Lotus Banh Mi - Chicago Loop — Restaurant in Chicago

I saw this place near my workplace and said I would try them one day so on 10/7/24 on a cold Chicago afternoon and stressful day, I decided to treat myself and try them.

I placed my order to try the regular size (they have large also) Beef Pho (Beef, rice noodles, bone broth, onions, cilantro, beansprouts, basil and lime) and a Pork Eggroll. The food is behind clear glass so you can see what it looks like. Staff was helpful and friendly. I got my food and sat down towards the back of the establishment. Place is very clean. I then counted my lucky stars because I noticed that they sell Joe's sweetened drinks which are the BOMB! I got my favorite, the mango lemonade and they were nice enough to give me a large cup of ice for it.

It was time for the moment of truth. I tasted the pho and it was so delicious! Hot, flavorful and yummy. Hit the spot on such a cold day. The eggroll was equally as delicious and the sweet and sour sauce that they gave to go with tasted homemade.

I felt so welcomed here. They had very soothing music in the background so the atmosphere allowed me to just sit, relax and enjoy my food. I remembered arriving close to their closing time. I told the gentleman working how good the food was along with me needing to hurry up because I knew they were closing soon. He told me not to rush and just take my time and I let him know how much I appreciated that because my day had been a rough one. I stayed and enjoyed the rest of my food and the chill vibe inside.

When leaving, I thanked the staff and told them I would spread the word about them to my coworkers to give them additional business. I'm really looking forward to coming back as I enjoyed everything I had.

Sidenote: I have visited there to get their chicken pho as a carry out order. I was really impressed how everything was packaged. The broth is separate from the other ingredients so it will be fresh when you are ready to eat it. Thank you Lotus Banh Mi. The pho tasted just as good carry out as it does dining in.

All in all, I HIGHLY recommend this place. Definite A+ in my book....

I came here for lunch on a rainy, chilly Wednesday afternoon (perfect pho weather!). Going in, I did not realize it was a build-your-own style which I had never had before for pho. I got the large steak bowl. The portions they give you are quite generous for the price. One notable thing was that the steak they used was the same grilled steak as the banh mi, unlike the typical eye round, tripe, beef ball, etc. you find with pho. I took my big bowl of pho with a cold can of Coke and sat next to the large window, looking out into the cold and rainy street. A perfect setting for a great pho experience.

I began by taking a sip of the broth to confirm my initial predictions of it being delicious. It was. I then gave my bowl a good mix and wanted to add some lime, but unfortunately the slice they gave me was dried out. I was too excited to get down with my pho though, so I didn't bother asking for a new slice. The meat was delicious! The char from the grilled steak added a very nice element to the beef broth that was new to me for pho. The garnishes of the cilantro, basil, and jalapeno were minced finely and the flavors really came through into the broth. A few big bites into my bowl, I decided to add some sriracha and hoisin into the mix. It is also worth noting that the bottles of sauce were very clean! Now, I know putting the sauce into the soup is sin in the eyes of pho purists, but I was in the mood for some spicy broth so whatever, sue me. I slurped down the rest of my bowl, barely taking any breaks. It was absolutely fantastic. After sipping down a few spoonfuls of the leftover broth, I put my bowl away and walked out into the cold streets feeling warm and satisfied.

Overall, my experience here was firing on all cylinders. This place really surpassed my expectations. Will...

Alright. I hate to be harsh, but this just ain't it. The pho itself is devoid of any authentic veitnamese spice. Where's the burnt onion? Where's the clove? Star anise? Cinnamon? The broth just tastes like boiled cow bone. What is this? Pirate ship famine pho? That ain't it. Moving on to the meat, it's already cooked and served with lukewarm broth. WRONG! I get that this is a speedy take on pho, but pho is already speedy as hell to make. Just pour flavorful broth over thin raw meat to cook it a perfect medium. This spot ain't doin' that. Like I said, it's an overcooked piece of beef inside some lukewarm broth. Now, onto the banh mi. COLESLAW AND VINEGAR IN A BANH MI?!?! I understand creative liberties, but that's just some Americanized garbage. THAT AINT IT. If you're a yuppie who don't know better, then go ahead and eat your "fow" but don't call this no "pho". If you want soulless "fow" then eat your heart out kids. Thank you for coming to my Ted talk. TLDR; Authenticity: none, soul: devoid, atmosphere: rushed yuppie nonsense. Sorry but once again,...