Quick & Quality Sandwich

You blew it upper west side. Quick and Quality Sandwich went out of business. I walked over a couple weekends ago hungry for some of their delicious Banh Mi and was so sad to see the closed sign.
Shame on you upper west side! Subway should have gone out of business, not a family run little shop like this. So sad… I hope they are able to find success elsewhere. They have a great product, but I imagine the overhead of having the shop on the upper west side was just too difficult.

UPDATE — Last night I wanted to pick up a sandwich and was dismayed to find the place all closed up with the display case gone and a «for rent» sign in front! No indication of whether it will be reopening in another location.

They do not serve traditional Banh Mi. If you’re a true foodie and know what I’m talking about, then know that you won’t find what you’re looking for here. First off, the baguette is way too big and it overshadows the fillings. Also, the price point is double of what you’d expect to pay.
I’ve had traditional Banh Mi in Westminster, CA and San Diego, CA. What I came away with from those experiences is a thinner baguette, same amount of meat and fillings, and paying half the price. Traditional sandwiches will cost you anywhere from $ 3 — $ 4, depending on fillings.
What you will get at Quick & Quality is great service and some good dim sum options. But seating is limited and there is a $ 10 minimum on credit/​debit cards. Also, there is no restroom available for customers either.
Wash your hands beforehand…

The service here is why I come here. The ordering experience is welcoming and the front area is clean. The employees are friendly and smile — it’s amazing how rare service with a smile is in the city.
The food is prepared and packaged well. The spicy pork bahn mi is my goto, but I also recently found that the chicken with rice is also delish.
This place also does promotions with free sodas. This shows that the restaurant is still trying and working hard. I like it when an establishment, no matter now big or small, keeps trying to provide better and better things for the customer. I will be coming back to this place, a lot.

Ok, i decided to try again. This time I ate in. I ordered the traditional banh mi with cold cuts and some pork. This one was far better, and a little bigger than some I’ve had. The bun was crisp and hot, as it should be and it was nice and moist on the interior. The meats inside were ok, but I am not a fan of their «spicy» version. They use a paste rather than fresh jalepenos which is what I’m used to getting. The price is high for a banh mi, but that’s to be expected in just about anyplace in Manhattan.
I might come again when I don’t want to travel to brooklyn or chinatown for a banh mi of true quality.

Again, I find myself wishing I could give zero stars. I ordered delivery last night and it was disgusting. Guess I should have expected it with the prices so low, but the meat was absolutely inedible. I’m not even sure there was any chicken, just fat and gristle.
The spring rolls weren’t any better. They were totally burnt and had that ground pork filling that probably comes out of a bag to all the Asian restaurants.
So gross. I’d rather have eaten a pb&j.

I saw the sign! The friendly bright yellow Quick and Quality sandwich sign. You can get tired of getting fake chinese take out on the upper west side. This is why I am glad I discovered Quick and Quality Sandwich. Its a small vietnamese sandwich joint located on a quiet street off Broadway which feeds the nearby Columbia kids and the rest of Manhattan Valley. This little store is owned by a cantonese family and although it doesn’t look like much they have all of the fixings of a good banh mi.
There are a lot of signs with pictures in this place and may be confusing when ordering but I suggest just sticking to the sandwiches since all else like the various dumplings, soup, rice plates and small dishes are kind of an afterthought.
I have been able to try the QQ sandwich and the classic banh mi with the pork and pâté and I would say that I like both but the QQ has the additional meatball in it. The meatball does need a little more flavor and can be slightly dry with the need for extra sauce but I like it mushed in with the rest of my sandwich. If you ask for it to be spicy they squirt some yummy sriracha in there. The price is also cheap enough that I see myself going back here to try the other sandwiches with the chicken or grilled pork. The sandwich is average size and came with pickled veggies on top and the bread is not too hard which I like because sometimes when it is too crispy it scrapes the inside of my mouth and I get crumbs everywhere. I still think that Phở Bang and Paris Bakery is the best but they do make a good sandwich here. They also have something called a peking duck sandwich a bit more pricey than the rest and piqued my interest but not sure if it is worth the splurge.
They also have things like fries and onion rings and chips with that whole sandwich store vibe and they also serve Yeo’s soy milk besides the classic sodas.
They also take Level Up which is cool just flash your phone to pay. There are really not that many seats. Only about four seats at a counter facing the street. Your best bet is to order a sandwich and eat in Central Park or go back to your dorm room.
If you find yourself uptown and in need of a light lunch come and check this place out and grab yourself a vietnamese sandwich.

First impression: Lunch
Popped in for a quick bite and thought I’d try the duck sandwich. It was okay. Occasionally I’d get a couple really flavorful bites, but not enough to make me want to wolf down the sandwich. I still ended up eating the whole thing in 10 minutes, and it wasn’t small, so it was certainly «A-​OK».
Now I need to try the wings.

I love this place. A friend and I wandered in here on a whim, and I am so glad that we did. I now go here every couple weeks, and I always get the grilled pork. I tried the banh mi sandwich but I wasn’t totally sold, but the pork got me hooked. And I never usually eat pork, ever.
The pork sandwich is no nonsense, and delicious. QQ has a funky selection of asian sodas, too, which is a cool quirk. Plus, as far as I know, there are not many places to get a vietnamese sandwich in these parts.
QQ is such a hidden gem, the kind of place I moved to New York for.

The vegetarian selections are slim at QQ Sandwich. That part’s not surprising. I agree with one of the other reviewers. If you’re going to get one of the veggie sandwiches, go with the curried tofu one. It’s an 7.5÷8 out of 10. The flavors are subtle and blend nicely together. The vegetarian banh mi is absolutely not subtle or well blended. And the two types of ‘veggie meat’ don’t go together.
My friend who ordered the regular banh mi thought it was fine, but not as good as some other places in NYC and beyond.

Unfortunately I have to dock my opinion of this spot after my third and last visit here. The meatball banh mi had no flavor, and the peking duck banh mi had barely any meat or flavor. Pretty pathetic. Many other better options in the area, like Saiguette.

I really like their Classic Bahn Mi. But their Chicken and Pork Bahn Mi weren’t as great. I ordered both at the same time to share with my friend but it took both of us multiple bites until we realized that I was eating his chicken and he was eating my pork. In other words, there wasn’t much meat in either sandwich.
There isn’t anything terribly memorable about their food, but Quick & Quality is definitely one of the better sandwich places in the area. I also love their delivery, which is always quick and orderly.

When Q&Q opened, the first thing that went through my head was, «this place will be gone in a month.» It’s not that I doubted their quickness nor quality; I just figured that an obscured and hidden sandwich shop on a residential street, amidst one of Manhattan Valley’s most overstuffed blocks, could hardly survive.
Months later, I’ve been proven wrong, and I’m glad I was. It doesn’t look like much, but Q&Q is a hidden gem for the hungry local. It fills a void I never knew I had, providing delicious Bahn Mi sandwiches.
I could talk about the sandwiches, but everyone else does that, so let me give you a tip: their «buffalo» wings are not actual chicken wings in traditional buffalo sauce. No… they’re better. Way better. I don’t know what kind of magic oils, fancy breading, or varied herbs and spices they’re using, but these are some of the best sauceless fried wings I’ve ever had.
While the «quality» holds fast, ironically they’re not quick. Their delivery has taken as much as 70 minutes to bring a sandwich and some wings even though I’m two blocks away. The food is worth it, but there’s your warning. You’d better go for take-​out. But you should go.

This place is on point. I’ve ordered from them twice (in a row) now and both the QQ sandwich and the classic banh mi hit the spot. Their Vietnamese iced coffee doesn’t taste as authentic though, but it is still good. Probably too much condensed milk.
I enjoy the friendliness of the staff here. Whenever I order from them on the phone, they make sure to get the address right and they are ok with me explaining to them my location (which is a little hard to reach). The delivery people are nice too.
I’ve had better banh mi sandwiches in Houston and in San Francisco, but for New York, a place where good Vietnamese food is strangely hard to find, this place is a good bet.

I ordered the Grilled Pork Banh Mi and the Grilled Chicken over Rice.
BREAD
Okay bread. Not good but not too bad either. I wish they had used a better quality bread. Not crusty enough, probably could use some toasting.
THE MEAT
Grilled pork was a tad too sweet but has good flavors. I liked the grilled chicken better. Portion was generous for the chicken over rice. Could be divided into two meals if you’re not a big eater.
THE SIDES
Love the slaw. It was crunchy and slightly sweet with good acidity. Really cut through the sweetness and fattiness of the meat.
BOTTOM LINE
Really good value neighborhood place. You wouldn’t spend more than $ 10/​person here. I wouldn’t say it’s authentic but it has really good flavors. Would probably drop by here if I were in the neighborhood.

Great new addition to the area!
My friend stumbled upon this place and told me about it. The bread as well as each ingredient is fresh and it makes for a really tasty banh mi. I’m a big fan of Vietnamese sandwiches so I’m really glad this place opened up as the UWS isn’t exactly teeming with Asian street food. The classic as well as the grilled pork is delicious! Have it spicy and even better. They also have Vietnamese coffee and tea. Yay! And did I mention the sandwiches are $ 6 each? Yup I’m sure I’ll be coming back to this place!

Banh mi by Columbia? Say no more!
Q&Q is a refreshing haven located at the outskirts of Columbia-​town that lives up to its name. Service is super friendly and quick and the sandwiches are good. I’m actually shocked that the staff are able to get the baguettes crisp and moist so quickly (I usually end up waiting 2−3x longer at other places). The standard and meatball banh mi’s rock. but if you’re in a festive mood, get the QQ combo. The rest of the menu (aka the non-​banh mi items)… is okay.
While it’s not the best bahn mi I’ve had, thanks to my proximity to other Viet places in Queens, it is the best (and most probably the only) place in the area. Like another reviewer, I would not trek here for the banh mi… but I would swing by if I were in the area.

Really a 4.5, but I’m a round-​up, optimistic kind of person. Like the other reviewers, I was really excited to see a banh mi shop open up in Morningside Heights! They do have a few non-​Vietnamese things on the menu, but obviously the main attraction is their variety of banh mi sandwiches. Not a huge variety (6 or 7 sandwiches, plus salads and sides), but honestly I prefer that to the giant we-​make-​absolutely-​anything kind of menu you usually see at a sandwich joint. I’ve had the traditional banh mi and the grilled pork banh mi, and both were super tasty. Veggies were fresh, the meats were all great, and the bread was spot on. I’ve ordered my sandwiches «medium spicy» both times, though next time I think I’ll just ask for «spicy» — I could have used a little more heat. Oh, and all the staff people are really friendly!
I’ve always paid in cash, but they do have the Visa/​MC/​Amex logo on the door, so I’m assuming they take credit cards. My only critique is that I wish they would play music instead of having the TV on (or leave the TV on if you want, but maybe just have it on low or with subtitles). It’s kind of small joint, so some background noise would be nice and make me more likely to sit at the window and eat my sandwich instead of taking it to go. Anyway, I will be a happy repeat customer at Q&Q!

On a random night of exploration of my neighborhood, I popped into this place because the bright yellow awning caught my attention. SO glad I did! It was my first Banh Mi sandwich, and I loved it!
The bread is like a baguette, but soft enough on the outside that it does not rip the top of your mouth. I got the Classic Banh Mi — spicy, and I loved the combo of the pickled slaw and cucumber. The pâté was really tasty as well.
The 3 guys working were really friendly, which I appreciated. I will definitely come back (I want to try the Pork Banh Mi) which the guys said was really popular. I hope that they decorate the store a bit more, if so, it may seem more inviting to eat there.

Yes! Yes and hell Yes!!! About time UWS gets a banh mi spot. A cool little place that just opened up. Not too decorative on the inside, but if we get this place some business, I’m sure they can hook up the pimp pad in no time. Onward to the food…
Ordered a pork sandwich and a coffee, takes about 10 minutes to get the food (perfection takes patience)…asked for super duper extra spicy as I like the pain and challenge of hot food.
Guy behind the counter, Peter was surprised I liked to order it that way. I ain’t scared! Got a coffee as I was waiting and was very satisfied as the coffee had the Viet-​punch that I love. Super duper strong joe. He gave me a bag of chips for free.
The sandwich was full of daikon and carrots. Extra MEAT. Good sauce, nice and moderate on the Scriacha. Yeah boy, tell your friends! Jalapenos were pickled which was an interesting change, but added a good flavor to the sandwich. Mi contento.
Later on, I told my friends about this place and we ordered 15 banh mi’s for delivery, plus fries. Fries were banging.
I’m sure the owner was happy. We’ll be supporting.
It’s 230am in the morning… see you around 10 am for lunch and my quick fix for super strong joe.