Bún Chå Cá Da Nang in Chinatown is all about comforting and fresh Da Nang-style seafood, and the bánh mìs are no different. Surrounding a crispy fried fish cake is a layer of not only butter and mayo, but also a spicy sate chili paste and an extra padding of fresh rau răm, an herb that resembles a hot mashup of mint and cilantro. And despite being essentially a loaf of bread full of fried food, the sandwich is surprisingly light and refreshing. What to order: bánh mì chå cá

A dependable spot for a quick lunch in Midtown, Thíên Ân Sandwiches is basically Houston’s version of a Vietnamese diner. It’s the kind of no-nonsense, family-run place you immediately understand and feel comfortable in, even if you’ve never visited before. While we like a lot of different dishes here, our favorite is the bánh mì with grilled pork and a fried egg (which could easily serve as a possible hangover flotation device). What to order: bánh mì dặc biệt with an egg

The temple many Houstonians look to for bánh mì is Cali Sandwiches & Phở in Midtown. It’s an institution. The seating may be a little uncomfortable, and the service slightly chaotic, but the bánh mì are really f*cking good and satisfying. Each sandwich is stuffed to the absolute limit with fillings like grilled pork or fried tofu, but somehow there’s more in there, like a Mary Poppins bag of marinated meaty goodness. What to order: any bánh mì

As one of the few remaining original Vietnamese restaurants in Midtown, the elderly husband and wife team at Kim Tài know how to build a bánh mì, even if it takes them a little bit longer than other places. Food arrives with loving sincerity, as though your grandparent made it special for you. Each bánh mì has warm, toasted bread overstuffed with pickled veggies and hot jalapeńos. What to order: bánh mì đậu hũ (tofu), bánh mì dặc biệt (special)

The first bite of a bánh mì at Khang Vietnamese Sandwich Cafe changes you, and so does the second—just go with it. The warm, fresh bread is so soft and airy, with an open crumb and a golden outer crust that flakes wonderfully. Every inch of bread is thickly smeared with butter and mayo, and the marinated barbecue pork is tangy with garlic. What to order: bánh mì thịt nướng (bbq pork), bánh mì khang (khang special combination), bánh mì bo kho (vegetable beef soup and bread)

Pull up to Thim Hing Sandwich around lunchtime and you’ll see people carrying armfuls of plastic bags bulging with sandwiches out to their cars. This cash-only spot in Chinatown exports what appears to be a metric ton of bánh mì every day, loaded with traditional fillings like pâté and grilled pork and slathered in butter and mayonnaise. Make sure to grab enough for the whole family, team, or neighborhood. What to order: bánh mì xíu mại (meatball), bánh mì thập cẩm (combination)

Bánh Mì Bon is a bright and cheery Vietnamese cafe in Westchase. Every detail of the interior and the menu have a bit of whimsy. The bánh mì, however, are pretty serious. Each sandwich is basically two sandwiches, because they’re wrapped with fluffy, thick bread and filled with fistfuls of cilantro, thick slices of cucumber and jalapeño, and sweet marinated pork or crispy tofu. What to order: charbroiled pork, saigon special

The bánh mì at Duy Sandwiches, an all-vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant and grocery in Chinatown, are served on warm, dense bread. They’re also stuffed with thick slabs of lemongrass-marinated tofu or layers of vegetarian deli meats, mountains of herbs and cucumber, and dressed in light, sweet, and eggless mayo. The seating area, which shares space with rows of shelves and refrigerators, is just as neat and compact as the bánh mì. What to order: bánh mì đậu hũ (lemongrass tofu)