Previously known as Vietnam Poblano, Roostar Vietnamese Grill is the brainchild of owners Ronnie and Linda Nguyen. It's a humble mom-and-pop hole-in-the-wall you can easily fall in love with, not just because the owners are always there and remember you by name after your first visit, but also because they put care into making their food from scratch. Red-rimmed pork belly, chargrilled pork and garlicky aioli are all made with recipes passed down from generations. The banh mi sandwiches are filled to the brim with protein and topped with brightly colored pickled carrots, round slices of spicy jalapeño, fresh sprigs of cilantro and a few dashes of mayo for a unforgettably tasty bite. The chopped rib eye is to die for, but in truth, all the banh mi here are excellent, including the unusual smoked salmon and the vegetarian crispy tofu.
READERS' CHOICE: Les Givral's Sandwich & Café