Archway Sandwich Shop, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pizza Restaurant Details

Food:

This week I stopped in QT for my 1st experience eating a banh mi. As a vegetarian, I went for the lemongrass tofu banh mi. The french baguette was so crunchy and light - the veggie ingredients were crisp, fresh and tasty with a whisper of lemongrass. Oh, what a memorable sandwich, I couldn't stop thinking about it for the rest of my day. The next time I order this banh mi, I'll ask for a side of lime and perhaps sriracha, too - yum!

Of course, the very next day, I came back and tried some more:

-- Tofu with Mushrooms and Onions Banh Mi: Love the flavor - it's quite savory and echoes the vegetarian version of a "cheesesteak", in my opinion.

-- Tofu with Mushrooms and Onions Rice Platter: The rice platter includes sides of pickled carrots and fish sauce (both tasty). The tofu was generously portioned over a bed of rice which beautifully soaked up all those aromatic onion and mushroom juices / flavors.

-- Bun Chay (Veggie Noodle Soup): A totally unexpected soup, in a great way. The broth, in my opinion, is reminiscent of Thai Lemongrass soup - a soup which I gave up due to its animal-based broth. But QT's veggie soup scratches that itch for me. This soup's powerful flavor profile awakens the senses. The pineapple adds an undertone of sweetness complementing the broth's savory heat.

-- Spicy Tofu Eggrolls: These eggrolls are very tasty, too - rolled thin and oh-so-crunchy.

-- Vietnamese Iced Coffee: I was hesitant at first since I had this notion that Vietnamese coffee was "too sweet" and thick with condensed milk. But this coffee schooled me on what a truly delicious and addicting drink it is. Uh-oh....

If you're vegetarian or vegan, make sure to let the very friendly folks at the counter know so they can make the necessary modifications (e.g. no pate on the banh mi, no mayo, etc).

The people who work here are super friendly and obviously take A LOT of pride in the way they run the business and of course, their imaginative dishes with uniquely memorable flavor profiles. It makes a big difference to witness people who enjoy being there. This food is made with great care and love.

I'm not sure if the tofu is organic, but if it is, I'd bump my review up to 6 stars.

I found out that QT has been around for 7 years, yet I only discovered it this week after having walked that same block thousands of times. Better late than never. And yes, I'm fantasizing about my next banh mi there.

Food:

I love their Bánh MÌ! So tasty, so fresh!

Food:

Wonderful flavored bun rieu on a cold winter day. Ordered to go. Small quick food shop. Everything is fresh..

Food:

Fantastic banh mi sandwiches. I always end up getting the House Special, which combines the best of meats in a decently sized sandwich. Much yummy indeed. Plus it keeps well, though I suggest eating it while it's warm/freshly prepared.

Food:

This is a great place to grab a delicious & quick bite to eat. I'd suggest trying their special if it's your first time. It's my favorite sandwich. Be sure to ask for the jalapeños if spicy foods are your thing!

I think the sandwich ended up being around 6 bucks. The price isn't bad and I'm pretty sure they use fresh bread for all the sandwiches. I wouldn't be surprised if they cooked it in their kitchen.