The Sandwich: Marinated beef sandwich

Where: Birds Eye (inside Doi Moi weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), 1800 14th St. NW

Price: $15

Bread: Baguette

Stuffings: Thai-style steak, marinated shallots, Shark Sriracha jus

Thickness: 3 inches

Pros: Every piece of steak retains its crispy external char but remains tender inside, and the meat’s sweet and sour marinade lingers and blends well with the tart and earthy shallots nestled on top of the sandwich. The Sriracha jus gives the sandwich the appropriate level of heat and is just thick enough to coat the fillings without making the bread soggy. 

Cons: Featuring just three ingredients, this is a bare-bones sandwich. The addition of fresh herbs or vegetables—cilantro, mint, carrot—would give it some extra brightness.

Sloppiness level (1 to 5): 1.5. The steak and shallots remain inside the bread as you bite, so you don’t have to worry about ingredients getting all over your hands or your plate. However, the combination of tough bread and steak requires major mastication, so your jaw works overtime.

Overall score (1 to 5): 4.5. This simple sandwich doesn’t look stunning, but looks can be deceiving. Everything you eat doesn’t need to be on Instagram. Take your time to enjoy the smoky beef and sweet shallots on a good piece of bread while enjoying some people watching on 14th Street NW.