Cali Sandwiches & Phở

The temple many Houstonians look to for banh mi is Cali Sandwiches & Pho in Midtown. It’s an institution. The seating may be a little uncomfortable, and the service slightly chaotic, but the banh mi are really f*cking good. The bread is crispy, the pork is smoky, and the mayo is some kind of mythical, fatty, rich concoction that does things that normal mayo doesn’t do. Cali is usually pretty busy for lunch, especially when it comes to downtown nine-to-fivers. But despite all the frenzy, the food comes out fast, hot, and exploding with flavor, especially the pho (but you should definitely order a sandwich). Primarily a to-go operation, You can take your order across the street to Midtown Park.

photo credit: Richard Casteel