Viet Nom Nom

While the team behind this restaurant now operates multiple locations across Chicagoland, they opened their first brick and mortar in downtown Evanston in 2017. Since then, they have been dialing up the local lunch game with fresh, healthy takes on Vietnamese favorites like banh mi (with housemade pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber and cilantro) and a variety of rice bowls (with green papaya salad, Saigon veggie slaw and crispy shallots). Third-generation restaurateur Alan Moy has a love for the dining model done right, and that commitment to quality shows—right down to the drinks. Their Vietnamese iced coffee is a vegan melding of Dark Matter coffee, house-made coconut milk reduction and organic agave.