This spot in Astoria has been open since 1940! So yeah, they know their way around a deli sandwich. These sky-high, foot-long sandwiches are feats of engineering, with a pretty quintessential Italian deli approach: Some mix of cold cuts or deli meats, with the option to add sweet peppers, hot peppers, provolone or American, oil and vinegar, lettuce and tomato. They’re known for a sandwich called “The Bomb,” which combines the ingredients of two sandwiches on the menu and is therefore twice as tall as your average sandwich – it has more types of meat than I can count (or personally need). Obviously TikTok loves it, but I prefer the classic Italian or to build my own with turkey. Bring cash and a friend (or two) to share. There’s no seating, so these are best picked up on your way to the Astoria waterfront – though I have just eaten my order standing outside on the sidewalk, and I wouldn’t blame you for doing the same.
Address: 33-12 23rd Ave, Astoria
Website: salkrisandcharlies.com
When Bánh Anh Em opened, we added it to our list of the Best New Restaurants in New York City. The city certainly has its great bánh mi joints, most of which are mom-and-pop shops that have been around for decades (Saigon is a favourite among our team; I also love Ba Xuyên in Sunset Park). But Bánh Anh Em has set the bar so high – it’s literally an entire sit-down restaurant focused on bánh mis, a grab-and-go sandwich most commonly offered via counter service – that I can barely complain about the line that forms 30 minutes before opening because the sandwiches are that perfect (tips on how to beat the wait in a minute). The bread is baked fresh, and you can tell when you bite into the perfectly crunchy exterior and feel how fluffy it has remained inside. There is no shortage of choices when it comes to your main filling, from the classic “O.G.” with Vietnamese cold cuts, to the ribeye grilled over charcoal – though there are also niche offerings you won’t find on many nearby menus, like lemongrass beef wrapped in betel leaf or a homemade paté and sausage combo topped with sunny side up eggs. There’s a lightly fried tofu and pesto duo for vegetarians, or, in the very opposite direction, my favourite: the crispy pork belly with the kind of perfectly fried skin that crackles between your teeth, which I usually order in addition to the miniature yet decadent 2-piece pate starter (share both with a friend or lover and you’re set). What they nail is the light, zesty mix of veggies and tangy sauces, and the overall ratio which means that, just like the great bành mi you might buy on the streets of Hanoi, each closes in on itself and can be held in one hand without spilling its guts like a hoagie. If you want to eat inside, you will have to queue, but my move is to place an online order (usually ready in less time than it takes to finish a beer at the pub next door) and eat it sitting on the plastic stools outside.