Rollbox Rolls Back Into Sanlitun With New Location in International Wonderland

Of all the venues swept up in the wake of the Great Brickening last year, I was most saddened by the loss of Rollbox. I love a good sandwich and, for me, sandwiches don't get much better than banh mi, so I was happy to hear that Rollbox had reopened not far away from its original spot on Xingfucun Zhonglu. 

Now on the west side of the International Wonderland complex off Xindong Lu, the new Rollbox has a row of tables down one side and a few bar stools at the counter at the front, making it a good spot for both eat in and take away. If anything, this space is an improvement on the original and banh mi fans will be glad to know the quality of the banh mi has also survived the move unscathed. 

A good sandwich relies on good bread and none more so than banh mi, which, after all, literally means "bread" in Vietnamese. Rollbox's bread is homemade, with the requisite lightness and crackle of crust that comes from the use of rice flour in the dough. This commitment to homemade ingredients extends to the banh mi fillings, too. Take the classic pork banh mi (RMB 42), for example, which features minimally-seasoned pork leg that is pressure cooked into submission, along with leg ham and brawn made using a "slow food" process that brings out the best in the natural ingredients. We particularly like the sweep of Vietnamese-Australian-style pork pate that comes on some of the sandwiches (Rollbox was initially inspired by the banh mi shops popular in Australian cities).

The classic banh mi fillings are great but we also appreciate the slightly more innovative ones, such as the beef satay (RMB 52), which comes with a hearty portion of beef in a savory peanut/coconut dressing. Our vegan/vegetarian friends have positive things to say about the grilled tofu and mushroom banh mi, too. 

That peanut dressing also accompanies a selection of rice paper rolls (RMB 30-38), a new addition to the menu, along with banh mi bowls (RMB 48-58), a good option for those who want to enjoy the flavor of a banh mi without the pesky carbs. Choose from toppings such as grilled pork neck or grilled tofu and mushrooms. Another new addition is an (alcoholic) drinks menu, including a number of cocktails, available on weekday evenings and all day at the weekend. 

The fact that a small business like Rollbox can survive the forced closure of its first location and come back stronger gives us hope for the future of Beijing's independent restaurant scene. Look for them to launch on delivery platforms soon. 

Rollbox
Mon-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sun 10am-11pm (kitchen), Mon-Thu 6-11pm, Fri-Sun noon-11pm (bar). 1/F, west side of International Wonderland, Bldg 39, Xingfu Ercun, Chaoyang District (177 1091 8725)
朝阳区幸福二村39号楼首开幸福广场西侧底商

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Photos: Robynne Tindall, courtesy of Rollbox