Viet Sandwich is your one-stop shop for Asian-inspired sandwiches and snacks in Toronto.
Located in an unassuming strip mall along McNicoll Ave. in Scarborough, Viet Sandwich first opened its doors in December 2025.
The shop occupies a small, clean unit, festooned with flowers and hanging lanterns. Colourful posters, featuring pictures of various menu items, can be found on the western wall.
A long cooler sits beside the takeout counter, filled to the brim with packaged food. Among them are enormous dumplings, tender chicken feet and freshly packed nem chua.
Though owner Hanh Nguyen has always had a passion for home cooking, Viet Sandwich marks her first foray into the realm of restaurant ownership.
Before opening her sandwich shop, Hanh spent twenty-eight years as a nail technician. When asked about her sudden career change, Hanh explained that the decision was motivated by a desire to try something new.
“I have only one life,” Hanh says with a smile. “If I did only one thing, I would have only one story to tell.”
To that end, Hanh has made it her mission to learn as many new skills as possible. In addition to her managerial duties, she also bakes bread, bags takeout orders and cleans tables.
As the restaurant’s name suggests, Vietnamese-style sandwiches are the main draw here. However, Viet Sandwich also serves spring rolls, coffee and a variety of cold desserts.
The shop is especially popular with students, as a result of the large portions and low prices.
Banh mi dac biet ($5.99) is the shop’s most popular sandwich. Made with thinly sliced pork, creamy pate and pickled daikon, then finished with carrots and coriander, this dish is everything that a banh mi should aspire to be.
Banh mi bo nuong ($6.99) combines grilled beef with green onions, mayo and coriander, to similarly pleasing effect.
My favourite sandwich was the banh mi ga nuong ($6.99), which pairs tender grilled chicken with a spectacularly crunchy baguette.
Nem nuong cuon ($5.99) are served in sets of two and consist of pork sausages wrapped in chewy rice paper. Savoury peanut sauce is served on the side, complementing the pork perfectly.
Che ba mau, or “Three Colours” ($4.50), is a popular Vietnamese dessert, assembled from an array of disparate ingredients.
The top layer is made from a combination of shaved ice and condensed milk. Beneath it are layers of pandan jelly, mung beans and sweet red beans, whose distinctive appearance gives the dish its name.
Che Thai, or “Thai Dessert” ($5.50), is a variation on the same recipe, made with jackfruit, lychee and fruit jellies.
Be warned, though: this dessert also contains durian, a fruit whose pungent flavour often overwhelms the unwary.
Viet Sandwich is located at 2181 McNicoll Ave., Unit 4.