University Avenue carries the deepest banh mi count in St. Paul, and the smart order is to work the corridor block by block rather than trust one favorite. This list weighs the sandwich itself alongside the pho, spring rolls, and noodle salads that share the counter, since most of these rooms built their name on the whole menu.
№ 01
Trieu Chau Restaurant
St. Paul $
500 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16512226148
Photo via 
On University Avenue, the pho runs clean and clear, built on a broth carrying warm spice rather than heavy fat. The banh mi and spring rolls round out a menu that regulars treat as a default stop among the avenue's many Vietnamese counters. It is a straightforward room, no frills, built for a fast, satisfying bowl and a sandwich to go. St. Paul's University Avenue corridor holds no shortage of competition, and this counter earns its repeat visits.
What to orderpho, banh mi, spring rolls
№ 02
Pho Ca Dao
St. Paul $
439 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16512224615
Photo via
Pho Ca Dao holds a place among University Avenue's Vietnamese counters in St. Paul, where pho and banh mi anchor a corridor with dozens of comparable rooms. The setting stays casual and unfussy, built for a quick bowl or a sandwich rather than a lingering meal. It fits the neighborhood pattern well: modest storefront, direct menu, food that does its one job without theater.
№ 03
Tay Ho
St. Paul $$
302 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16512287216
Photo via
Tay Ho's beef pho and bun bo hue draw steady weekday lunch traffic to this St. Paul strip-mall room, with coffee service that regulars mention alongside the noodle bowls. The banh mi rounds out a menu built for efficient, friendly service rather than ceremony. Easy to miss from the street, it rewards the diner who already knows the block and returns for a dependable bowl.
What to orderbeef pho, bun bo hue, banh mi
№ 04
IndoChin Vietnamese Restaurant
St. Paul $
1702 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105 · +16516902728
Photo via
IndoChin's chicken hotpot and drunken noodles headline a menu deep enough to wander, though many diners land back on the same two dishes. The tofu noodle salad offers a lighter option for lunch. Set up for quick takeout as much as sit-down eating, this St. Paul counter rewards the diner who treats it as a standing lunch option rather than a special occasion.
What to orderchicken hotpot, drunken noodles, tofu noodle salad
Saint Paul $
704 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN, 55104 · +16512258751
Photo via
iPho by Saigon builds its reputation on generous bun bo hue and Pho Tai portions loaded with meat, plus egg rolls that round out a family-style order. Long a St. Paul standby for regulars who return across years, the room keeps prices affordable and service friendly. Wontons and full-topping pho bowls make it a dependable choice for feeding a group without overspending.
What to orderPho Tai, Bun Bo Hue, Egg rolls
№ 06
eM Que Viet Restaurant and Bar
St. Paul $$
1332 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105 · +16513304363
Photo via
Cream cheese wontons and veggie egg rolls anchor the shared plates at eM Que Viet, a St. Paul room built for groups moving fast through a casual dinner. Pad Thai rounds out a menu that leans as much Thai-influenced as Vietnamese. Service handles bigger parties, including celebrations, without friction, making this a practical pick when a group needs a table on short notice.
What to ordercream cheese wontons, veggie egg rolls, pad Thai
№ 07
Pho Pasteur
St. Paul $$
694 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · +16517568562
Photo via
Oxtail pho and a strawberry smoothie with tapioca stand out on an extensive menu at this spacious St. Paul room, big enough to seat groups without a wait. Spring rolls and a straightforward steak pho round out the order for diners who want the classic version done reliably. The size of the space and the menu both signal a room built for return visits rather than a single stop.
What to orderpho tai, spring rolls, strawberry smoothie with tapioca
№ 08
Eastside Thai Restaurant
St. Paul $
879 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130 · +16517766599
Photo via
Pad Thai and drunken noodles headline this East Side St. Paul room, where large portions and quick service make it a default weeknight choice for the neighborhood. The catfish curry draws its own following, and street parking near the door keeps the stop convenient. This small storefront blends Thai and Hmong comfort cooking into one casual, dependable menu.
What to orderpad Thai, drunken noodles, catfish curry
№ 09
I Heart Pho
St. Paul $
850 Maryland Ave E, Saint Paul, MN 55106 · +16516003724
Photo via
This strip-mall counter turns out pho and spring rolls quickly, with friendly staff who greet diners right at the door. The banh mi sits closer to the middle of the pack among University Avenue's sandwich options, occasionally needing more seasoning to stand out. Parking runs tight given the small footprint, but the pace and price make it workable for a fast lunch stop in St. Paul.
What to orderpho, banh mi, spring rolls
№ 10
Hoa Bien Restaurant
St. Paul $
1105 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · +16516471011
Photo via
The pho dac biet at Hoa Bien loads in tendon, tripe, brisket, meatballs, and sliced beef, a full-tour bowl that keeps regulars coming back along University Avenue. Banh mi and spring rolls round out the order. Consistent service and a soup that rarely disappoints have made this St. Paul room a steady go-to rather than a one-time stop for area diners.
What to orderpho dac biet, banh mi, spring rolls
№ 11
Vina | Vietnamese Restaurant
St. Paul $$
756 Cleveland Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116 · +16516988408
Photo via
Vina's rice noodle salad comes in portions generous enough to take home half, and the banh mi and pho fill out a menu built for group dinners. Service moves smoothly from greeting to check, a detail that keeps first-time visitors returning. Takeout vegetable sides have drawn complaints, so dining in is the safer route at this St. Paul room.
What to orderrice noodle salad, banh mi, pho
№ 12
China Chef Restaurant
St. Paul $
2240 Highway 36 E, Saint Paul, MN 55109 · +16517779790
Photo via
Despite the name, China Chef's pho draws the loyalty here, a bowl many St. Paul regulars call their default order in the neighborhood. Hot and sour soup and chow mein round out a menu that crosses Chinese and Vietnamese comfort food without confusion. Small and owner-run, the room keeps its cooking consistent visit after visit rather than chasing trends.
What to orderpho, hot and sour soup, chow mein
Frequently asked
What is the best banh mi near me in St. Paul?
It depends on which stretch of University Avenue is closest. Hoa Bien, Tay Ho, and iPho by Saigon all turn out solid banh mi alongside their pho, and each has built a steady following in its own part of St. Paul. Checking the Insider Score for each listing is the fastest way to compare rooms near a specific address. No restaurant on this list paid to be included.
Are these banh mi shops in St. Paul or Minneapolis?
Every restaurant on this list sits in St. Paul, most of them along or near the University Avenue corridor. St. Paul and Minneapolis are separate cities with separate dining identities, and this guide keeps that distinction intact rather than blurring the two.
How is the Insider Score calculated for these restaurants?
The Insider Score reflects the pattern found across the public review record for each restaurant: consistency of the food, service, and value over time. It is not paid placement. No restaurant on this list, or on Top of Minneapolis generally, pays for inclusion or for a higher score.
Is banh mi different from pho at these St. Paul restaurants?
Yes. Banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich on a baguette, typically with pork or another protein, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and chili. Pho is a noodle soup with broth as its center. Most of the restaurants on this list serve both, since University Avenue's Vietnamese kitchens tend to run full menus rather than single-dish counters.
ƒ
The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Kou Thao
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Kou Thao is the St. Paul & Corridors Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born in St. Paul and raised in Frogtown, he grew up working the family egg-roll stand at Hmongtown Marketplace. He covers the marketplaces, University Avenue, the East Side and West Side, and every corridor counter worth the trip across the river.
