"Our favorite place for a Monday date night, Mắm is a just-off-the-sidewalk restaurant in Chinatown. They feature different Vietnamese specialties depending on the season, which means you might find steaming hot pots of cá om chuối dậu with pork bone broth, or platters of bún dậu with blood sausage and tofu. It can get crowded, which encourages leaning in closer over a fragrant hotpot, as you pick out choice bits of meat for your beloved. Even if you end up on one of the outdoor plastic stools, it’s all part of the experience. While you can walk in, it’s best to make a reservation in advance." - bryan kim, will hartman, willa moore, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick