Phorale is not technically Vietnamese. Or Korean. Or Mexican. Or really anything other than what chef partners Jimmy Bui and Young Cho want it to be. That said, the majority of their menu is composed of banh mi, so Vietnamese it is. Though the format of their sandwiches hails from Vietnam, the things that go in them vary wildly. They are, however, united in deliciousness. The basic spicy pork sandwich—the “Fuego”—is literally and figuratively fire, but you also can’t go wrong with their bulgogi Philly cheese steak, their fried chicken sandwich, and their playfully bright take on pho. The Phorale fries—loaded curly fry nachos with a very creative array of toppings—are an instant nap, but one you’ll definitely want to take. Most impressive? They make all this magic happen from what was once a forlorn torta counter tucked into the back of a corner store in South Park. TOBIAS COUGHLIN-BOGUE