I was very excited to get some pho. Unfortunately this place was disappointing. Their broth is ok, not very meaty and not authentic for sure. Its also very spicy, even my hubby had some water, and he loves spicy food. They add peppers, sprouts into the pho, unlike the traditional protocol of offering those along side the dish. The service was nice, the place itself is quite tiny, very few spots to sit in. I did notice that most people ordered a banh me sandwich to go. Wont be back read more

A proper bánh mì requires juicy, flavorful meat, a zingy pop from the pickled daikon and carrots, and a crisp/moist rice-flour baguette whose crust shatters upon contact and rips your hard palate to shreds. The sandwiches here, sadly, provide none of those elements, even though they are the restaurant's namesake. Both the curry chicken and lemongrass chicken bánh mìs were so dry that I reached for water with every bite. Though toasted in one of those Subway zapper ovens, the bread went flat and squishy in seconds. And the pickled vegetables were limp and flavorless, contributing nothing. The won ton soup, though decent, didn't elicit any real emotion or moans of delight. Dry chicken also ruined an otherwise tasty rice vermicelli soup as well as the passable pho. This chain seems to have a problem with chicken -- maybe I'd have better luck with pork and beef items? But after being disappointed by three visits, I won't bother returning. read more

The sandwiches are really good. They make their bread in-house so it is always fresh and flaky. The Pork sandwich is my favorite. The meat has a sweet/savory marinade. I always ask for more jalapeños because I love the crunchiness and the heat. I order in the restaurant or delivery and the sandwich is always delicious and tastes fresh. read more

Always walk past this place since it's in the area. Finally grabbed a sandwich with pulled pork and it was delicious. The bread was baked just right, the ingredients fresh, and had a nice kick to it. Added the wonton soup mmm mmmm. Nice seating outside is a plus and it's reasonably priced. Went back and got the lemon chicken sandwich with the wonton soup this time. After eating both I recommend the pulled pork myself since it had a little more flavor and not as dry. As others state it is cheaper if you pay with cash and it can get really crowded inside so you may need to take it to go.A bonus tip is to try the Meatball combo (Banh Mi Xiu Mai) . It comes with a sandwich, soup, a can of soda, and I think a salad spring roll for very cheap! read more

Banh Mi - Wonton soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm from an area with a lot of good vietnamese food. You should take that into account when reading this review. All around i give this place a 'Meh'. I don't really know how much more expensive chicago is than seattle or vice versa, but i can get the same types of food for the same price and they are much much better. Its not that the food was bad, or that i left feeling un-full, its just that the food was boring. I'm used to wonton soup broth having flavor other than cilantro. I'm used to Bun with a few additional ingredients including friend eggrolls. I'm used to fresh rolls with wrappers that aren't tough. I'd eat here again, and if i lived nearby they would certainly get my money as they seem to be open late enough, but in general the food just wasn't that interesting. read more

I celebrated my third month as a Chicago resident and squirrel-sized, freshly made Spring Rolls confirmed that by moving, I'd made the right decision. You can get 2 of these critters for $5, which for a girl still pining for WI prices, seems like a steal. I went with the curry chicken for my meat and it was a'ight. Some of the pieces were a little tough but not so tough that I couldn't wolf the rolls down in 4.6 seconds. Roll, Siracha, peanut sauce, repeat...that's how it's done. My friend and I also split a Classic Pork Bánh Mi. Yes. Just yes. I ordered two more Spring Rolls to-go (shredded chicken this time) and ate them for lunch today. So basically, it's been a 2-day celebration. read more

Ordered the banh mi- found that the chicken was under filled and the bread was a bit dry. The wonton soup was tasty but a small portion. Overall ok, but probably would not return. I got this as a takeout order for lunch. read more

Bahn Mi & Co is tiny and adorable. Seating is minimal, so have a backup plan or order to go in case you can't get something. BYO which makes it yet another insanely reasonable place for lunch or a light dinner. I had the lemongrass tofu bahn mi & thought it was delicious. Their siracha was really spicy, which is key. Great spring rolls & the couple next to us was eating something over rice which looked really tasty. I'll definitely be back. Oh, and the sesame rice ball was perfectly done, not greasy, just nice and sweet. read more

Fresh, tasty, fast. I loved the rice noodle salad. It had the same flavors and ingredients that I enjoyed in Viet Nam. Good music, nice staff, unique decor. Two requests for the folks at Banh Mi: Please put more vegetables in this dish to match the quantity of noodles. Please serve dine-in orders on washable plates, not in plastic boxes. Out landfills are plenty full already. If doing so requires an institutional change with additional kitchenware and permits, then know that the investment will pay off when your clientele can identify your commitment to a livable future. read more

I just ate here for lunch this afternoon, and couldn't have been more pleased. I ordered the spring rolls with shrimp and the BBQ pork sandwich. The spring rolls weren't anything different but were tasty all the same. The sandwich, however, was delicious. The bread was perfectly warm and toasted and the pork was so tender. There was a perfect crunch from the cucumber and carrots and just the right amount of jalapeño for heat. The prices aren't bad either! read more

Banh Mi - BBQ pork sandwich and shrimp spring rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love love love their food. It's always fresh. However, cleanliness is an issue at the Arysley/South Charlotte location. While I waited on my food, I used the restroom and it hasn't been cleaned since forever! So, if the bathroom, a place I can see is that dirty, what does the kitchen look like? Also, the glass door leading into the restaurant has never seen Windex, it is also dirty and nasty and and and...I sure hope you folks take a little time to fix this problem. It's just gross and overshadows your amazing food. read more

Listen, as of this moment when I begin composing this review, my stomach has not has not even had time to digest my bahn mi sandwich. Food: I'm all about the perfect ratio when it comes to amount of starch versus the other ingredients. The bahn mi sandwiches I've had in the past were definitely skimpy with the stuffing and left me picking off chunks of bread to fix the ratio, but not the sandwich(es) I tried at Bánh Mì & Co. I sampled the pork with paté, ordered the seitan, and refrained from eating all of my boyfriend's grilled beef sandwich. He liked my seitan house sandwich better than his own. Price: With the exception of the salad (less than $7) and the sandwich combo with one side and a drink (less than $7), everything was under $5. I think that's pretty amazing. Decor: I love how simple and visual the menu is. For each filling item, there is a picture of that item captioned with the flavor option (e.g., under the Tofu icon, it has the two choices, "Veggie | Lemongrass". Lemongrass Tofu Báhn Mì please!) These same pictures are used to seal your wrapped sandwich for easy identification among a group of sandwiches (get your hands off my house seitan sandwich). Service: So why not 5 stars? The girl behind the counter was very nice, but the service was a teeny bit slow. There were three people waiting for food before we got there, and one woman making the sandwiches. We were in no rush, so the wait did not bother us, but for people who have limited time, this might not be the best place to go. Perhaps they have more hands during peak chow-down hours; I'll have to go back then to check it out. read more

What not to love these sandwich joints that are poping up everywhere, the Anthony Bourdain influence? Walked in and didn't expect much but to grab a quick bite, ordered the beef and was pleasantly surprised, there was only one person behind the counter, he took my order, and others orders, he prepared the sandwiches and he answered the phone, but the sandwich came out fast and perfect. I don't understand why it takes Ba Le so much longer to prepare my sandwich each time I ordered from them. I have to say I like Banh Mi & Co sandwich better becuase the bread has a little more substance (more dough) to it than the Vietnamese places. I have not tried the spring roll yet but would love to sample next time. Simple menu, great food, straight forward and FAST. read more

Haven't even eaten here, but they have a TASTY butterscotch root beer. I go in, get one, dude says it's 2.50. I give him a 5. He gives me back 2 singles. And a quarter. I stare at him for maybe three seconds, thinking he's going to dip into that till and give me the other quarter. He does no such thing. The register reads 2.50. Watch your change, people. And f*ck that guy. read more

Growing up in Southern CA, I had plenty of choices to choose from when it comes to Vietnamese Sandwiches and Pho. After moving in to the neighborhood, I was very excited to see that we had a Banh Mi and Pho shop all in one - so I decided to try them out on two different occasions. The first visit, I had their Saigon Classic Special Sandwich. I was hoping for a "robust" flavor sandwich but sadly disappointed in terms of the ingredients. The meat was a little on the bland side, while the baguette was not crunchy, but instead, a little on the softer side - which is not how a Vietnamese Sandwich should be served. On the second visit, I tried their Traditional Vietnamese Pho. This time around, I was hoping for some real good tasting Pho but unfortunately, I was left disappointed. The broth tasted more like beef broth from a can than homemade broth, while the beef was bland and flavorless. This is not how Pho should be, so sadly, I can not recommend their Pho either. read more

Best thing on the menu were the sandwiches- BBQ pork. I had the papaya salad and it was so bland. So was the shrimp spring rolls, very bland. read more

Banh Mi - BBQ pork sandwich - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Yes, friends. Just. Yes. Bahn Mi is awesome. Tiffany and her lovely staff whip up some of the best tasting, best priced fare in the city. I've worked my way through the menu and can vouch for just about everything (except the rice bowls, which I haven't tried). I'd love to tell you that the sandwiches are better than the spring rolls which are better than the salads which are better than the soup, but it's just not true. Base your decision on what you're feeling like - I love the spring rolls for a lighter fare, the soup is great for a cold night - or if you need something meaty. Sandwiches are good to go, and I actually find the salads the most filling (opt for the lemongrass chicken). Friends of mine could argue about the most complimentary protein for hours - but in truth they're all delicious. You get a tax discount if you pay with cash, so it's worth hitting up the atm before your meal. read more

Ended up here after finding out 2 other choices were closed last night, and so glad we did! The lemongrass tofu sandwiches were unreal...so flavorful! We also loved the wonton soup, and the springrolls were pretty good too. I loved the vegetarian options, and I enjoyed that we were able to get so much food for not that much money. read more

I visited the new location on Belmont and Clark. The people who work there are so nice, and helped me with choices. It was good, but not even close to Nhu Lan. More bread than meat in my sandwich and spring roll did not taste fresh. Back to Nhu Lan for me. read more

Popped in here before walking over to briar street theater. Was amazed by the food. Wonton soup and and a Bahn Mi was perfect. Can't wait to go back for seconds. read more

Banh Mi - Lemongrass Bahn Mi and Wonton Soup. - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had the curry chicken and it was just too much curry for me. The bread was little on the drier side.

In my opinion, this is much better than Nhu Lan (disclaimer: I've only been to Nhu Lan's location on Belmont, not the flagship restaurant on Lawrence). I ordered the same items I did at Nhu Lan here today for lunch, and Bahn Mi wins hands down. For starters, this place is like a cute little deli/cafe type place. Not like Nhu Lan where you walk in and it smells of rotting food and there are cheesy neon colors everywhere. I had the bbq pork sandwich with no mayo. I like the bread to meat/toppings ratio here. Very tasty. I also got the shrimp spring rolls with peanut sauce. Yum yum. There's also a few chairs about to sit and eat or to wait for your food. They were plenty busy today even at 2pm on a Saturday. I will come back to try their soups, salads, etc. Go here instead of Nhu Lan. read more

This place seriously rocks. Came here on a warm summer night with 4 friends, sat outside with 2 six-packs (BYOB is the best!). Split some pork, chicken, and veggie spring rolls and wonton soups as apps. The wonton soup was awesome, and the spring rolls were fresh and crisp. I personally had the curry chicken banh mi. Even the bread they use is perfect! What really sells me on this place is, as others have mentioned, the ambience, prices, and staff. Banh mi for $4!? Amazing. And the guy who was helping us (he seemed like the manager or owner) went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and welcome. He lent us a bottle opener, took our orders at the outside table even though one usually orders at the counter, and brought us some of his special sauce- spicy garlic hot sauce that he makes himself. read more

I've never tried Banh mi sandwiches before but now I'm a fan! I've been wanting to go here ever since this place opened and started getting rave reviews. Stopped by to try their sandwiches. The vegetarians/vegans have a few options that feature tofu and seitan. I got the $5 banh mi sandwich with lemongrass tofu and it was amazing. The tofu was marinated, seasoned and not at all a bland mess that they serve at most places. The fresh veggies were crisp and tasted great. The bread was soft and delicious too. This is not for people afraid of too much spice, because they pack in a few big slices of jalapenos. Definitely worth a try! read more

I had a taste for a banh mi sandwich, check the reviews and decided to give this spot a try. I love bahn mi sandwiches , and enjoy trying new places. I rate a sandwich place by the overall freshness of bread, the toppings- their proportion and construction and the freshness of ingredients. The decor of the place, the atmosphere and authenticity of staff is also important. First and foremost, the bread which was Okay, but definitely baked there like Nhu Lan. The toppings - I had lemon grass chicken, of which was tasty and a generous proportion, the daikon was also tasty but an overwhelming amount was used, the cilantro was pretty much non existent as were the jalapenos, the cucumber spears were fresh and okay, although I prefer slices. Another unique thing they did was apply the meat and mayo then warm the bread in a toast oven- I've never seen this done and although it made the bread tastier and crispy, I didn't like the mayo or meat rewarmed. I also didn't like the fat the bun was sliced partially through and then "loaded" with the toppings. I like a bun fully cut through and then a sandwich constructed and the top put on. The atmosphere was great, really nice decor and I assume the cashier was the owner. The sandwich chef could have been better trained I think and he seemed a bit disinterested. Another member of staff was making spring rolls, she was a possible owner and looked like she was VERY knowledgeable and highly skilled at her position. I'll try it again, after I try the other places around Chicago, so it might be a while. Maybe they were too busy, or had an off day, my yelpers can't be this far off. I suggest if you like this place you will also like Ba Le and really LOVE Nhu Lan. read more

The Lemongrass Chicken Sandwich and the BBQ Pork Sandwich are my two favorites. But you really can't go wrong with any of the sandwiches here, the produce is always super fresh, great flavor, yummy flaky bread. I order pick-up here at least once a week and they always have my order ready when I arrive. Great prices compared to other stuff in the neighborhood. Sorta cramped on the inside and sometimes the staff doesn't seem to be in the *best* mood. But great little place to get a yummy bahn mi sandwich. Go elsewhere if you're looking for a good pho though. read more

I love the food and i've really enjoyed every experience I've had in the restaurant. I've even directed other people to go here through my job, but I'd never order delivery from here again. In fact, the last time I was over there I went to Nhu Lan instead and it was great, as always. I ordered delivery from here last week and when the order came, the soda was missing. I called after the driver that it was missing the soda, to which he responded that he'd have to come back. I responded, "Okay." Somewhat surprisingly they neither came back nor called me. I suppose I could have called them but while I'm not going to go chasing diet coke around the city, I am going to be annoyed by lousy customer service enough that I will avoid a restaurant i've otherwise liked and post about my experience here. It's unfortunate because the girl who's always at the register is really nice and the other employees preparing food behind the counter were very nice every time I've been in there. I wish Ba Le delivered. read more

I'm a pescatarian and so I eat fish and veggies and dairy. I'd tried Ba Le and knew about the sandwiches, and the sushi buffet across the street has disappeared (very sad), so my wife and I embarked on this new and tasty adventure. I opted for the seitan veggie sandwich since it was recommended for "vegans" over the tofu by the man who took my order. Tofu is also vegan, but I digress. The seitan tasted like it was from a can, but I like seitan from a can so that's ok. I'd probably appreciate something more along the lines of Uptons or a homemade seitan - it's really not hard to make - just add water to gluten flour and makes strips and boil. Or buy Uptons from whole foods. Whichever. The ingredients were fresh and good but not as abundant as Ba Le (my wife's appraisal) and still they were falling out of the sandwich. Noodles seemed to be missing but I guess that's now they roll here (roll, haha) - still, it was a great sandwich! The veggie spring rolls (with tofu) were very tasty and came with an excellent peanut sauce that was slightly spicy. I loathe the lazy "vinegar and sugar and carrot peels" sauce that places like Dong Ky present and was very impressed with the sauce. They have all sorts of sodas and one is a butterscotch root beer. This is candy in a bottle and I highly recommend it! All in all my wife and I had a great meal and a nice time and the owners were very nice. read more

Do you love sandwiches? Do you love cilantro? Good. Go here. The meat they use is consistently delicious, and even the weak link (grilled beef, go figure) is still a fantastic sandwich. Dat BBQ pork and lemongrass chicken though. Also, their wonton soup is beyond good, and the combo of soup+sandwich is really reasonably priced. AND so much cilantro. Haven't tried the pho yet (every time I try, and I end up getting one of their sandwiches again. It's a problem), so yeah. read more

Just as it started snowing I spotted this Vietnamese cafe and tucked in for a bowl of hot soup. There's beautiful photographs on the wall and keys from different hotels...It brought me back to Vietnam :) The staff was so sweet and when Teddy walked in he was holding a tray of coffees for his employees and even offered me one. The combination of a heartwarming Pho Ga & kindness made a very cold, grey day sunnier. Thank you Teddy & staff :) !! read more

Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's more of a take out than a sitting restaurant . There are only four seats ... But the staff are attentive and friendly ... There are many people who came in and out picking out their orders. We had the traditional pho .. Taste is great .. Noodles are perfect ... But they combined all the vegetable including the jalapeño to the soup making us fishing it out of our soup bowl .... Just to remind the staff next time to just separate the veggies... read more

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I have seen this place thirty times and went in for the first time today. I tried the BBQ Pork Sandwich- OMG. Seriously- one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. I actually felt a sense of sadness when it was gone...but only for about three hours when I decided to get it delivered from GrubHub that same night. It only took 20 minutes and I received that same sandwich that I swear is made by Angels. Love the combination of herbs and textures and flavors! Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an eclectic twist on a typical sandwich craving night:) read more

First the food. I had a Saigon classic and Pho. Flavor was ok. The broth needs some work. It is way to cloudy. The broth in Pho should be no different than a finely made consomme, rich in depth and absolutely grunge free. This was mediocre. The noodles were not bad, but thinner than I would like. The brisket was old and dry. The sandwich was fair. At least they added jalapenos without fear of killing the poor white guy. The baguette was toasted too much. Staff. Well give me service or give me good food. That was strike 2. You're one and done thank you very much. read more

Great place for a quick lunch. I've been here a few times for lunch and it's consistently good. During my last visit I tried the pork roll bahn mi and the grilled beef spring rolls. I actually wasn't a huge fan of the pork roll, but the sandwich was still good. I would recommend a different protein, though. The spring rolls were also far more filling than I anticipated. They have noodles inside, so if you're not a big eater, you could almost make a meal out of them. The peanut sauce they come with is also awesome. I haven't tried the pho yet, but it is on my list! read more

Banh Mi - Pork roll bahn mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friend and I were looking for something light but flavorful to eat for lunch. We walked past this little shop and decided to check it out. It's a cute little shop with pho, bahn mi sandwiches and other typical Vietnamese foods. This wasn't my first time eating pho, I eat a lot of pho back home so this was not a new experience for me. Bahn mi and co is a fast food version of Vietnamese food but they still use fresh ingredients and the food isn't lacking flavor. I ordered the chicken oh because I always have beef back home and it was good. It is al little more expensive that an actually pho restaurant but the portions are good and I was full. I was a nice change from all the fried foods I devoured this weekend. If you are looking for a quick bite, its worth the try. read more

Banh Mi - Traditional vietnamese pho with chicken - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Em, banh mi for $6?! You can get two for $3 in Garden Grove, CA. My SoCal friends would be appalled...But, of course, that's besides the point. This joint makes a solid sandwich. I say go for the steak. They don't skimp on the meat, which is pretty flavorful, and the bread is always warm, slightly crisp outside and soft inside, the way a baguette should be. It's also a good size...em, if you care about such things. I too really enjoy the wonton soup. It has tons of black pepper. Perhaps too much for some, so be warned. I haven't had the pho, but only because I refuse to get pho outside of Argyle for fear that I will be tragically disappointed. However, pho is one of my hangover comfort foods, so I'm sure I'll give in a try it at some point. read more

I checked this place out for a quick carry out dinner. I was excited to see vegan and vegetarian options- just be sure to ask for no fish sauce with your meal as it normally comes on the side with some dishes. I got the seitan noodle salad with peanut sauce , and it was very good and fresh tasting. Plus, a very large portion for less than $10! And it took all of five minutes for my order to be prepared. Fast, affordable, and just around the corner from home from me- this is a new go-to for me. I look forward to trying other menu items. read more

I have had a handful of their sandwiches. Everything was good and as advertised. No compliants, but also nothing that jumps out as exemplary. It is a great option for a quick sandwich and the passion fruit mojito boba is really tasty. read more

Love the food here. I always either get the curry chicken or the grilled beef sandwich. The meat is always so tasty with just the right amount of spiciness and the vegetables fresh to add that extra flavor. You can also tell that the bread was just freshly baked. I always either add the spring rolls and top it off with jalapeño or bbq potatoe chips. I always feel that I got a great meal at a reasonable price that always satisfies! I've also tried the traditional Vietnamese pho which is a meal onto itself if you get it with chicken or beef. Delicious! I've done takeout on way home from work or doing errands and delivery. Delivery has always been right on time estimate or early. read more

They have such good pho here!! It tastes so fresh and is my favorite place to go for it. I love the tofu pho and there are tons of veggies and noodles in it. In the summer they have a nice outdoor sitting area. Perfect for a cold day when you want some yummy soup! read more