Spicy Chicken Banh Mi — Bold Flavors, Healthyish Heat
Marinated lemongrass chicken, house-pickled vegetables, fresh cilantro, sriracha coulis, and spicy jalapeño aioli on house-baked semolina bread.
This sandwich has no business being this good at a place that bakes its own semolina bread — and that's exactly the point. Sandwell's Spicy Chicken Banh Mi starts with tender marinated lemongrass chicken, layered with house-pickled vegetables, fresh cilantro, sriracha coulis, and spicy jalapeño aioli. All on semolina bread we bake in-house and cold-proof for 24+ hours, toasted crusty so it shatters and crunches the way great banh mi bread should. It's our spin on a Vietnamese classic, built with the same scratch-made ethos we bring to every sandwich on the menu.
The layers of flavorful heat are what make the Spicy Chicken Banh Mi special. The sriracha coulis brings upfront brightness, the jalapeño aioli builds that slow jalapeno warmth offset by the natural herby sweetness of basil, and the lemongrass marinade hums through the chicken with citrusy, aromatic depth. Then the house-pickled veggies of daikon, carrot & cucumber — crisp, tangy, snappy — cut right through the spice and reset your palate for the next bite. Fresh cilantro ties it all together. It's spicy, but it's balanced. It hits hard, but it doesn't punish you. One of our most obsessively reordered sandwiches, and it's not hard to understand why.
Our Spicy Chicken Banh Mi started as a limited-time special, as one of founder Andy Gottlieb’s favorite sandwiches that he spent years working on until he was ready to serve at Sandwell. When it came time to take it off the menu for the next special, we received more angry calls and emails than anything we have ever experienced before (or since!). Within a week, we had heard enough: the people had spoken, and the Spicy Chicken Banh Mi was staying.
Whether you're a banh mi lover who's curious, a spice aficianado looking for your next go-to near Central Park or Gramercy, or someone who just wants a sandwich that slaps — the Spicy Chicken Banh Mi is the call. Also available on our multigrain flatbread wrap or gluten-free ciabatta. Order online for pickup or delivery at getsandwell.com/order.
“My new favorite go to sandwich shop. So gooood! I was a little skeptical about the spicy chicken banh mi considering I’m Vietnamese and this being a non Viet restaurant, but they did not disappoint! The pickled veggies are fire! I’ve also tried the mushroom cheesesteak, green goddess chicken Cesar, and now their lunch box special and so far every sandwich has slapped. Also get to flip a coin from 3-6 and get 50% off your meal which I got today! Winning!” - Tran N
“Great new sandwich place, got the spicy chicken bahn mi which was fantastic!” - Christopher G
“Banh mi was delish! Just enough spice” - Kat S
“Insanely tasty sando! I went for the Spicy chicken bahn mi, t’was delicious & very filling! Highly recommend” - Harry K
“Best Sandwich I have had in awhile!!!! They offer a couple dairy free options where i find rare at most Sandwich shops. All Sandwichs are served toasted.... i could smell the yummy from the sidewalk. I got the Bahn Mi and me oh my i will definitely be coming back!” - Jem M
"This sandwich shop on the Upper West Side somehow has the best banh mi in New York City" - Alex L.
"Please more banh mi…it’s my absolute favorite sandwich. I’ve ordered it an absurd number of times this month and I don’t know how I’ll survive without it." - Aurora O.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Spicy Chicken Banh Mi
What's in Sandwell's Spicy Chicken Banh Mi? Sandwell's Spicy Chicken Banh Mi features marinated lemongrass chicken, house-pickled vegetables, fresh cilantro, sriracha coulis, and spicy jalapeño aioli on house-baked semolina bread that's cold-proofed for 24+ hours and toasted crusty.
How spicy is Sandwell's Spicy Chicken Banh Mi? It has real heat but it's well-balanced. The sriracha coulis brings bright, upfront spice, the jalapeño aioli adds slower warmth, and the house-pickled vegetables and cilantro cool things down between bites. It's spicy without being punishing.
Is Sandwell's Spicy Chicken Banh Mi dairy-free? Yes. The Spicy Chicken Banh Mi is fully dairy-free — the jalapeño aioli and sriracha coulis contain no dairy. It's one of several of Sandwell's naturally dairy-free sandwich options.
Where can I order Sandwell's Spicy Chicken Banh Mi in NYC? You can order the Spicy Chicken Banh Mi at either Sandwell location — 412 Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side or 250 3rd Avenue in Gramercy. Order online for pickup or delivery at getsandwell.com/order.
Can I order Sandwell's Spicy Chicken Banh Mi for catering? Yes. The Spicy Chicken Banh Mi is available through Sandwell's catering menu as part of our sandwich box platters. Visit getsandwell.com/cateringdirect to place a catering order.
Sandwell serves up the best Spicy Chicken Banh Mi in New York City
A local favorite near the Upper West Side, Central Park, American Museum of Natural History, Gramercy Park, Union Square, Madison Square Park, Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village, East Village, Murray Hill, Kips Bay, Flatiron, NoMad, Stuyvesant Square, Baruch College, Empire State Building, Bellevue, NYU Langone, and New York University. Popular with New Yorkers and international visitors alike — freshly made, satisfying, and rooted in New York food culture.