining in.
The Hungry Moustache
[LUNCH CRAWL] As the seasons change and the air feels just that bit fresher, Melbourne is slowly but gradually enveloped by the Autumn air. When the brisk coldness hits you through to the bone, I can’t think of anything better than hot pot or hot soup to warm your soul. Since, I haven’t found a hot pot place that I can devour during a lunch break comfortably, we settled for noodles!
My Babes And I
My babes and I were in the city just after lunchtime on Thursday as I was killing time before my sports doctors appointment at AAMI Park later in the afternoon. We were driving around the CBD looking for somewhere to eat when I got the urge to have some Viet food so I drove us to Banoi on Little Bourke Street. <br/>Even though we've been to this Banoi about a month ago, I've always wanted to try some things on their menu that you can only get on weekdays. I ordered the Lunchtime Special and my babes ordered a Fried Salt & Pepper Chicken Ribs. Last month, when we last visited on a weekend, I ordered the Grilled Lemongrass Pork Loin, my babes sister ordered the Vietnamese Crispy Pancake, my babes ordered the Slow Cooked Pork Belly and we shared a serve of Sugarcane Prawn Sticks.<br/>My babes dish was served first. The perfectly cooked Fried Salt & Pepper Chicken Ribs, which was topped with fried capsicum and onions, also included some rice and a whole lot of lettuce. My babes didn't like the capsicum and onion topping but she loved the chicken ribs and so did I! The rice was plain though and the lettuce was a bit much.<br/>A few minutes later, my Lunchtime Special was served. My meal consisted of half a Vietnamese pork roll (Banh Mi Thit), a cup of rice noodle soup with beef (Pho Bo), three netted vermicelli seafood spring rolls (Cha Gio Re) and a Vietnamese coffee (Ca Phe Sua Da). I loved every element of my meal! The pork meat loaf and salad in the pork roll was traditionally made but the roll itself was a lot harder than I prefer, the beef pho was as good as I've had in the best Viet restaurants in Footscray, the Spring rolls were crunchy with a delicious seafood filling and the Vietnamese coffee was strong and satisfying! For $15, I'd definitely have this meal again for my lunch as it's delicious and great value for money!<br/>The last time we visited, we found every dish very flavourful and surprisingly close to traditionally made with only a few variants. It surprised me as I was expecting an Asian fusion meal rather than true traditional Vietnamese cuisine. There hasn't been a dish here that we haven't enjoyed and I would definitely recommend anyone searching for Viet food in the city to try Banoi on Little Bourke Street.
GaryZ
Great place - I'm a regular during workday lunch. In summer time or on warmer days I highly recommend their lunch combo with the bread roll pho and spring rolls plus a great drink for only 15-16$. Customer service pretty fair.
Lime N Coconut
Love this place for a quick lunch during the week. Their pork belly vermicelli is very tasty. Full of flavour but doesn't leave you feeling greasy or overstuffed. Would love to come back and try other dishes.
Nameless
Contemporary Vietnam cuisine, fresh and tasty. Great value for the price. Fine Melbourne restaurant. We highly recommend it, definitely be back.
Little.miss
The vibe of modern Vietnamese is evident upon stepping into the door. Looking at the menu, there's a mix of the things we know (pho, broken rice, vermicelli) but with a modern twist. Tried the soft shell crab vermicelli which was spicy but flavoursome. Def good value for money, and good for a different kind of Asian fusion
The New Fave
Melbourne CBD is not a stranger to Vietnamese cuisine.  Indeed, there appears to be a Vietnamese eatery popping up on every corner - so it's safe to say that in order to survive, you better be a good one.  Banoi, in my view, is one which will stick around for awhile. Situated on Little Bourke Street in the Legal District, it's the ideal spot for a mid-week lunch if you're wanting somewhere casual to eat that still serves alcoholic options. The venue itself has a trendy hawker-style feel, and the menu is absolutely drool worthy.
Courtney
The lunch box deal is good value at $15 for a Vietnamese coffee (hot or iced), 3 x mini spring rolls, half a banh mi and a small bowl of Pho. The Pho was ok, however it would have been much better if they had have served it with fresh chilli on the side (as chilli sauce isn't the same). The Banh Mi was tasty however the meat component was more like some meat from the deli section in the supermarket, so again a small change would have made ot better. However i loved the restaurant itself and the wait staff were great and engaging.
Jessica Walker
I love it when a restaurant ticks all the boxes! <br/>Last night I dined in with a group of friends and we all had a great time. The place is casual yet still able to create a relaxed, intimate and fun space. The interior of the restaurant is just plain cool and definitely has that Melbourne vibe to it. The staff were also very attentive and friendly.<br/>We shared various dishes from their extensive menu which all came out well presented and the flavours were beautiful. We all left with a happy belly and will no doubt return again soon.
Jan Uwland
Love Banoi, food is cheap, drinks are awesome, just like when I was in Vietnam last year. I used to have to trek to docklands but now it's in the city! <br/>
Acai Bowls Apple pie Arancini Arroz Negro Baba Ghanoush Bacon Sandwich Bagels Baguette Bak Kut Teh Bangers And Mash Beef Beef Bourguignon Beef Cheeks Bento (Lunch Box) Bibimbap BLT Bolognese Bouillabaisse Burger Burrito Burrito Bowl Cakes Calamares Calamari Cannelloni Cannoli Carbonara Carrot Cake Cassoulet Catfish Caviar Ceviche Cheeseburger Cheesecake Cheesecakes Cheesesteak Chicken And Waffles Chicken Sandwich Chicken Wings Chili Chili Crab Chilli Chicken Chocolate mousse Chowder Churrasco Clam Chowder Clams Club Sandwich Cobb Salad Cod CohenRorts Confit Coq au Vin Corned Beef Couscous Crab Crawfish Creamy garlic chicken Creme Brulee Crepes Croque Madame Croque Monsieur Croquettes Crostini Cupcakes Curry Cuttlefish Dim Sum Donburi (Rice Bowl) Doner Kebab Donuts Duck Duck Confit Dumplings Eclairs Eggplant Eggs Benedict Entrecote Escargot Fajitas Falafel Fattoush Filet Mignon Fish Fish & Chips Fish Soup Fish Taco Focaccia Foie gras Fondue French Fries French onion soup French Toast Fried rice Frozen Yogurt Galettes Garlic Prawns Gelato Green Curry Gyros Halloumi Hamburgers Hanger steak Hot Pot Hummus Ice Cream Italian Beef Japanese Curry Juice & Smoothies Kabobs Kale Salad Kare kare Korean Fried Chicken Kung Pao Chicken Laksa Lamb chops Lamb Shoulder Lasagne Lechon Lemon tart Lobster Lobster Roll Mac and cheese Macarons Macaroons Mandarin Duck Meatballs Meatloaf Meringue Minestrone Mortadella Moussaka Mushroom Croquettes Mussels Nachos Noodle Octopus Okonomiyaki & Takoyaki (Flour Dish) Omelette Osso Buco Oyster Pad Thai Paella Pancakes Paneer anari Pasta Patatas Bravas Peking Duck Pho Polenta Porchetta Pork Loin Pork Roll Porterhouse Steak Poutine Prawn Salad Prawns Pretzel Profiteroles Prosciutto Quail Quenelle Quiche Raclette Ramen Red Curry Reuben sandwich Ribs Rice pudding Risotto Roast Beef Roast Chicken Salad Salmon Saltimbocca Sandwiches Scallops Schnitzel Seafood Paella Seafood Platters Shawarma Shrimp Sirloin Steak Snails Soup Dumplings Souvlaki Steak Frites Steak Sandwich Steak Tartare Suckling Pig Sukiyaki & Shabu Shabu Surf And Turf Swordfish Tacos Tagliatelle Tandoori Chicken Tapas Tarte Tatin Tataki Tempura Tikka Masala Tiramisu Toasts Tonkatsu Torte Tortellini Tortelloni Tortillas Tres Leches Tuna Udon & Soba (Wheat & Buckwheat Noodle) Unagi & Dojo (Eel & Soil) Veggie Burger Waffle Fries Waffles Waffles & Crepes Wild boar Wings Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) Yakitori (Grilled Skewers)
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