With a mission to establish the most beloved Vietnamese fast-casual brand in the U.S., Bun Mee focuses on elevating the sandwich consumer experience. “Our mission has always been to make the vibrant flavors of Vietnam accessible without losing their integrity,” said Denise Tran, CEO and founder of Bun Mee. “By blending time-honored recipes with high-end ingredients and a stylish, approachable atmosphere, we have created a ‘gourmet-casual’ niche that stands out in a crowded marketplace.” By Erika Ortega
With a mission to establish the most beloved Vietnamese fast-casual brand in the U.S., Bun Mee focuses on elevating the sandwich consumer experience. “Our mission has always been to make the vibrant flavors of Vietnam accessible without losing their integrity,” said Denise Tran, CEO and founder of Bun Mee. “By blending time-honored recipes with high-end ingredients and a stylish, approachable atmosphere, we have created a ‘gourmet-casual’ niche that stands out in a crowded marketplace.”
So far, the brand has excelled in locations ranging from airports to street venues, positioning itself as the first national gourmet fast-casual Vietnamese brand with a simple, scalable model and little direct competition. In addition to combining a design-driven approach with a commitment to customer service excellence, Bun Mee focuses on quality ingredients and makes environmental responsibility a priority.
“Our model is engineered to prove that high-quality, made-to-order food doesn’t have to be complicated to produce,” said Austin Whittaker, vice president of operations. “We have focused on creating a lean kitchen workflow that handles high volume with ease, whether in a neighborhood urban setting or a busy transit hub. As an emerging brand, we are committed to constantly refining our systems alongside our operators to ensure the business remains simple to run and easy to scale without losing our culinary heart.”
Tran quickly gained attention by rapidly opening multiple locations in Northern California. She is ready to take Bun Mee to the next level. “We are thrilled to partner with motivated entrepreneurs to bring this fresh perspective to new communities,” she exclaimed. Bun Mee offers owner-operator and semi-absentee franchise ownership opportunities with multiple revenue streams, including dine-in, catering, delivery and pickup.
“There is a significant appetite among operators for fresh, differentiated concepts. Bun Mee offers a ground-floor opportunity in an undersaturated market,” said Kera Vo, director of franchise sales. “With the momentum of the recent Manhattan development deal and a decade of proven average unit volumes, the brand is seeking pioneering operators who want to be the first to bring this ‘Shake Shack of Vietnamese sandwiches’ to their respective territories.”
Erika Ortega