Scout Notes: It's the rare dish in New York that garners unanimous praise, but Banh Mi Saigon's got it. Their traditional Vietnamese sandwiches have no detractors; even if you're the type to naysay the hype for the sake of it, you'll still be undone by these glorious specimens. For over two decades, the family-run business has been building banh mi out of the best ingredients in the city. They start with fresh, foot-long baguettes and stuff them with roast pork so flavorful it's almost a shame not to eat it on its own. Every layer after that point carefully heightens the texture, taste, and aroma: hot peppers, pickled carrots, crunchy daikon and crisp cucumber. Nothing, not even the mayo or cilantro, is treated as an afterthought, and what results is New York's very best banh mi.

It may seem strange to head to Little Italy for Vietnamese food, but that's all part of its charm. Just past the red, white, and green signs advertising three-course pasta and salad deals that have long since lost their actual connection to the old world, Banh Mi Saigon stands as a reminder of what "authentic" cuisine truly looks like (and how good it can be). These sandwiches are not only a connection to Vietnam, they're also a real connection to New York. Made by multiple generations of a local family with locally-sourced ingredients, the sandwiches attract everyone from Chinatown business owners to NYU students to Wall Streeters. Stand in line for just a couple of minutes, and you'll see how effectively great roast pork can turn a group of diverse strangers back into a community.

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Menu Highlights:
BBQ Pork Banh Mi, $4.25
Meat Ball Banh Mi, $4.25
Grilled Chicken Banh Mi, $4.75
Summer Roll, $5
BBQ Pork Rice Vermicelli, $6

Hours:
Open Daily, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.