Banh Oui

It’s hard for us to even say “Cahuenga” without picking up a banh mi from Banh Oui in Hollywood. In some ways, we prefer these somewhat non-traditional versions over the straightforward cold cut or grilled pork iterations you’ll find at places like My Dung or Saigon’s Sandwich. For starters, the insides of the baguettes here are always fluffy and soft, with a crunchy exterior. Chicken liver oozes out of the sides at even the gentlest touch. And fillings aren’t typical—they’ve got chicken katsu, fried rock shrimp, sous vide duck breast, and loads of vegetarian options. We gravitate towards the katsu, balanced out with plenty of herbs and crunchy pickled vegetables. Banh Oui is fast, it’s fresh, and if you set your mind to it, one sandwich (and maybe a side of fries or mushroom salad?) can stretch into two meals.