Trung Nam French Bakery in St. Paul serves flaky, buttery croissants in wild flavors alongside fresh baguette banh mi in a cozy, cash-only spot with a drive-thru.
"Trung Nam’s vaunted banh mi need no introduction — but the rest of its pastry program may. With a dizzying variety of fruit-filled croissants (think apricot, blueberry, raisin, raspberry, strawberry, apple) and more unique flavors, like coconut, on offer, chef-proprietor Tony Le nails the French Asian culinary diaspora with aplomb. His pastries are ethereal and fruit-forward without being too sweet." - Stacy Brooks, Eater Staff
"Trung Nam may be best known for its banh mi, made with with fresh-baked baguettes. But the dark horse of this Frogtown bakery is its not-too-sweet croissants, which come in an array of fruit flavors, from strawberry and apple to blueberry and apricot. Go for the coconut, if it’s available — the flakes are folded into the delicate, airy layers of dough." - Alex Lodner, Justine Jones
"Probably the Hmong home cooking-meets French-inspired pastries (with Southeast Asian flavors) restaurant-runner debut of pastry master Diane Moua." - Eater Staff
"Pick up a baguette and some lunch from Trung Nam in St. Paul. Closed on Sundays and open 8-1 PM the rest of the week, the $4.50 bahn mi is more than worth the trip. Just remember to bring cash." - Eater Staff
"For a tiny bakery with limited hours, Trung Nam French Bakery delivers big. For just $3.75, get the house bánh mì: one of their chewy, crackly-edged baguettes brushed with mayo and piled high with pork, pate, a strip of jalapeno, and shreds of lightly pickled carrots and daikon." - Julie Zhou
