Best Bánh Bông Lan in Chicago

Bánh bông lan — Vietnamese chiffon cake — is the airy, cloud-like sponge cake that fills Vietnamese bakeries with its sweet eggy aroma. The name literally translates to "orchid cake," a reference to its delicate, floral texture. Unlike the dense American pound cake or the dry Western-style sponge, well-made bánh bông lan is ethereally light, with a fine crumb and a tender, moist interior that practically melts on the tongue. In Chicago, its found primarily in the Argyle Street bakeries and a few Viet-Cajun bakeries further afield.