"Crackly, crispy bread is the foundation for Vietnamese sandwiches piled high with pickled veggies, herbs, and meats (or not meats, depending on your preference). East Side Banh Mi’s No. 1 is a classic banh mi adorned with slabs of ham hock terrine, paté, and smoked bologna, while the veggie features chile crisp tofu and roasted eggplant. For the non-sandwich curious, rice and noodle bowls are excellent options; don’t miss Gracie’s Big Salad (named after co-owner Gracie Nguyen) that’s a bright, herbaceous bowl of greens, herbs, green papaya, fried shallots, roasted peanuts, and citrus-soy vinaigrette." - Ellen Fort