The bánh mì at Quoc Bao start with fresh-baked baguettes, which are practically cubist in their crispy-crusted flakiness. This is a working bakery, so the bread is the best part of the sandwiches, of which our favorites involve barbecued pork and marinated chicken. Because it’s a bakery first, Quoc Bao has always been takeout only, and will be even after pandemic restrictions end.

Fun fact: Starting in late 2020, Quoc Bao also began hosting a pop-up charcuterie and jam business, Cha Cutie, run by the owner’s daughter.