Best <i>banh mi</i> sandwiches

Chaumont Bakery’s black cod banh mi with its housemade baguette and delicate black cod.   (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

Little Shop of Mary banh mi cafe in Torrance.   (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

Little Shop of Mary’s pork meatball banh mi includes split-open handmade oval-shaped meatballs with Vietnamese spices, mayo, cilantro and pickled daikon and carrots.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The newly opened Hero Shop is located on 6th Street downtown, between Los Angeles and Main streets.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

Hero Shop’s blood sausage and peppers banh mi with morcilla and sauteed pasilla peppers.   (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The fatty brisket banh mi at Hero Shop, which opened downtown this month, from the chef of Black Hogg.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

Have some chips with your banh mi at Hero Shop downtown.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

East Borough opened in Culver City earlier this year, offering chef Chloe Tran’s take on Vietnamese cuisine.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

East Borough’s “bho baguette” is a beef brisket banh mi with a sidecar of pho broth for dipping.   (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The grilled pork with lemongrass banh mi at East Borough.   (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

Starry Kitchen’s famous crispy tofu balls in banh mi.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

Good Girl Dinette’s long, thin banh mi are filled with farmers market ingredients such as Underwood Family Farms cauliflower and roasted oyster mushrooms.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)