Summer

This Vietnamese counter-service restaurant serves our favorite banh mi in Elmhurst. Their classic version is like the exemplary coworker on your team who always packs lunch and leads group presentations. It’s near textbook perfection. Each bite of crumbled, caramelized pork perfectly balances the buttery chả lụa, cold cucumbers, vinegary carrots and daikon, and tassels of cilantro. If you’re taking your banh mi to the couch, beware that it’s impossible to eat without leaving a trail of flaky breadcrumbs.

photo credit: Noah Devereaux