This spot bills itself as a pho restaurant, even though banh mi is in its name. Both are worth ordering, but Van Banh Mi stands out for its vegetarian banh mi, the best we’ve tasted. The lemongrass-seasoned wheat gluten, similar to seitan, is as savory as, if not more savory than, many meat-filled banh mi we’ve sampled. The sandwiches are warmed in little toaster ovens, adding extra heat and crunch before they’re served. There’s also a small sit-down area, so you can linger over your sandwich rather than simply grab one to go. Credit cards are accepted, though American Express is not.
