Getting There: I biked north on Lincoln, west on Wilson and finally north on Campbell. I grabbed the sandwich to-go and then went north up Rockwell and turned east on Winnemac. I ate the sandwich in the wonderful Winnemac Park. This massive urban park is full of restored prairies and tons of bike paths.
Neighborhood Overview: the restaurant is located on the western portion of Lincoln Square along. This area has an eclectic mix of restaurants and is close to Albany Park as well.
Restaurant Overview: Nhu Lan makes some of the most excellent banh mi in the region because they bake their bread fresh every day. I haven’t tried much else here yet, but it attracts a huge lunch crowd.
Dishes Consumed: lemongrass pork banh mi. The bread was much softer and chewier than a French Baguette. The pork was juicy and tender and was a hearty portion. Pickled Daikon, cucumbers and carrots were on top with a nice layer of cilantro and jalapenos.
Overall takeaways: this is perhaps the best place to stop for lunch on Lawrence just because of the option to buy bread to-go. It’s not just banh mi that you can make on these rolls, but they’re perfect for hoagie style sub sandwiches and even a homemade Philly cheesesteak.
