Bao & Buns (27/1 Sukhumvit Soi 33, 090-950-1666. Open daily 10:30am-9pm) offers up sweet and savory interpretations of the Taiwanese street burger, known as gua bao. The owners say they spent four months perfecting the dough consistency, and we think the dry, slightly chewy texture works best with the original braised pork option (B90), which comes with tasty pickled mustard greens. For a slightly sweeter option, Ippudo’s (3/F, Central Embassy, Ploen Chit Rd., 02-160-5672. Open daily 10:30am-10pm. BTS Phloen Chit) glazed pork bun (B80) contains the ramen brand’s melt-in your mouth chashu. For more innovative offerings, head to Opposite Mess Hall (27/1 Sukhumvit Soi 51, 02-662-6330. Open Tue-Sun 6:30-10:30pm. BTS Thong Lo) whose chef, Jess Barnes, will tell you he was the first to import bao to Bangkok. If the vegetarian option of tempeh, smoked cheese and Sriracha sauce doesn’t appeal, try the Surf & Turf variation: pulled pork, shrimp mayo and crunchy salad. B145 each or three for B400.

The city has welcomed a host of new kebab joints in recent months. The Kebabry (Opus Building, 139 Thonglor Soi 10, 02-714-9702. Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-10pm) adds German touches to the Turkish-style doner kebab. Try the Berliner (B99), a well-balanced combination of bell peppers, mint sauce, garlic yogurt, feta and shaved chicken. For a French spin, there’s Soi’Keb (1653 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-118-2943. Open daily 8am-10pm. BTS On Nut), which claims to take its cues from African, Belgian and Turkish cuisines, serving doner kebabs (B99/B135) with chicken, duck or beef in sandwich bread made daily.

Yes, you’re probably aware that Pala Romana (MRT Sukhumvit Station, 02-259-1228-9. Open Mon-Sat 10am-midnight; Sun 11am-midnight) is one of the best places in Bangkok to grab a slice of pizza. Now take that same freshly-made, Roman-style pizza bread, add some happy lettuce and an abundance of prosciutto or any kind of cold cut, and you’ve got a Panino Misto (B150)—pure and simple deliciousness at a good price point.

If you’ve been to Beer Bridge (1/F, Portico, 31 Soi Langsuan, 02-652-1979. Open daily 11-1am. BTS Chit Lom), you know they serve a whole lot of craft beers. And what better way to line your stomach than with a big, juicy crispy-fried chicken sandwich (B290). The Southern-style fried chicken comes in a robust sourdough bun that’s topped with savory-sweet bacon jam, along with intense gravy.

Coffee specialist Rocket Coffeebar (149 Sathorn Soi 12, 02-635-0404. Open daily 7am-11pm) is much loved for its simple brunch dishes. One of its most popular, the gravlax on dark rye (B240), is a common breakfast sandwich that originated in Denmark. Perhaps more closely resembling a salad, it features home-cured salmon, pickled beetroot and horseradish on top of a bed of greens and rye, topped off with a light lemon-dill dressing. The original branch just announced it is now open seven days a week, while the sandwich is also available at Siwilai Rocket Coffeebar (5/F, Central Embassy, 1031 Ploen Chit Rd. Open daily 10am-10pm).

There are many Vietnamese restaurants in town, but few really tackle banh mi, that country’s signature sandwich. Our all-time favorite, Vietnamese & More (458 New Ratchadapisek Soi Phai Sing To, 02-259-0675. Open Tue-Sun 11am-8:30pm. MRT Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre) does a list of house-made baguettes with delicious fillings, from the straight-up banh mi (B160) of juicy pork, pate, mayo, pickled carrots and daikon to the mouthwatering Vietnamese meatball version (B175). For something more street-level (with prices to match), try new food truck Banh Mi Boy (091-859-0926, www.fb.com/banhmiboythailand), which is usually found on Sukhumvit Soi 47. They serve five varieties, including traditional nam nueng (Vietnamese grilled pork patty) and crispy roast pork, all at B70, and the baguette is possibly even lighter and fluffier, the handiwork of one of the Vietnamese owners whose family runs a bakery in Australia. 

Tribeca RestoBar (Nihonmura Mall, Thonglor Soi 13, 02-712-9209. Open daily 9am-10pm. BTS Thong Lo) has a long brunch menu. One thing it gets very right is the Reuben sandwich (B280), an irresistible mix of salty pastrami, Emmental, sauerkraut and Russian dressing, served on sourdough. If you’re around Sathorn, you can also drop by Dean & Deluca (Mahanakorn Cube, 92 Naratiwasratchanakarin Road, 02-234-1434. Open daily 7am-11pm. BTS Chong Nonsi) to sink your teeth into its classic slow-cooked pastrami sandwich (B295) on rye bread with tangy red cabbage coleslaw and cheese.