Nhu Lan Bakery & Sandwiches — Restaurant in Lake View Township

I read up on Nhu Lan after researching must-try Vietnamese restaurants on the famous Argyle Street in Uptown, and immediately wanted to try their Banh Mi. After a few weeks of anticipation, I got the chance to try one, and it was worth the wait!

When I first arrived, a huge menu on the windows of the bakery grabbed my attention. Before walking in, I browsed it and chose what I wanted, a lemongrass chicken Banh Mi, as I had seen others recommend it. I walked in, and the space was small, with one register and a small area on the side for refrigerated desserts and other goods. There was already a group of about six people waiting or placing their order (about the max occupancy without feeling uncomfortable), and got the feeling I was in for a treat. After placing my order, I waited a quick 5 minutes for my sandwich.

The sandwich was larger than I expected, never a bad thing. Once I opened it, the different smells of chicken, pickled vegetables, and cilantro hit my nose. It was quite fragrant! The baguette was soft and warm to the touch, bouncing lightly back to shape when I pressed it down. After getting taken aback a second by the appetizing aromas and feel of the bread, I took my first bite. The bread was as airy as it felt in my hand, with the snap of the peppers adding more texture. The chicken tasted zesty, sweet, and had a hint of spice. Combined with the flavors of the fresh and pickled vegetables, it made for a perfect summertime lunch! The one negative was the chicken felt a bit dry, though the delicious marinade helped cover that up.

All in all, my first Banh Mi from Nhu Lan will not be my last. I cannot wait to go back and try some of their other sandwiches soon, and I may also toss in a dessert, as those looked yummy when I glanced at their refrigerated section. They made a returning...

A carry-out-only spot for really really solid bánh mì. The baguette was crispy with not too much or too little of any ingredient (there is such a thing as too little cilantro or too much meat in a bánh mì). I got the #1 special and my kids got the grilled pork. Maaaybe I could use a touch less mayonnaise and a touch more Maggi seasoning, but I'm nitpicking. And this might sound like a weird detail, but I appreciate that they drain their pickled daikon and carrots (context: I've had three bánh mì from other places around Chicago that were soggy with pickle brine and I'm like do I really have to go to Uptown/Argyle Street to find a shop that knows not to do this? (So far, the answer is yes 😂.)

They also have refrigerated cases of Vietnamese desserts, and some Vietnamese snacks: -The Pork patty sticky rice / Xôi chả lạp xưởng is really good We thought the BBQ pork bun/Bánh bao xá xíu was just ok (a little too sweet) but will come back to try the Viet-style bao

They also have bubble tea and roast meats, which I'll have to come back to try: Chinese-style roast pork and xá xíu (aka char siu aka BBQ pork), roast duck.

Note: they have no seating; this is a carry-out spot only. We couldn't wait and ate in the car. So did the customer who went in...

You ever just wish you had a hidden gem of a place that you can recommend to everyone that visits the city? Well this is the place. This is in my opinion, the best Bahn Mi spot in town if not the country. What makes a great sandwich is the bread and they have bread that stands out. It's crunchy when you bite into it and soft when you chew. This, as well as the ingredients they use, makes all of the sandwiches fantastic. The combination of; cucumber, pickled daikon/carrots, jalapeno, and cilantro the classic taste for a Bahn Mi sandwich. Nhu Lan nails it to perfection. Lemongrass Tofu sandwich is by far my favorite out of all. You would swear that it's real meat and not Tofu when you eat it. Whatever they do to the tofu is unlike any other tofu I've ever had, in a very good way. They also serve Pho, BBQ Duck aka peking Duck, BBQ pork, and a variety of other dishes and desserts. This is a place that's carved a special spot in my heart and I will never hesitate to recommend this gem of a...