Looking for a quick bite while out for a walk on an amazing Friday afternoon popped in here to address the hunger pains. Great idea.
Tofu was seasoned and tasty even for a meat eater to enjoy, well a bite of my friends at least. I went with the #4 pork option for my choice nice balance of ingredients.
Small space with limited seating and a efficient friendly staff knocking the orders out fast. Looks like there are a load of other delicious treats to enjoy in their cold cases.
FWIW - better than BaLe in my opinion.
We order food here several times a month. The food is very authentic bad such, it's hit and miss. But I always like trying new things here, and as such I have a handful of delicacies that I have learned to appreciate from this place. I've never gone wrong from their sandwiches. My favorite drink is manganese. The bubble drinks could use a little more sugar. Again, we frequent this place several times a month and will keep coming back.
Review Source:Might as well jump on the bandwagon here and agree. Yes, this is the best bahn mi I have found so far in Chicago. It was most reminiscent of the amazing ones we left behind in SF and SJ when we moved here. They are well dressed with perfectly pickled daikon and carrots, a good amount of fresh cilantro, perfectly hot jalepenos that have the dangerous seeds and veins attached (which I prefer, hate when other places strip away the spice!), and a good amount of mayo/butter mixture.
I recommend the roast pork, always really flavorful and not as fatty as other places which I like.
A big plus is that this is the best bread for a bahn mi in Chicago - crackly and crisp on the exterior which gives way to a light-as-air fluffy interior (not dense in any way). Yum!
Lastly! The ladies who work here are all extremely friendly!
I didn't dine-in but had food to go. Their Veggie Classic banh mi is full of flavor and the bread is phenomenal (light, chewy, tasty). Their veggie and shrimp spring rolls are the best. The food is obviously fresh and INCREDIBLY affordable - sandwiches are no more than $5 and all other food items are all under that price. I think the most expensive thing on the menu is $9 pork rolls.
Definitely a must!
Delicious, authentic Vietnamese sandwiches at unbeatable prices!
I'm ashamed to say that I've lived down the road from Nhu Lan Bakery for over a year, but just tried it for the first time yesterday. I had heard a lot about their banh mi sandwiches and the buzz was true!
We tried the grilled pork and roast pork sandwiches ($3.75 each!), and I threw in a couple pork egg rolls for good measure--pork overload you say? Not possible I say! Both sandwiches were very yummy (good balance of savory, sweet and clean flavors), served on a crusty bread roll with shredded carrot, daikon, a cucumber spear, fresh cilantro, and bias-cut jalapeno slices all layered over the pork.
Some slight nitpicking: I thought the roll to filling ratio was a little heavy on the roll side--would've liked a tad more filling and/or a bit more sauce (to soak into the bread). Of the two sandwiches, I preferred the grilled pork because the meat was slightly spicy and, I think, just better seasoned.
While waiting for my sandwiches to be prepared (less than five minutes), I eyeballed the bakery's display coolers, which were stocked with a variety of Vietnamese soft drinks, pre-prepared steamed pork buns, sweet buns, assorted platters, and many intriguing flavors of Vietnamese puddings (w/ fruit, tapioca balls, gelatin, etc.)
The shop itself is small but charming, with colorful decor, friendly staff and a diverse clientele. I will definitely be back to try some of their vegetarian sandwiches (ginger tofu!) and other goodies! :)
Service is always great here. Love the variety of vegan/vegetarian options! My go-to's are the lemongrass tofu bahn mi with extra veggies, vegetable egg rolls, and the shrimp spring rolls. The tofu is always packed with amazing flavor (I can't even believe that it's tofu, seriously) , veggies are fresh, and the bread is always incredibly warm and crusty. MMMM
Review Source:This place is sandwich HEAVEN! Â I used to frequent Tank for their sandwiches because their pho was so wonderful and their Vietnamese sandwiches were decent but now whenever I have a craving (which is quite often) for a nice Vietnamese sandwich and fresh fruit smoothie this will be the place to go. Â
I went with my husband and we went crazy ordering 2 Thit Nuong (grilled pork) sandwiches, 1 Ga (Lemongrass Chicken) sandwich, 1 Thit Nguoi (original) sandwich, one shrimp eggroll, a watermelon smoothie and a strawberry smoothie between the two of us. Â Each of the sandwiches are only about $3, the eggroll was ~$1 and the smothies were ~$3-4. Â Worth every penny! Â
We were on a time crunch because our movie started in twenty minutes but this place makes food so quickly that making it to our movie on time was not a problem. Â Let's just say now that we ordered too much food. Â The sandwiches are large and the smoothies are filling, each of the items we purchased made me swoon. Â I literally went on and on about it all night even after we left the movie theatre. Â Usually the first thing I say to my husband when we leave the theatre is "What did you think of the movie?", this time it was "Wasn't that sandwich shop AMAZING?!". Â He laughed and agreed that it was one of the best in the city. Â
We ate at the restaurant, which only has two small tables, and it was kind of like eating in a seven eleven because the place is so small and there's coolers with beverages along the walls but that's part of the charm of this place... just like the Vietnamese soap operas playing in the background are. Â :) Â It's not a stuffy place at all, very casual, the owners are incredibly friendly, there's street parking, I love this place! Â The woman behind the counter immediately greeted me when I walked in the door with a "Hello honey!" which reminded me of my favorite aunt. Â All around it was a wonderful experience and while we will come here often I'll have to fight myself not to come here every day!
The sandwiches are quite tasty, but the scoop here is really the value. There's pretty much nowhere else in town you can get a decent lunch for $4.
I had the grilled pork banh mi, which had a generous amount of deliciously marinated grilled pork, some crisp cucumber and pickled daikon, and sprigs of fresh cilantro. The french roll was hot and toasty. Spicy jalapeno slices topped it off. Again, for $4, you really can't beat this value.
Everyone, read this health inspection review that Nhu Lan failed. Â Absolutely disgusting. Â Live cockroaches all over the place. Â In the icebox....gross.
<a href="/redir?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchicago.everyblock.com%2Ffood-inspections%2Fnov14-nhu-lan-bakery-failed-inspection-5536884%2F&s=2d115b708f8d1f21d263bb405182d037684c761f2fe48c29bbfe1f327412003a" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://chicago.everyblo…</a>
They ran out of chicken when I went in the early afternoon (must be that good) so ended up trying the bbq pork....LOVED IT.
Also tired the veggie lemongrass tofu and it was good but had a unique taste to it. I eat Tofu but this was different.
The only con I have is the bread, I am not fond of the crumbling bread (not sure how to describe it). I am more of the soft bread type.
LOVE the food and service at this great little Mom & Pop neighborhood gem. Been coming here 2-3 time a week since i discovered it 4 years ago. Can't beat the quality for the price. Really missed it when it was closed for a week, but not very concerned, inspectors can usually find something if they want.
My favorites are the #1 Special, #7, and the Chinese Roast Pork (gotta eat this one HOT). My veggie friends can't get enough of the lemongrass tofu sandwhich and tell me it is the bomb! The smoothies are so healthfully refreshing and try the eye-opening thai iced coffe if you need to keep going all day. What I love the most is the lovely freshly-made bread (the foundation of the construction of any great sandwich). Perfectly crunchy (and crumbly) on the outside, soft and warm on the inside. When you combine it with crispy fresh veggies, tasty tender meats and some fresh hot pepper to spice it up a bit, and you have the healthiest, tastiest and most affordable sandwich in the city...........BAR NONE.
Everytime I enter this homey joint I am greeted with a smile by the nice cashier lady as she patiently answers all of my questions about the large selection of sandwiches and other vietnamese delicasies made daily. The wonderful made-to-order food and warm friendly service at such an affordable price is difficult to find in this big city, and makes this my very favorite fast food shop in town.
NHU LAN RULES!!
Went to grab a sandwich last Friday and found out they were "closed for rennovations" - come to find out this is the real reason:
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchicago.everyblock.com%2Ffood-inspections%2Fnov14-nhu-lan-bakery-failed-inspection-5536884%2F&s=c80c1a4d7d59e6a78ed65941912b87661805eeff1beea13a8056f0046615c5ff" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://chicago.everybloc…</a>
The excellent reviews make it sound out of this world. It was tasty and very inexpensive, but it just good-not great. I had the pork sandwich. The bread is a bit too puffy and crumbly for my tase, and they skimped a bit on the sandwich filling. The meat didn't seem fresh. Still, for $3.75, a good value. I would rather pay more and get a more full and tasty sandwich.
Review Source:I got to enjoy one of these delicious sandwiches today for lunch since a coworker was kind enough to grab an order for us! I hadn't even known about it before today but I was pleasantly surprised! I had the grilled pork that was deliciously seasoned and a pretty decent size sandwich for the price. My only complaint is that I did have a few really fatt/gummy pieces of meat so i wish they would trim them up better.
Review Source:Holy Moly these sandwiches are GREAT!
I could probably eat a one from here every  day and not get bored.
Went here for lunch on Sunday and I had a veggie eggroll (amazing) and a grilled pork sandwich (OUT OF THIS WORLD). The sandwich itself is pretty big so you'll likely have leftovers (yes, they taste amazing even as leftovers). The sandwich is so fresh. The veggies are crunchy and perfect. The meat is tender and perfectly seasoned.
I also tried a Chinese Roast Pork sandwich. The color might throw ya off a little but without a doubt the taste of it will put you back on track. It's so delicious.
The service is quick and friendly. The prices are rock bottom ($3.50 for a huge sandwich).
I'm addicted.
Checked out Nhu Lan on Thursday. Glad I did. I would say its a good place to go for Banh Mi. I was not used to the many choices of Banh Mi so I asked them for the traditional one. I ended up with No 1 and 7. No 1 ($3,75) is the house banh mi and No 7 ($3.25) is a scaled down version. I liked both. I always want pate (which I believe is just liver spread) in my banh mi. Both were quite substantial. I ate the No 1 all by myself as I had not eaten since 8am and it was 3pm.
Since that was my first time there I found parking a bit of a PIA as it usually is for street parking in Chicago. I ended up parking across the street.
I would go back here again next time I'm in town.
Great local Banh Mi with more authenticity than competitor Ba Le
As a Vietnamese person, I have had a lot of Banh Mi in my lifetime. I've had my share of bad or too Americanized Banh Mi sandwiches. A Vietnamese friend that's a local of Chicago took me here. As soon as I went into the place, I felt at home with the cozy atmosphere. There were several Vietnamese families enjoying a Sunday morning meal there. There were fresh packaged Vietnamese food on the shelves (Cha Lua Treats, Goi Cuon, Che, Banh Bao, etc) They also had Vietnamese shredded pork packed in cups by the counter. I was surprised because that's hard to find.
I ordered the Vegan Pate and Ham and oh my, it was tasty! They have great vegetarian options here. Next time, I want to try the Ginger Tofu Banh Mi. The bread was perfectly crispy, yet soft on the inside. The pickled vegetables were fresh and crunchy. The sandwich itself seemed longer and bigger than Ba Le's. Â It doesn't quite have the impressive assembly line and workflow as Ba Le, but it does boast authenticity
I highly recommend this place!
Mango smoothie, which they can make without the dairy (phew).
All of their vegetarian banh mi but especially the tofu which is . . . magic. It definitely seems handmade in the shop and is super flavorfully cooked and delicious.
And a huge grab-and-go section with so many unusual things.
Once upon a time, I spent 2 hours taking the bus here from Evanston, only to discover that they were closed on Tuesdays. NOOOOOOOOO. Now? Redemption is mine! I am now located within walking distance.
I stopped in today to grab a few sandwiches for the day. I was allured by the "Buy 5, Get 1 Free" deal. I foolishly thought I could eat 6 banh mi in one day (I managed 4). The classic is always a favorite, but their grilled pork and meatball sandwiches are fantastic. Throw in the pickled daikon, pickled carrot, cucumber, cilantro, and jalapeno, and you have a pretty rad sandwich that never lack in flavor.
Nhu Lan also sells non-sandwich things. Pick up your spring rolls here, filled with either grilled pork, lemongrass tofu, or shrimp. Or, buy some baked fresh daily baguettes to use at home - they are dirt cheap and delicious. If you're thirsty, they have a nice selection of fruit to make smoothies out of, or, head to the cooler and pick up a can of soy milk, grass jelly drink, or basil seed drink.
The shop is small, with only 2 4-top tables to eat in, but it seems most people come here to do carry out. The banh mi maker lady is super friendly too. Definitely a neighborhood gem. Super cheap too. $30 scored me 6 banh mi, 3 enormous grilled pork spring rolls, 1 grass jelly drink, and 3 baguettes.
Yum Yum Yum!!! When I have Bánh mì fever you know the first place the doctor sends me is Nhu Lan! Sooooo.yummy!!! Â
Everything about the Bánh mì's at Nhu Lan is just right.  Crusty french bread, creamy pate and a heavy hand with the Viet veggies. Â
If you are getting anything but a Bánh mì you are not doing Nhu Lan right.  Their spring rolls are just ok and the bubble tea average.  But the Bánh mì!!!
Are you kidding me? Â Why am I just walking into this place for the first time in my life? Now I need to make up for lost time!!!
As I walked in, I was hit with a smell that I last experienced when I was in Asia...I immediately knew I needed to eat here. Â The girl behind the counter immediately tried to take my order but I had no idea what I was doing here or what I needed to order. Â I loved the two flat screen televisions displaying the menu. Â Just a little information...there is a total lack of description of the sandwiches, so you are going to have to wing it.
We finally decided on a Pork Meatball Sandwich, Lemongrass Chicken Sandwich, a Watermelon Shake with those Yogurt balls (I'm not a fan but the girls in my life overruled me), a veggie spring roll and an extra baguette (that's french for bread).
The place is small here, so have a backup plan of where to eat because there are only two tables inside. Â We were planning on eating in the bakery but both tables were taken by 2 customers each, who were completely done eating and just talking. Â Honestly I just thought that they were being rude...I wanted to say something but I didn't want to also be rude. Â We stood there for a few minutes looking at them but neither table would make eye contact with us 3. Â Finally I said, "I guess we are eating in the car!'
We opened our sandwiches and started diving in. Â Each sandwich comes with pickled daikon, carrot, fresh cucumber, jalapeno and cilantro. Â I ordered the Pork Meatball Sandwich and I really enjoyed it. Â The bread was amazing and it better be because this place is a bakery. Â Honestly the bread makes this sandwich...it was really fresh. Â The veggies and meatballs mixed so nicely together with the bread. Â If I had a wish I would have asked for another 4 small meatballs on here. Â If you are hungry you might want to get another sandwich. Â Next time I go I am going to ask them if I can pay to have a few more meatballs. Â The raw jalapeno was perfect on here...in fact my lips are still burning as I type this.
My wife had the Lemongrass Chicken and I had a nice big bite. Â This was so good! I have no idea how I could have chosen the wrong sandwich. Â I typically do not like this because it is usually to lemony and very grassy but not this sandwich, it was perfect and not overpowering. Â I did get lucky when my wife could not finish her sandwich and it was donated to me. Â Yum Yum!!! Â This sandwich was packed full of chicken unlike my pork meatball sandwich.
Our little one was so happy with the watermelon shake, veggie spring roll and fresh bread. Â She loves good bread. Â She even asked to save some of the bread for her dinner tonight...so cute!!! Â The bread was so fresh. Â They charge only 45 cents for a bread and you can get 3 for $1.25...I wish we had gotten 3 because that was a deal but we had no idea how good that bread was.
Speaking of deals the prices here are super cheap. Â $3.50 for the meatball and $3.75 for the lemongrass chicken...all day long...plus if you buy 5 sandwiches you get 1 free. Â I wish we would have just ordered 6 different sandwiches and had split them all...maybe next time!
Oh yeah, back to the rude people still sitting at the tables (I was watching from our car)...we finished our lunch in our car and they were still sitting there talking with no food! Â Honestly this is not a coffee shop! Â I am surprised the owners did not kick them out with a broom, while yelling, "You need to eat to sit at table!" Â I kind of wish I did see that but as we drove away none of that was happening.
This was my first Vietnamese Sandwich and it was amazing! Â I have no idea why I have waited most of my life to try these sandwiches. Â What was crazy is that our car still smelled delicious when we got back inside of it an hour later. Â I had no idea how the yummy smells stayed because we left no garbage in the car. Â It made me want to drive back there and get a few more sandwiches. Â This place is worth it and thanks to the French for sharing how to bake bread. Â This place is now on my list and if you haven't tried it yet you better get here!!!
I was looking for something new (to me) in the area for dinner that I can walk to. I checked on Yelp and saw lots of stars for this place so I dragged my sister.
Didn't realize it was a sandwiches shop and although my sister said no sandwiches, I convinced her to stay. I'm glad she did since we got to try two different sandwiches. She got the chicken and I got the pork of course.
The flavors were so good together. My mouth is watering just thinking of it. I may have to swing by later today on the way to the train station. The bread was really fresh and so perfect. The meat was flavorful and I love the fresh veggies (garnish).
We also got a egg roll which was in the warmer. Egg roll was good but the sandwiches are pretty amazing. I really don't have any other experience with banh mi so I vote for Nhu Lan any time.
Note, we actually ate in but it's really meant for take out. There were only two tables with a few chairs.
Will have to try their bubble teas next time.
Okay so I thought I should write in an update, since I have had the opportunity to try a few other joints around the country now. I now live in Silicon Valley California near San Jose, and even though they have a few Vietnamese shops here that "specialize" in Bánh mì's, Nhu Lan's Bánh mì's are still easily my favorite and the best I've ever had.
Seriously, if you live in Chicago and you've not tried this place, then you live under a rock, and if you have had the blessing of eating here, then count yourself lucky to have one of the best Bánh mì shops in the country in your neighborhood.
When I travel back to Chicago, the first stop on my list after grabbing my rental car is always Nhu Lan, and of course this is always the last place I go to to grab a few to take with me as I head back to the airport.
Spring rolls were good. Sandwiches were decent. Dined in and sat next to the bin where they keep the french bread they have for sale. There isn't a lid for the bin and I couldn't help but notice flies landing on the bread. Told the cashier but all she did was poke her head in the bin then took some tongs to remove the piece of bread that had the fly in it.  What about the rest of the bread that that  fly as well as its friends landed on??? And how about covering the bin so it doesn't happen anymore?
I could not help but be grossed out as I sat and ate the rest of my sandwich.
Fantastic. Â I have sampled only the sandwiches. Â The #4 & #5 are to die for, especially the grilled pork!
The bread is so crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, what a wonderful crunch!
Fresh veggies that also give the sandwich crunch, with sweet, savory, and spicy all wrapped in one.
Sandwiches are under just $4.00 and are hearty and filling. Â
Delish and affordable, mmmm!
Note seating is minimal and decor is sparce. Â Sandwich prep time was 5-10 minutes.
Great bahn mi at great prices. Fantastic flaky bread. Fresh veggies. Tasty meats. All you could want from a bahn mi place. I had the pork meatball bahn mi and two pork and shrimp egg rolls on my first visit and everything was great with a price tag under $10, including two cans of soda. This is another one of those gems of Lincoln Square/Albany Park.
Not much seating at all, so either take out or cross your fingers and hope.
Turn out your pockets, dig through your couch cushions and scrape together four bucks. That's less than it will cost you to do your laundry. Then take your four bucks and get yourself a banh mi from Nhu Lan.
The lemongrass chicken sandwich was wonderful. It's full of flavorful chicken, crispy carrots, a big slice of cucumber, jalapenos and every banh mi's starring herb---cilantro. It tasted great, though it would've been improved even more by some kind of sauce sauce because it was a tad dry (if I'm being picky).
In addition to the sandwiches, they also offer such reasonably priced items as pre-made spring rolls (there's a beef version too, but we got the spring roll medley of tofu, shrimp and some kind of spicy veggie), fresh fruit smoothies, fresh bread and pastries.
You can order a head of time for pick-up, but the wait is also short for walk-ins. There are only a few places to sit and eat, so I recommend taking your sandwich on a picnic or back home before you go animal on it. Oh, and be extra careful not to get crumbs all over yourself, because you do not have any money to launder that shirt.
Great Bahn Mi place! This location used to be Cloud 9 (the flavored ice place that was open seasonally). Menu is easy to read and prices are made very clear. Around $4.50-$5 for a sandwich.
I asked what was most popular and they told me: Nhu Lan special and the Grilled Pork. I opted for the Nhu Lan special and wasn't disappointed (pork type sandwich). It was brought out to me pretty fast. The bread was puffy, crispy and soft all at the same time...perfect! Good balance of ingredients in the sandwich and a great size for the price.
They also have a section for asian drinks and pre-made meals. I asked if they had any hot pork buns and they said they could heat up the pre-packaged ones.
I'd come back to try more! And I also want to try the bubble tea. Prices are about $3.50
Banh mi oh my, this place is incredible.
Lunch was needed and I thought, "Hey Matt, didn't someone tell you to go try the banh mi over at Nhu Lan?" "Oh yeah," I replied, "they did." So I walked my happy ass over at Nhu Lan and got two banh mi and some sesame balls.
The first sandwich, the chicken lemongrass was outstanding. The chicken wasn't grizzly or weird, the veggies were crisp and the bread was fresh, crusty and soft. Every bite was an amazing mix of cilantro and jalapeño, chicken and awesomeness. If I had eaten breakfast I'm sure I would've been full. However...
The Chinese roast pork banh mi was calling my name. It should be noted I'm a huge fan of Chinese BBQ pork. Its practically fluorescent red outside and tender, porky inside speaks to me in foreign tongues, seducing my taste buds and igniting my soul. So when I saw that Nhu Lan had a sandwich with my favorite meat, I had to try it. Like the first sandwich, the bread and veggies were perfect and the roast pork, too, was artfully crafted. Not too fatty with the great smokiness and tang. Magnificent.
The sesame balls were also good. VERY strong sesame flavor and a nice bite. Overall I loved my lunch and can't wait to return!
Wow. Can't believe I lived so close to this and never knew its existence. If you haven't been here, don't let the quickly reconditioned space ward you off. It lends credence to Nhu Lan's authenticity.
Been here a couple of times and won't be visiting Be Le anymore. This place has enough vegetarian and vegan sandwiches to keep me coming back.
Their smoothies are very good. Both the coconut and the lychee are the best I've ever had. The ginger tofu sandwich is superb but the classic vegan sandwich is on the salty side, and one I wouldn't easily recommend. Â Overall, its a place to get your Franco-Vietnamese sandwich in the city.
Well that was disappointing. I tried Nhu Lan because it was the banh mi no-brainer according to Yelp. The baguette was so big I found myself tearing off unnecessary bits of bread. For such a mayo-heavy sandwich, the Nhu Lan Special was also pretty dry. The veggies were on the light side, but adequate, and the carrot and daikon flavor was a little weak. Although the #1 Nhu Lan Special was advertised as being more "flavorful" and having "more veggies" it was remarkably bland. The only thing that this shop really got right is the price point--even if $4.12 leaves an obnoxious amount of change.
The intention is good, but the quality is really not good enough to make a special trip. I don't like to snob on places, but I'd have serious concerns about moving to Chicago if this were really the best banh mi. I know Chicago can do pho, so shouldn't it be able to do sandwiches too?
CHEAP EATS!
if youre ever in the neighborhood and are in need of a bahn mi fix, come here! Â i hear ba le is just as good, but this place is great, too. Â the best part about nhu lan is that if you buy 5 sandwiches, you get 1 free! Â and why wouldn't you want 6 of them? Â you can eat them every day for a week for lunch, you can get sandwiches for you and 5 of your friends (for about $3-4 each!). Â i usually get a bunch, and then get everything on the side (the veggies, cilantro, jalapeno). Â that way the 'wiches don't get soggy. Â then you can throw them in the micro, on the george forman (to get the bread nice and crispy again).
i think the key to great bahn mi is the bread! Â and they do have fantastic bread. Â crunch, crispy - i crave it. Â
it's right off of lawrence, close to viet town, but off the beaten path. Â super casual, nothing fancy by any means. Â run in, get your sammy, and gobble it up (there are a few seats in the joint, so it's prob better to get it to-go).
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