The Bun Mee Journey

Since Denise Tran’s first flash of inspiration over 15  years ago, Bun Mee has become a beloved San Francisco destination for gourmet banh mi sandwiches and beyond, and we’re still just getting started

2008

On a trip to Vietnam, Denise is inspired by the street food culture of her homeland

2009

While eating at an Italian porchetta sandwich at a shop in the Village in New York, the idea for Bun Mee is born

2011

The first Bun Mee opens in the Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco to immediate lines out the door

2012

Bun Mee first debuts at Outside Lands Music Festival, leaving foodies wanting more

2013

Named #28 on Fast Casual Magazine’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers in America

2014

Bun Mee opens a location in San Francisco’s thriving downtown Financial District to meet the demands for office catering

2015

Bun Mee is featured on Travel Channel's "Food Paradise" show on great sandwiches in the country

2017

Bun Mee spreads its wings and becomes the first Vietnamese fast casual restaurant at SFO, Terminal 3 with original mural artwork of Mama Tran by local artist Phillip Hua

2019

Bun Mee opens in SFO’s Harvey Milk, Terminal 1

2022

San Francisco Magazine and Newsweek Magazine name Bun Mee a top restaurant destination at San Francisco Airport

2024

Bun Mee debuts a new franchise program.  Launches a new location in the Marina District of San Francisco

2008

On a trip to Vietnam, Denise is inspired by the street food culture of her homeland

2009

While eating at an Italian porchetta sandwich at a shop in the Village in New York, the idea for Bun Mee is born

2011

The first Bun Mee opens in the Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco to immediate lines out the door

2012

Bun Mee first debuts at Outside Lands Music Festival, leaving foodies wanting more

2013

Named #28 on Fast Casual Magazine’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers in America

2014

Bun Mee opens a location in San Francisco’s thriving downtown Financial District to meet the demands for office catering

2015

Bun Mee is featured on Travel Channel's "Food Paradise" show on great sandwiches in the country

2017

Bun Mee spreads its wings and becomes the first Vietnamese fast casual restaurant at SFO, Terminal 3 with original mural artwork of Mama Tran by local artist Phillip Hua

2019

Bun Mee opens in SFO’s Harvey Milk, Terminal 1

2022

San Francisco Magazine and Newsweek Magazine name Bun Mee a top restaurant destination at San Francisco Airport

2024

Bun Mee debuts a new franchise program.  Launches a new location in the Marina District of San Francisco

Denise and Momma Tran

Banh Mi and Beyond

Bun Mee is a culinary forward gourmet fast casual brand that is offering fresh takes on Vietnamese street food.

Born in San Francisco’s bustling Fillmore District in 2011, our mission remains as true today as it was back then - to make the best darn banh mi sandwich this side of the Mississippi. Incorporated into each dish are the foods and flavors of Vietnam. Our menus include creative takes on the ubiquitous banh mi sandwich, alongside salads, bowls, and rolls. Bun Mee is a fan favorite for busy lunch-goers, travelers, and health-conscious fans of fast-casual fare.

Lines out door at Market Street
Denise and Team

THE SANDWICH YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED

When did a tortilla become a “taco,” pizza become a “slice,” or a frankfurter become a “hot dog"?

Believe it or not, America’s favorite foods were once completely unheard of by most of the country. At Bun Mee, we’re redefining food for Americans tired of the status quo. From day one, Bun Mee has achieved critical acclaim and made it onto prestigious “best eats” lists in the San Francisco area, and we’re not stopping there. We’re on a mission to show America what they’ve been missing when they fall in love with the best (and quite possibly first) banh mi they’ve ever had.

Denise Tran Founder and CEO

Meet Founder & CEO Denise Tran

Like the concept of Bun Mee itself, Denise Tran is a blend of her American upbringing in the suburbs of New Orleans and her Vietnamese roots.  And though food may not have been her initial career choice, its role in her family’s history runs deep, and its influence is a crucial—and delicious—part of why she left a successful career in corporate law to launch Bun Mee Vietnamese Sandwich Eatery.

Fueled by a passion to recreate the delicious flavors and vibrant culture of her youth, Denise embarked on a mission to bring banh mi sandwiches to the forefront of American fast-casual dining.  Influenced by Mama Tran’s recipes, Denise worked to put a unique, modern spin on the food she grew up eating. 

Successful from day one, Bun Mee has been locally and nationally recognized as being innovators in the fast casual restaurant space introducing creative banh mi-inspired sandwiches with a loyal following.  Denise was recognized in 2016 by QSR Magazine as one of the “Wonder Women” changing the fast casual industry in the country. 

Bun Mee is the story of wanderlust and warmth. Our founder Denise Tran, a culinary-curious Vietnamese American, couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to life than her demanding corporate hustle. She had a wild idea to connect Americans to her origins through the vessel of food. After all, there was no good banh mi in her neighborhood so why shouldn’t she give it a go?

Crossing a cultural gap, Denise built a modern Vietnamese eatery that became an overnight sensation, quickly growing to multiple locations throughout Northern California. With a focus on banh mi, the delicious staple of Vietnamese cuisine, Bun Mee creates high-quality, value-oriented meals for on-the-go and fast casual dining. From spring rolls and salads to our playful takes on banh mi (hello, Sloppy Bun!), we’re redefining food for Americans tired of the status quo.

THIS IS WHEN BANH MI BECAME BUN MEE

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