Some of the most incredible partnerships are serendipitous. During Art Basel at Miami Kitchen Incubators, Aidan Friedson, a 22-year-old UM student with a fledgling meal-prep company, crossed paths with Chef Phuoc Vo, executive chef of a catering company working out of the same space. Chef Phuoc had spent over a decade in top kitchens (Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Disneyland) and even competed on Food Network’s Ciao House and Cutthroat Kitchen.
They didn’t know it then but fast forward a few years and that chance encounter would lead to BANH, the Vietnamese café now serving exquisite bánh mìs and bubble tea at Books & Books in Coconut Grove.
After Aidan’s meal prep company shut down, he worked for Chef Phuoc for six months, learning everything he could. Chef Phuoc recognized Aidan’s work ethic and entrepreneurial drive. The two started talking about what came next. Since childhood Chef Phuoc always dreamt of opening a proper bánh mì shop. That had been a childhood dream of his, rooted in the Vietnamese flavors he grew up with – and had been sorely missing since moving from California to Florida.
Filling a Gap in the Grove
Like a lot of UM students, Aidan spent his college years hanging out in Coconut Grove and saw a gap the neighborhood couldn’t ignore. The Grove had eight coffee shops and zero boba spots. Authentic Vietnamese food (bánh mì, phở, bubble tea) was hard to find in South Florida. When Aidan’s uncle, who owns Books & Books, mentioned the café space, the pieces seemed to fall into place. The literary landmark already drew locals and visitors daily. Adding Vietnamese food and bubble tea would fill a gap while complementing the café’s culture-forward identity.
BANH opened in October, and the Grove responded positively immediately. Local high schoolers spread the word. Students told their parents, who came in curious and left the shop believers. The neighborhood’s festivals (Japan Fest, Halloween, Tokyo Fest) brought massive foot traffic. During Japan Fest, they sold out in two hours. “The Coconut Grove BID (Business Improvement District) does a spectacular job with activations,” Aidan said. “Those events bring eyeballs to the Grove and local businesses.”
Precision and Heritage
What sets BANH apart is precision. All meats are sous vide for tenderness, a French that literally means “under vacuum,” which allows for perfect doneness and an incredibly tender texture.
Each sauce is made from scratch using Chef Phuoc’s family recipe. The bread comes from La Provence, but Chef Phuoc worked with their baker to create a special blend specifically for BANH’s sandwiches. It’s a fine dining technique applied to Vietnamese street food.
The Lê Dunk is BANH’s most popular sandwich – and it’s deeply personal. The name comes from Chef Phuoc’s mother’s maiden name. The sandwich features sous vide short rib dipped into a family phở recipe Chef Phuoc has been perfecting his whole life.
Then there’s the wonderful Vietnamese coffee, BANH’s best seller and most viral drink. They use Café du Monde from New Orleans, the same coffee his parents kept stocked after immigrating from Vietnam.
“We’re trying to harness Chef Phuoc’s origin and family recipes,” Aidan said. “The Lê Dunk, the Vietnamese coffee, it’s all rooted in his background.”
The bubble tea menu includes drinks with fun names like Unicorn Moon Milk and Rising Phoenix (hibiscus tea with passion fruit and popping boba). Aidan describes BANH as “artisanal boba,” curating a focused menu rather than offering 1,000 flavor combinations. For first-timers, Aidan recommends the Lê Dunk paired with the Vietnamese coffee. “It’s the perfect intro to BANH,” he said.
Building Community, Looking Ahead
BANH occupies a small 13-by-9 shop inside the café, and it’s already become a destination. A breakfast menu is in the works, featuring breakfast bánh mì and a Vietnamese espresso.
They are also exploring collaborations with other Grove businesses: pop-ups, partnerships, anything that highlights the neighborhood’s food scene. “I want to use bánh mì as a vessel to spotlight what makes the Grove special,” he said.
It’s exactly the kind of community-minded approach the Coconut Grove BID encourages, and BAHN is actively connecting with neighboring businesses to make it happen. They are exploring opening a new location by 2027. But for now, BANH is exactly where it needs to be: inside Books & Books, serving bold Vietnamese flavor to an eager community that’s been waiting for it.
BANH is located at 3409 Main Highway inside Books & Books, Coconut Grove, FL 33133. They are opening Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, visit www.banhlovesyou.com and follow @banhlovesyou on Instagram.
BANH Elevates Vietnamese Street Food in the Grove
BANH Brings Bold Vietnamese Flavor to Grove
A chance encounter during Art Basel’s Miami Kitchen Incubators led to an exciting new culinary addition in Coconut Grove. BANH, a Vietnamese café now open inside Books & Books, pairs Chef Phuoc Vo’s family recipes with founder Aidan Friedson’s entrepreneurial drive. From exquisite bánh mì sandwiches to artisanal bubble tea, this tiny café is already drawing a devoted following in the Grove. Read the full story on the BID website.