OMG my favorite sandwich ever! I usually get the vegetarian and my husband loves the meatball - both are amazing!!!

This place is fantastic for quick sandwich stop. The good: - I always get the grilled pork and it's amazing, especially for the price. - Veggies always seem fresh. - Service is quick and friendly. - Place is clean enough. - Pretty easy parking for picking up food. The bad: - Definitely more of a to-go place, but there are 2 small tables inside. Have to check this one out, great value as well! read more

Nhu Lan Saigon Subs - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bahn mi--- a French Vietnamese magic concoction. When I used to work near the area, this was a perfect place to pick up a delicious sandwich to go or eat. The bread is crispy and the content is moist, filled fresh herbs and pickled veggies. I would get their Tofu Bahn mi all the time because it was that good. read more

Small joint that produces some of the best Banh Mi you will find in Chicagoland. Banh Mi is basically a sub sandwich done Vietnamese style containing Pickled Daikon (radish), carrots, Cilantro, cucumbers and Jalapeños. They pretty much remind you of most asian spots it's small, hot, chicken/ducks hanging upside down in a glass case and they are usually out of a number of ingrediants for their smoothies. However their stuff is straight up bomb. It's the fricken bread that separates them from the other busters. They are a bakery so the bread is so mad fresh crispy outside, hot and Charmin soft on the inside. The above mentioned ingrediants inside taste like they were grown from a backyard garden and just harvested. Simply a devine sandwich. The smoothies are excellent as well. Fresh fruit is always used and you can mix flavors. Although they always seem to be out of something Bananas, Strawberries, whatever so have a few options in mind. Stay away from the Tapioca balls those things are whack. They just plug up the straw and smoothie suckage ceases to exist. A great neighborhood spot that is quick and cheap with super fresh ingredients. Most likely get your stuff to go. Only 2-3 small tables with hanging Chickens staring at you if you do sit down. Banh Mi and Tapioca ball-less smoothies FTW! read more

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My favorite place for Bahn Mi sandwiches. Love the food there and the people. The bread is what makes them stand out from other sandwich spots and they bake it in house. Been going here for years and we usually get the #8 which is the original sandwich. read more

There is not much more to say other than THIS PLACE ROCKS! There is no way you can get better food for a cheaper price than here. Do not let the interior fool you! It reminds you of a classic Chinese take out place with no deocr thought but the food more than makes up for it! I ate the Number 17 sandwich or BBQ Pork (See pic) and it was to die for. The combo of BBQ Pork, Carrots, Radish (maybe???), cilantro, and jalepeno is AMAZING! I hope the owners don't read the review because they only charge $5 and I would pay double for this delicous sandwich. On top of the sandwiches they sell the meat by the pound. I will def try this next time. You can get roast pork, bbq pork, duck, ribs and so many other things. They also have different kinds of eggrolls, buns, and spring rolls for sale. I cannot wait unitll I try everything. read more

Nhu Lan Saigon Subs - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Warm fresh bread and tasty ingredients makes this sandwich the best sandwich in Chicago for sure! Its even better with an avocado smoothie thats what i call winning!!!!!!! Haha Order to go and eat in your car... be warned the bread will leave crumbs all over you its toasted properly and has a perfect crunch every time! Go to a vacuum asap lol read more

I can't believe the Banh Mi deliciousness at Nhu Lan! i've tried a variety of places that sell these super viet sandwiches and Nhu Lan has the best. Their meat to veggies ratio is perfect - both are filled to the max. The meat is so well marinated and moist along with the tons of pickled veggies, cilantro, and jalapeno. It rocked! You have to try the Grilled Pork and Lemongrass Chicken. Sooooo good! They also have a ton of vegetarian sandwich options. :) Everyone loves Bahn mi as proven by the Vietnamese families we saw there and non-Asians. Yum Yum! read more

Nhu Lan Saigon Subs - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this place and am super glad its opened up another one!! I love this place and would pick it over Ba Le anytime! Easy to find in the new market center Spring rolls are on steroids The lemongrass chicken banh mi is a great choice if you don't eat beef or pork like me! They have about 19 different types of banh mis, and over 10 different types of vietnamese dessert drinks. I had the 3 color drink and it was tasty, you can also request to add ice with your drink. Their food is reasonably priced and filling! Also they have super dope specials, buy 5 banh mis, get one free, buy 5 egg rolls get one free! read more

Best banh mi! Always stop here before driving back to Ohio. Banh mi holds up well even during the 5 hour drive! Crunchy crust and fluffy inside just like a banh mi is supposed to be! read more

Chicago classic at this point! Can't go wrong with the #1. Grab a shrimp roll while you're there too.

I have to come here every time I visit Chicago. Their Banh Mi Special Sandwiches are amazing! They bake their own bread, the meats are delicious, and the vegetables are fresh! Owner is very nice too! read more

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I am so disappointed. I've only had food poisoning once in my life. And it was these sandwiches. This was my friend's only exposure to Vietnamese sandwiches; I was so embarrassed. He had a sandwich for breakfast and, 12 hours later, the misery of food poisoning. I had a sandwich for lunch and, 12 hours later, I had food poisoning, too. The only awesome part was that I lost weight that week and I still haven't found them. Hah. read more

Nhu Lan Saigon Subs - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The best place for Banh Mi sandwiches in Chicago apparently. The bread which was daily and house made was buttery, light, flaky, and crispy which I could have it alone without any fillings. They also sold other popular Vietnamese food like Pho or rice or sweet desserts here, but only the Banh Mi sandwiches were outstanding. read more

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Great little authentic Vietnamese place! Tiny little tables let you enjoy the full on flavor of authentic Bahn Mis, Phô, and other delicacies. I wish there was a bit more space to move around, the service was a bit more friendly, and the bahn mi buns were more dense and less airy. Otherwise definitely try this place! read more

Nhu Lan Saigon Subs - Pork meatballs bahn mi, and a #1 bahn mi. 10. 20 oz. Mango Smoothie - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

To me, Nhu Lan and Ba Le are the top two banh mi bakeries in Chicago. I like both of them for different reasons, but this new location really impressed me! The lemongrass chicken was marinated in a unique sauce and super flavorful. The Chinese roasted pork was also good, but the sweet bbq flavor is more commonplace. The French bread they came in tasted fresh out of the oven. From the look of it, you'll wonder how you can bite into something so monstrous, but your mouth will press down on warm, soft fluffy bread with just the right amount of chewy crust. Pickled vegetables, carrots, and cucumbers made me feel like less of a carnivore. My only disappointment was that the mango pineapple smoothie tasted artificial, but my boyfriend was a fan so to each their own. There are only 3 tiny tables that seat 2 and no restrooms; take-out may be more comfortable, but we happily devoured the sandwiches in record time. read more

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Buy 5 get 1 free? Hell yes!!! How could you say no to this if you and a friend swing buy to pick up a few meals? Of the 6 sandwiches we sampled, my favorites were the grilled pork and meatball. Absolutely delicious!!! I also enjoyed the lemograss pork. The shredded pork did not pack the flavor punch that the other sandwiches did. The kiwi bubble tea was on spot and made completely of fresh fruit. They also serve pho as a dine-in only dish. That will be my next meal for sure! read more

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I've made three trips to Chicago in the past 4 months. Every time, I have come straight to Nhu Lan from the airport. Consistent perfection every time. At risk of repeating myself, the #4 with pate is the best sandwich I've ever had. read more

Love their desserts. Not too affordable but authentic enough that they keep me coming back.

NhuLan's Bakery is one new discovery that I go back to at least twice a month. It's basically a Vietnamese/French bakery on the 2000 block of W. Lawrence in Chicago in Lincoln Square/Ravenswood. Their baguettes are quite wonderful, especially when you freeze then heat them up in the oven - crisp outside and soft inside. And cheap! 3 for like a dollar and change, and if you buy 9, you get another 3 for free. And they bake them day in and day out, it seems. BUT, the best things about this bakery are the sub sandwiches - which I can describe as Vietnamese dishes on a baguette. For example, chicken lemongrass, or pate and pork rolls, or my favorite, the special with ham, headcheese (yes, headcheese!), pate and pork rolls - with a heaping helping of cilantro, carrots and white radish. All for $3.50. The only reason that I don't go there more often is that, it's a schlep from my place in Edgewater. But I make the pilgrimage, as I said, at least twice a month, to get our supply of baguette (which we freeze), durian candies, smoothies .. and of course the sub sandwiches - with plenty of selections that you can have a different sandwich everytime you go there. Oh, and they also serve other Vietnamese delicacies, drinks and snacks that you might as well try while you're there. I also love the clientele - no nonsense food lovers that run the gamut from construction workers to glamorous women in high heels to Birkenstock-clad neighborhood types to Vietnamese grandmamas. Eat your heart out Subway! read more

Nhu Lan Saigon Subs - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Not that this place needs another 5-star review... but this is my favorite banh mi place. Having grown up in California and recently came back from Vietnam 2 months ago, this place is amazing. I love the #1 (Nhu Lan Special). Basically just combination ham with pate--simple yet the best. I also tried the Roasted Pork, but I didn't like it as much. The pork was mostly fat (it was juicy and delicious, don't get me wrong) but it's just not the one for me. If you're ever in Ravenswood and need a quick lunch, this is your spot. read more

This is a small little bakery/cafe. The food is good at a decent price. They have ready made food to go also. The bah mi sandwiches are flavorful. They have vegan options for sandwiches too. I tried the ginger tofu and it was really good. I normally go for the grilled, BBQ or chinese pork sandwiches. Those are my favorites. They also have pho and other plates available that I have not tried yet. The sandwiches are great for a group of 6 because they are buy 5 get 1 free! I've taken them to work and had people try them for their first time and they love them and ask when I'm going to bring more. Great little spot that no one knows that well except for the locals. read more

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This place is amazing!! Vegetarian options held down! Pho is really good to! Thank you!!!

This is my first time in this place. I love those big huge giant shrimp spring rolls they have here. They have all kinds of other sandwiches and baked goods. They have a nice menu. The staff is friendly. And you'll find probably whatever you want in here. It's real convenient to get to. It's right on the Lawrence bus. read more

Nhu Lan is a great place to stop by for a quick and tasty meal. I got the roasted pork banh mi and it was fantastic! The pork was very flavorful and the pickled vegetables added a nice tang to the sandwich. The banh mi was actually a bit spicy due to the jalapenos stuffed inside but it wasn't anything that was too much to handle. A word of caution: the bread used for the banh mi is EXTREMELY crumbly. The crumbliness of the bread is on par with that of those Nature Valley granola bars... There were actually many different types of banh mi sandwiches offered. I will definitely be back to try the others! read more

Nhu Lan Saigon Subs - Roasted pork banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you want delicious, fresh, affordable, no-fuss food then you've come to the right place. Shame on me for just now finding out about Nhu Lan after all these years I spent going to uni literally five minutes away. I had a banh mi craving after class today and so I turned to Yelp which in turn led me to this place. I was promised an excellent sandwich and that's exactly what I got. The establishment itself is unassuming in appearance. You enter and directly in front of you is the cashier, the menu, and a friendly face to welcome you to the "bakery". To your right will be an open fridge containing shelves of prepacked puddings and vietnamese rolls. To your left are four small tables for dining in. My first sandwich from them was the Grilled Pork (#4) and upon receiving it I can tell you that they definitely don't skimp on ingredients. It's a massive sandwich and I can recall paying dollars more for sandwiches half that size in other banh mi shops. The cilantro, pickled carrots, cucumber were all noticeably fresh and the bread gave that great crunch that a banh mi sandwich should have. Since then I've had the Nhu Lan special (#1) and the Chinese Roast Pork (#17). They're all really flavorful. Take-aways: GREAT price, friendly staff, and delicious sandwiches. There is a credit card minimum of $5 so get a sandwich (less than $5) and pair it with a fresh fruit boba. I keep coming back for more. Call ahead for pick-up or even get your sandwich delivered! read more

Nhu Lan Saigon Subs - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I just added a photo, and it's so beautiful it should sum up my entire experience. The delivery guys are always super sweet, always there in under 45 minutes, and always have the correct order. The last time I ordered (I always go through Grubhub), they were out of some things I ordered so they called, asked what I would like as a substitute, and included a free egg roll and sesame ball (I had always avoided the sesame ball because it seemed like a weird concept... Until my friend took a nibble and raved for 10 minutes about the darn thing. Then I obviously had to try it- and was hooked)! Now my friend and I have literally made a pact to get together once a week and gossip and order from here. Yay being in your 20s. Their noodle soup is fine and delicious and fresh, but it's the sandwiches that will make you moan. read more

Nhu Lan Saigon Subs - Awesome grilled pork sandwich delivered (already ate the #1 special) in under half an hour! - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tasty Vietnamese sandwiches, sure, absolutely, but this place holds a special spot in my heart because of the spring rolls. Just the right combination of flavors with perfect creamy-with-an-almost-tangy-undertone peanut sauce. Update: also fantastic egg rolls, and you can't beat the price. read more

I really like their food i use to visit almost everyday. But slowly to once a week instead of 5 days a week Only problem I have is their roasted pork skin has a pork hair atleast clean it. Charging roasted pork more than 11$+ than atleast clean it. This happens more then multiple visit. same goes for their #5 sandwich the skin has hair read more

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I had the shrimp rice patties and they were good, the sauce was delicious. They were out of everything else I wanted, shrimp for banh mis and taro boba, so I got lychee and was almost half way done when I realized a hair in the bottom. Totally gross, needs a health inspection read more

Nhu Lan Saigon Subs - The hair is on the inside. - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super, awesome, Banh Mi! We ordered for lunch and knew that the line of people in front of me should be a good sign. It was! Our only challenge has been that their hours have been irregular in the evening. As we've tried ordering multiple times before going in person to order lunch. We will definitely be back! read more

Nhu Lan, I like you. But not as much as another Vietnamese sammich shop we may know. The flavors aren't as balanced in these sammies as I've had at other places. The cilantro is overly plentiful and overwhelms the rest of the good things these subs have to offer, like the pork or chicken... or the pork. I kind of like the tingle the jalapeno peppers leave in your mouth. I hear the service is super friendly. Read: you're treated like a cousin when you come in. read more

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. read more

I liked the first visit enough that I really wanted to come back, but visit #2 left me a little disappointed. The first time, I had #1 Special - and I have been looking for a cold cut combo sandwich like this ever since last summer. Everything in the filling from the pate, the mayo, the ratio of ingredients, the perfect pickling. So on point. Unfortunately, the bread was not so great. Crust way too thick, inside wasn't fluffy and was kinda stale. Plus, the size was not so consistent so for some sandwiches it washed out the taste of the filling. Lemongrass chicken (#3) - dry meat. I thought it'd be juicy pieces of stirfried/grilled thigh with nice lemongrass flavor, but dry meat + stale bread... I ended up trying to save it for later but never eating it. Pate, ham, and egg (#16) - overrated, or at least inconsistent. The first time I was here, I overheard someone saying this is by far their favorite sandwich here and that the egg was supposed to be sunny side up yet scrambled. I immediately regretted not getting that and vowed to try it soon. It was totally underwhelming. I didn't get gooey egg at all and the (mediocre) bread overwhelmed the filling. Grilled pork (#4) - mine tasted like lemongrass chicken so I'm not sure what's up with that.... I was expecting a completely different flavor so there's chance they gave me the same sandwich with dry meat that I was trying to avoid... Overall, would come back for #1, or if I'm nearby to try some of the stuff in the cooler (spring rolls, crystal dumplings, etc) or maybe another sandwich. I heard this was one of the best places for sandwiches in Chicago, so I'm surprised they don't even have good Viet baguettes or serve consistently good food... +5 stars for #1 -1 star for bad bread -1 for underwhelming everything else +.5 for reasonable prices ----- 3.5 stars! PS - if you want to get a sandwich to save for later, maybe ask for the pickled daikon on the side in a container that can be tightly wrapped, because the smell can get offensive... read more

This place is awesome and I'm really missing it since it's been closed due to COVID. The lemongrass tofu is superb but is also well known and tends to sell out. read more

Not only are the sandwiches and other menu items tasty and authentic, the price is crazy good considering the portion sizes.

the pho and sandwiches here are SOOO GOOD!!! the service is great and quick and the people are very nice. i'm gonna be craving the sandwiches a lot now. super super good read more

When I was a kid a hoagie sandwich consisted of bread, indifferent lettuce, and every single cold cut meat known to mankind. And mayonnaise. I know. Now that I am grown and educated and wise I eat things like a Nhu Lan ginger tofu bahn mi. And vegan fish sauce. I know. read more

Go to spot for banh mi and willing to drive 20+ minutes for it when the craving arrives. The #2 is my order, you can taste the generations of knowledge. The roasted pork is the best thing in my opinion but also enjoyed the chicken. Very reasonably priced and quick service. Don't sleep on the spring rolls, they are HUGE, bright and delicious. Need to try the roasted duck sometime when the opportunity arises. CASH ONLY so come prepared but this whole feast was barely $20 (2 sandwiches & shrimp spring rolls). read more

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Nhu Lan on Lawrence offers the best banh mi in the city of Chicago. Hands down. There's no argument to be had. The bread is tremendous, which really makes the sandwich. Their grilled pork and pork belly pate are my favorites, but they have a wide selection. I've been going to this location for over a decade and will keep going as long as it is open. read more