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Benh Mi Brings Homemade Sandwiches, Salads, Snacks and Pastries to Miami Beach
Executive Chef Benjamin Murray and Chef-restaurateur Michael Kaplan are pleased to announce the opening of Benh Mi on Friday, June 4, opening its doors to the public in Miami Beach’s famed Española Way neighborhood. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrated Executive Chef Benjamin Murray created Benh Mi, an underground Vietnamese pop-up, out of his Downtown Miami apartment.
Soon after his launch, Benh Mi began selling out days in advance through Instagram and
became one of the City’s dine-at-home meal kit favorites. While continuing to expand his
passion project, Murray reconnected with Michael Kaplan, his friend from culinary school and now NYC-based chef and restaurant owner. The two friends came together to transform the original Benh Mi concept into a brick and mortar location in the heart of Miami Beach.
Benh Mi plays on Chef Benjamin Murray’s name and the iconic Vietnamese sandwich, the BánhMi. The Bánh Mi is a sandwich created after the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Vietnamese in the south were able to modify French dishes to include local ingredients like replacing butter with mayonnaise and cold cults with vegetables on a French baguette. With an expanded menu serving various homemade delicious Bánh Mi sandwiches, Asian-inspired salads and snacks, Benh Mi will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night dining.
The restaurant’s vietnamese coffee and tea program includes favorites like espresso based
drinks, drip coffee made from Vietnamese coffee beans and also introduces Vietnamese phin style coffee and other specialty coffee creations like a purple Ube Latte, using Japanese sweet potato.
“I started creating Banh Mi sandwiches during this time because it is my favorite sandwich! It’s savory, sweet, acidic, crunchy, and soft bite after bite. I call it a flavor bomb because these Benh Mi sandwiches pack a flavorful punch,” says Executive Chef Benjamin Murray.
Menu highlights include savory Benh Mi Sandwiches in various protein styles from
Lemongrass Meatball to Herb and Roasted Pork, Char Siu Mushroom and more; and Extra
Crunchy Spicy Chicken Tenders with Yuzu Kosho Ranch, Roasted Banana Ketchup or
Tamarind BBQ dipping sauces. Lighter items include the refreshing Vegetable Spring Roll with lettuce, herbs, Nuoc Cham, Waterfall Beef Salad with skirt steak, Nuoc Cham, spices, and raw veggies, and toasted rice powder; and a light Green Papaya Salad with mangos, green beans and toasted peanuts.
Benh Mi will join one of Miami Beach’s most diverse dining destinations, Española Way. The
pedestrian-only historic district is home to over six different cuisines, ranging from French to Italian, Japanese, Cuban, Mexican, Brazilian, and now Vietnamese. The restaurant, designed by Cindy Kam and inspired by Miami Beach art deco and Asian design elements, features indoor and outdoor seating with a standing bar. The restaurant will also connect directly to the lobby of Esmé Miami Beach, a new boutique hotel set to open in early 2021.
Murray and Kaplan make all items in house with the exception of bread which they source from Bettant Bakery located just down the street. They are dedicated to procuring ingredients from local and artisanal purveyors, farms, and businesses that ensure that quality is paramount for a stellar experience. Benh Mi’s commitment to the community will be highlighted through their local charitable initiatives. Additionally, guests can expect collaborations and pop-ups to help shine a light on the talent throughout South Florida’s culinary network.
Having served as Chef De Cuisine of Pao by Paul Qui in Miami, FL., Murray fuses his
ingredients and techniques from both his mother’s native Japan and his father’s traditional
American cooking. After working his way up through some of Miami’s best restaurants, Murray went on to become Chef de Cuisine of Azul at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami. Kaplan has worked at notable institutions such as Danny Meyer’s Maialino in New York before he was brought back to his true passion, opening his own establishment. Today, Kaplan owns and operates Two Forks, located in NYC, along with coffee shops as well as future food concepts coming to the Miami area. Benh Mi is the first exciting project from the Arch Hospitality team, a subsidiary of Arch Companies, with many culinary experiences in the works throughout Miami.
“As terrible and tragic as this pandemic has been for everyone, especially our beloved
restaurant industry, reconnecting with old friends and collaborating on exciting new projects has been a bit of a silver lining.,” says Michael Kaplan.
Before opening their permanent location, the group collaborated on a partnership with Soho Beach House, a private club with dining options, accommodations and more, to launch a Benh Mi pop-up throughout the month of February 2021. Some of Benh Mi’s most loved dishes will be available for purchase at the beach, beach bar and pool.
Benh Mi is located at 1436 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, just off of the historic
Española Way, and the location offers ample street parking right on Washington Avenue
