It’s easy to miss while stuck in traffic on South Rd but this humble Vietnamese eatery produces some of the best banh mi in town. Watch as your roll is made by the white-toqued owner, with all the usual ingredients plus a final sprinkling of black pepper. The balance is exemplary, with a lovely background tang and chilli handled carefully. 1164a South Rd, Clovelly Park; phone: 08 8276 4596.

“This kitchen is seasoned with love.” The motto embossed on the wall neatly sums up this tiny southern suburbs Vietnamese eatery that has developed a strong following. You can feel some of that love in a banh mi loaded with roast pork that has an extra touch of fragrant spice, pickled carrot, cucumber and smears of pate and mayo. 1/161 Main South Rd, Morphett Vale; facebook.com/littlevietfoodie.

When the production line at Miss Banh Mi hits full throttle, it’s a truly impressive operation. As it needs to be, when the lunch-time rush hits. The roast pork (or combination) roll is a clear favourite, understandable given the huge quantities of meat, pickled veg and other ingredients that are crammed in, making it a substantial meal and terrific value. 5/296 Brighton Rd, North Brighton; missbanhmi.com.au.

It’s the great banh mi conundrum. How do all those fresh chilli slices work their way to the far end of your roll? Banh Mi Thit has the solution, offering a well-balanced chilli relish as an alternative. Along with plenty of crackling, super-fresh rolls and a lovely carrot and daikon pickle, this popular shop doesn’t really put a foot wrong. 2/113 Days Rd, Croydon Park; phone: 08 8340 8555.

Hanson Rd is the the epicentre of quality banh mi in Adelaide and each outlet has its own nuances. Thanh Long has pickled carrot, but not daikon. Nhu Lan goes lighter with pate and mayo. But Cha Phu Xuong has the best of all worlds, with light, crispy rolls, a good lick of mayo and pate, succulent pork, lovely pickle and balanced chilli. 1/56 Hanson Rd, Woodville Gardens; phone: 08 8445 7889.