Thái Sơn

"This large spot in Chinatown is casual enough for a solo lunch or a spur-of-the-moment group meal. The 150-plus dishes on the menu might seem overwhelming, but just know that no matter what you order, you’re going to have a good meal. And if you order the grilled pork bánh mì, you’re going to have a great one. And then there's also the crunchy chả giò filled with ground pork that’s somehow as rich and intense as pâté, and the bun cha, which comes with more fantastic pork and sticky vermicelli that soaks up all the broth. The best part: we’ve never had to wait for a table here." - sonal shah, willa moore, will hartman, arden shore, carlo mantuano

"You could play pin the tail on the donkey with the 150+ dish menu at Thái Son and feel confident that you’re going to get something you’ll think about the whole walk home. Or you could just choose the grilled pork bánh mì. The vegetables are perfectly proportioned, and the pâté is evenly distributed on all parts of the crunchy bread—but this sandwich is all about the pork. It’s essentially a thin, perfectly seasoned pork chop that sweats grease when you press down on the baguette." - willa moore, hannah albertine, matt tervooren, neha talreja, kenny yang

"Here's Thái Sơn. Take it, put it in your back pocket, and don't forget about it (especially if you're doing jury duty around the corner). The Vietnamese spot in Chinatown is about two blocks from the Canal Street JZQ6 station, it almost always has a big round table available, and the phở options are reliable and plentiful. Plus, if you pay with cash, no bowl of phở is over $15. We like the #3, which comes packed with thinly sliced beef, brisket, tripe, and tendon—but if you're extra hungry, go for the #1. It's got everything the #3 does, it's just an “extra big” serving. Thái Sơn also has a long menu of Vietnamese classics, in case you're looking for a quick lunchtime bánh mì. We also like their grilled beef lettuce wraps, shrimp salad, shaking beef, clay pot fish, and stir fried water spinach with garlic. Whatever you order, your meal will always start with a big pot of hot tea. photo credit: David A. Lee Food Rundown #3 Đặc Biệt Our Thái Sơn go-to. The broth lacks a little of the depth of a great bowl of phở, but the various meats and pile of herbs and bean sprouts do wonders. #13a Phở Cà Ri Gà For something richer and thicker, try the 13a. It's a curry chicken soup with bone-in chicken, big hunks of potato, and the classic rice noodles." - Willa Moore

"Thái Sơn is a Chinatown classic for a reason. Everything on the expansive menu is good, but a lot of people come here just for the phở. Their broth is particularly rich and salty, and if a standard-size bowl isn’t enough, you can upgrade to an extra large for around a dollar. We like to round out our meal with an order of ultra-crispy spring rolls. " - will hartman, neha talreja, bryan kim, willa moore, carlo mantuano

"While the name might lead you to believe otherwise, Thai Son is a Vietnamese restaurant right near the courthouse on Baxter. They have a covered tent with a handful of tables available for outdoor dining every day. Skip the pho and prioritize the barbecue pork, some summer rolls, and banh xeo (massive egg crepes)." - hannah albertine