Since its days as a small hole-in-the-wall inside the shopping center at Travis and McGowan, Thiên Ân Sandwiches earned a strong following for its delicious, authentic Vietnamese cuisine. It's now in much larger, swankier digs on San Jacinto in Midtown, and the expanded menu makes Thiên Ân the place to hit when you want a cross-section of great Vietnamese eats. The bánh mí sandwiches are still the restaurant's staple, for sure — the bread nicely crisp, the fillings ranging from grilled pork thit nuong to a simple egg trúng to the specialty dac biet. But you won't find a better place for bánh xèo (Vietnamese crêpe) in the city. The goi vit duck salad is a sight to behold and, as for Thien An's other traditional menu items? There are enough choices to make everyone happy — from pho to rice vermicelli bowls, bún bò hue (pork and beef noodle soup), com bo luc lac (Vietnamese shaking beef rice plate) and more.
READERS' CHOICE: Mai's Restaurant