“#1 Special”
Ba Le
5014 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL 60640 (Uptown)
(773) 561-4424
“#1 Dac Biet (Special)”
Nhu-Lan Bakery
2612 W. Lawrence Ave
Chicago 60625 (Lincoln Square)
(773) 561-4424
“#4 The Classic”
Bon Bon Vietnamese Sandwiches
2333 W. North Ave.
Chicago 60647 (Wicker Park)
(773) 278-5800
The Super Bowl is just as much about gluttony than it is about football and commercials. But since we weren’t blessed with the insane talent to make this stunning (and impressively accurate) Soldier Field replica, we had to settle for a sandwich battle. Taking our favorite sandwich—the Italian Beef—and pinning four of Chicago’s best against each other seemed like the ultimate, culminating matchup. So, when we learned that two of the four spots were closed we were Bradying in defeat before the game even started. It was tough, but we dug deep, drew up another game plan, and went with Banh Mi.
Steak Sandwich
El Cubanito
2555 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60639 (Logan Square)
Alberto and Laritza Ramos have it locked down. Moved to the States in ’07. Opened the postage stamp size, 400 sq. ft. El Cubanito six months later, and now churn out 400+ Cubano sandwiches/day—in addition to the totals from the other 6 sandwiches on the menu. Skills. It needs to be mentioned that the husband and wife duo are also infectiously nice and gracious hosts. Located on the 2500 block of Pulaski in the Avondale/Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago, El Cubanito is so small, you’ll probably pass it a few times before you convince yourself that the tiny joint with all the cars in the parking lot is probably it.
