Bánh Mì in CC: Welcome to Q.T.

Cheap, fast, healthy and delicious: bánh mì may just be the perfect lunch. Unfortunately, none of my favorite bánh mì shops (namely, Fu Wah Market in West Philadelphia and Café Nhu Y adjacent to the Italian Market) are close enough to Center City for lunch.

This week, I came across Q.T. Vietnamese Sandwich on the southern edge of China Town. Bánh mì and Center City, together at last!

So far, I've tried two of their sandwiches. The grilled pork ($5) with pickled carrots, and fresh cucumber, cilantro and jalapeño, was a rather good version, though not as good as Café Nhu Y's. Better was the Lemongrass Tofu (also $5), which had the distinct though not overpowering flavor of (you guessed it!) lemongrass. I generally prefer the texture of baked and fried tofu but the soft steamed tofu that Q.T. put in this sandwich worked well with the bread. More of a French-style baguette than the softer Italian-style that is the bánh mì standard in Philly, it was not only crusty but chewy and had a buttery flavor.

And, if you really want, you can have 'em for breakfast!

Q.T. Vietnamese Sandwich
48 N. 10th Street
9am-7pm, 7 days a week