SAN FRANCISCO: Saigon Sandwich makes the best bánh mì in San Francisco. We’re not being hyperbolic when we say we’ve never been disappointed with anything here. The proteins are tender and well-seasoned, the French rolls are crackly and fresh, and each sandwich is loaded with an impressive amount of filling. It all adds up to a fantastic lunch that we consider picking up at least once a week. Plus, at around $5 each, one bánh mì will cost you less than an hour of parking in the neighborhood.

HOUSTON: Once you taste the dặc biệt bánh mì from the modest prep station at Alpha Bakery & Cafe in Houston, it will tease you forever, reaching out in daydreams like a pork-laden angel. Watching a staffer spread a thick layer of creamy butter on a fresh baguette for the first time is a thing of wonder, especially when that baguette then gets stuffed with pâté, chả lụa (bologna), pork belly, giò thủ (head cheese), and a fistful of sliced vegetables and herbs.

SEATTLE: Want the best bánh mì in Seattle? Go to Yeh Yeh’s in Lynnwood. While we’d jump over a series of fences for their grilled pork sandwich (where charred meat bits and salty marinade melt into the mayo-soaked bread) or the tender braised pork with pâté, you also shouldn’t miss the flash-fried tofu bánh mì that’s topped with a sweet and creamy dressing, crisp lettuce, and cracked black pepper. Really, you’re in good shape with any rubber-banded-baguette they place in your hands here.

NEW YORK CITY: Ba Xuyên has one of the best bánh mì in New York City. They make 11 different kinds, most of which you’ll see in pictures behind the counter, but our favorite is the classic #1 with crispy bread, plenty of vegetables, and pork in various forms (ham, paté, pork roll, etc.). Our second favorite is the #7 (the sardine variety), which pairs well with a durian shake.

MIAMI: This is our favorite bánh mì in Miami, and that’s almost entirely thanks to the meat. Order the grilled lemongrass pork version and you’ll receive a sandwich stuffed with big chunks of tender, charred pork that would taste amazing if they were served between two old shoes. Luckily, they’re served on a soft and warm baguette with a satisfying amount of herbage, various sliced vegetables, and thick wedges of jalapeño that’ll make you thankful for their comically large drinks.

AUSTIN: The bánh mì from Fresh Bowl in Austin comes out on a housemade baguette. It arrives toasted and puffy, resulting in an audible crunch and a small shower of crumbs after each bite, and there are enough pickled veggies and cilantro to brighten up all the savory fillings. You can get a few different bánh mì here, but we like the house special—made with a tiny mountain of cold cuts and roasted meats, plus a very generous spread of pâté and mayo.

CHICAGO: The house special bánh mì from Nhu Lan Bakery in Chicago comes with a meaty and fatty combination of ham and head cheese. Then, it gets loaded into an airy housemade baguette and topped with mayo, pâté, pickled vegetables, cucumber, and jalapeño. It results in each bite having a complex combination of sweet, salty, spicy, and tart that caused us to let out at least five “wows” before finishing this sandwich.

LOS ANGELES: Bun & Mi is a serene, tiny Vietnamese counter spot in Santa Monica that’s easy to drive by. But you should make a point to stop and try their bánh mì sandwiches, loaded with your choice of pork belly, chicken, shaken beef, tofu with mushrooms, or garlic shrimp. The beef is a divinely marinated cut of filet mignon that oozes into the mayo against the soft interior of the baguette. Pick one up for a lunch to remember.

ORLANDO: Ask around for the best bánh mì in Orlando, and lots of folks will send you here (including us). This simple shop nails every aspect of a bánh mì: The still-warm baguette crackles when you grip it and the meat-to-herb-to-vegetable ratios are all perfectly calibrated. They have five sandwich options, and our favorites are the marinated-to-sweet grilled pork and the special combination with ham, pork, and pâté (the best choice if you’re really hungry).

ATLANTA: Lee’s Bakery has an inconspicuous location between a Chevron and a laundromat, but it also has some of the best Vietnamese food in Atlanta. Whether you eat in their relaxed, window-lined dining area or in the comfort of your car, you should try one of their legendary bánh mì. The grilled pork should be the move, with tender hunks of BBQ meat with crunchy cucumber and crispy bread that make up an out-of-body experience.

PHILADELPHIA: Bánh mì lovers in Philly worship at the altar of Ba Le, and with good reason. The sandwich is served on a life-changing housemade crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside baguette, and slathered in rich mayo and layered with things like pâté, lemongrass chicken, or prawn patty. There’s no seating and the service is a bit chaotic, but one bite of the #4—stuffed with BBQ char xiu pork, pickled carrots, cucumbers, jalapeños, and cilantro—is worth a little turmoil.

PORTLAND, ME: Banh Appetit is a straightforward and reliable Vietnamese takeout spot in Portland, Maine. But leaving it at that would be like saying Costco’s just a grocery store. The lemongrass beef bánh mì is the type of meal that can turn an awful day around. Stop by on Saturday evenings to check out the Mama Le menu, where you can get a bunch of different vegetarian and vegan dishes like the banh mi chay—a sandwich stuffed with rice powder, glass noodles, sweet chili, and vegan mayo.

NASHVILLE: One of the best things about the bánh mì at this Nashville takeout spot are the crispy homemade baguettes that rain crumbs all over the counter. But the fillings just might edge out the bread—there’s black-pepper-caramel-roasted pork shoulder, lemongrass chicken, and griddle-seared smoked bologna. They also dish up some mighty tasty rice and salad bowls, which might be a nice thing to eat on a “feels-like” 105-degree Nashville day.