Gion Banh Mi and Tea is a cozy, woman-owned Vietnamese sandwich shop in West Seattle’s Admiral neighborhood. Founded by Mi and Tram, the restaurant is known for its crispy baguettes, flavorful fillings, and warm community vibe. In this Q&A, the founders share the story behind their name, their most popular dishes, and how they’re spreading Vietnamese culture one banh mi at a time.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Where are you located?
We’re in West Seattle, on California Avenue in the Admiral neighborhood.
How long have you been operating here? Was it something else before?
We’ve been in business for eight years. It was originally called Oh Sandwiches, but earlier this year we changed the name to Gion Banh Mi and Tea. We wanted the new name to reflect not only the food, banh mi is such an iconic part of Vietnamese cuisine, but also the culture of Vietnamese people.
Tell us about the name.
We came up with “Gion” because in Vietnamese it means crispiness. That crispiness describes what makes banh mi unique, so it felt like the perfect fit for our name.
This is a super tiny space. How does the team and operation work?
It’s a small space, and we wanted to start out small, but we hope to grow in the coming years.
Vietnamese people are known for their warm and welcoming spirit, and we want you to feel that when you come in. If you have questions about Vietnamese culture, we love sharing what we can. That way, if you ever travel to Vietnam, you’ll already have a sense of the culture.
What should people order? What are you known for?
Our most popular sandwich is the grilled pork banh mi. We also have a tofu banh mi that was featured in the Seattle Times last year, which brought a lot of community love. And if you want something more traditional, try the classic with pâté, which is really the soul of banh mi.
I notice you have signature drinks! Is that new or part of the refresh?
We’ve always had drinks, but this year we’re focusing more on specialty teas and Vietnamese coffee. We’re committed to adding more unique drinks and banh mi options. Follow us on Instagram or check our online menu to see what we’re coming out with next.
I love the mural and the sign explaining the elements of a banh mi. For people who don’t know, could you describe what makes one?
It starts with a special baguette that’s crispy on the outside and soft and airy inside. Then comes the mayonnaise and pâté, followed by the protein—pork, tofu, or Vietnamese ham. After that we add our house-made pickles, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeños, and our secret house sauce. The mural also highlights some of Vietnam’s attractions, from Da Nang and Hue to Saigon. We’re both from Saigon, and if you visit, you’ll find those are some of the most beautiful places to enjoy—ideally with a banh mi in hand.
What should people know when they get here?
We’re a small shop with big flavors. A lot of people don’t know what banh mi is or how it’s different from a sandwich, and we want them to come try it here. Gion is woman-owned, and our mission is to share great food, culture, and community. If you’re in West Seattle or even walking along Alki, stop by and let us surprise you with the flavors of banh mi.
Is this your full-time work, or do you do other things outside the shop?
Mi: I’m a behavior analyst and work with kids with autism, which I’m very passionate about. After work I help prepare ingredients for the shop.
Tram: I work for Toast, a POS system for restaurants, which we also use at Gion. Toast helps us manage the shop remotely and makes online ordering easier and faster for our customers.
What inspired you to make these changes earlier this year?
We realized many people who came in had never tried banh mi before. That surprised us and motivated us to spread more awareness of Vietnamese culture through our food and our language. We want people to not only enjoy the flavors but also understand who we are and where this tradition comes from.