Leith Walk is deceptively long. It is also lined with an abundance of enticing places to eat, and if you’re as indecisive as I am, it’s quite frankly impossible to choose which one to end up at. So let me be your guardian angel and recommend The Bami to you.
Now, the fact that I have been in Edinburgh for nearly four years and walked down Leith Walk at least twice a week and not stumbled across this place until December, makes it suitable for the title of a hidden gem to me.
This cosy, 10-person capacity spot is perfect for a casual solo lunch, first date or catch-up with friends for dinner. Their menu is small but effective (and inexpensive), serving summer and spring rolls, banh mi and pho. I am a firm believer that the best places do a few things really well. I have to confess, I haven’t tried their pho (though it does look and smell divine) but regardless, that’s not what I’m here to talk about. The star of the show is literally in their name: the banh mi.
If you are unfamiliar with a banh mi, it’s essentially a Vietnamese baguette cut lengthwise and filled with meat, tofu or veggies. I’m a vegetarian, so get the Grilled Tofu Banh Mi (or Banh Mi Dau Phu), but they also offer pork, beef, chicken or ham fillings for the meat eaters out there. It’s so great since you get a bit of everything in one bite. The baguette is crunchy but soft, packed with fresh veggies, comes in a cute little basket, and tastes incredible!
But don’t just take my word for it. Every time I’ve been, no matter what time of day, it’s always full, and the food always hits the mark. It has also got 4.8 stars on Google reviews. So, I would say the public would agree with me too.
Image by Amelie Dryer for The Student.