Lotus Banh Mi - Loop

This is a great option for a quick lunch! Long lines during lunch hours. I don’t think the food is very authentic Vietnamese but still very good. The classic Banh Mi was delicious and affordable but missing the strong pate and pickled daikon and carrot tastes.

Well it's nice that they have a trendy touristy not necessarily traditional Vietnamese restaurant on Wells Street. So far the food was actually delicious. I came in early before 12:00 pm for lunch so ambience was not so rowdy and noisy on a Friday. Service was actually pretty fast if you do enroll with your phone app after five points you get a $10 discount. The spring rolls were actually delicious as well as the traditional beef pho soup. I ordered a small one which was actually pretty decent size cuz I didn't want a big one. The beef slices though we're decent tasting but not exactly fresh like in most traditional Vietnamese restaurant. I saw they had other dishes and I would most likely come back for the chicken curry rice dish. I give it four stars because I've tasted a little better but it's up there it's good but it's not the best in regards to how they made their Vietnamese traditional cuisines. Also was surprised to find my favorite fresh ginger ale brand Bruce cost. They stop selling it at Filipino grocery store seafood City

I love Lotus Banh Mi for lunch downtown. Food is always fresh and service is great. They get quite busy around noon during the week but this location has lots of space so you can usually find a seat!

This is my go-to lunch spot. Really great flavorful food. They have a few vegan options. I love their tofu noodle bowl with the peanut sauce and also tried their tofu banh mi, which was delicious. I wish they had a vegan broth because I would love to try their pho.

The place has a good ambiance. Vegetarian options are only about 1 and not that great. Pho has bone broth in the crispy tofu pho and hence none of the pho is vegetarian. The vegan tofu salad with crispy tofu and peanut sauce was good in taste. The place is spacious and has ample space to dine in. It gets quite busy during lunch hours.

I’m excited that they’re open at 7am. I wish they offered Vietnamese coffee from a phin, all they have right now for hot coffee is brewed in a big brewer.

Far from the review itself, the food was low quality, tasting like instant. The ham in the sandwich tasted raw and disgusting. Additionally I don't understand how on earth the Vietnamese soup can be that sweet. The lady at the food bar was not welcoming either. I wouldn't call this Vietnamese cuisine.

Deeelicious! I've had almost everything and really enjoy the super flavorful menu. Everyone is super nice and they are also quick during rush hours. There is usually plenty of space if you're with a group or alone. I highly recommend the chicken pho, it's my favorite. (With extra lime and jalapeños for me. Mmm!)

I love this place and I really needed it this week because I had a cold, and the weather is starting to feel like autumn. My go to here is the beef pho soup. It's like a warm comforting hug when you're not having the best day. I've had pho from many places but by far this is my favorite.. I just love the flavor and all the add on ingredients: bean sprouts, cilantro, basil, jalapeño, and lime. They have a little bar off to the side where you can get your hoisin sauce and siracha, along with a cup of water and your utensils. I've also had their fresh spring rolls and it's so good! A great place to go to for lunch when you're working downtown. Try to avoid the noon rush hour as they are pretty busy during those times, but service is always fast and efficient. There is plenty of room inside to dine in, which I prefer because I love my pho Hottt! Oh and don't forget to enter your phone number at the counter so that you can earn rewards. Once you get 5 stars (via cashapp) you will get $10 off your next meal! Enjoy!

The best bahn mi! Always go here for lunch when I'm in the loop. Have had great experience

Really solid spot in the loop. I ordered the curry tofu rice bowl and it was a very generous portion with lots of protein. I ordered ahead for pickup and am glad I did because this spot gets packed at lunch time. I do wish they offered vegetable broth for the pho but I understand there may not be high demand for it.

The food is good but the food safety is questionable. I have celiac and ordered their curry which is noted as gluten free. As i was in line watching them make it I saw countless sandwiches being made over the bed of ingredient bins and countless crumbs where falling into the other ingredient containers each sandwich. Then toward the end of the prep table, each sandwich was being rolled and more bred parts were flying into the bins with each sandwich made. It was concerning but I needed to eat and took the risk. I have been sick all afternoon.

Food: flavors are good for a fast casual place, the bread to meat ratio was good but I would've enjoyed more pickled veggies on my banh mi Service: fast, no line for me Ambiance: got to go but looks fine for a work lunch

Well it's nice that they have a trendy touristy not necessarily traditional Vietnamese restaurant on Wells Street. So far the food was actually delicious. I came in early before 12:00 pm for lunch so ambience was not so rowdy and noisy on a Friday. Service was actually pretty fast if you do enroll with your phone app after five points you get a $10 discount. The spring rolls were actually delicious as well as the traditional beef pho soup. I ordered a small one which was actually pretty decent size cuz I didn't want a big one. The beef slices though we're decent tasting but not exactly fresh like in most traditional Vietnamese restaurant. I saw they had other dishes and I would most likely come back for the chicken curry rice dish. I give it four stars because I've tasted a little better but it's up there it's good but it's not the best in regards to how they made their Vietnamese traditional cuisines. Also was surprised to find my favorite fresh ginger ale brand Bruce cost. They stop selling it at Filipino grocery store seafood City

Lotus Banh Mi is my go to lunch spot. They have the absolute best Spring Rolls in the city. The pineapple peanut sauce is perfection. I have tried and failed many times to recreate it at home.

There is usually a line around lunch time, but it is very easy to order online, and they have orders ready to go in a shelf to the left of the line. They offer a solid Banh mi. I got the grilled honey pork. The meat was flavorful, and they include all of the toppings you'd expect in a Banh Mi. Be sure to ask for jalapeños if that's your thing. I'll be back to check out their pho now that is almost soup season!

Definitely my favorite bahn mi place in town. I've been to multiple locations and the quality is top tier. The tofu is always cooked and seasoned to perfection. The veggiecado and the tofu noodle bowl are my absolute faves. Come give this place a try, you won't regret it!

Freaking delicious, fast service in the long line during lunch. Decor and tables are cute. Would defo come back for the $12 sub... order thru Yelp in line and make it faster.

I stop in here frequently for lunch - super yummy pho & salads!! Very fresh food. One of my favorite lunch spots.

Came here for lunch during the weekday and it was packed. Waited in line for around 15 minutes. I ordered a small beef pho for dine in. The portion was small but perfect for lunch. I didn't want to have a food coma when I get back to work. I do have to say that it was quite hot inside the restaurant. Maybe becuase I was eating pho in a sweater, but it was quite uncomfortable. It could be all the body heat from a large amount of people in one small restaurant, and the heat from the broth and food as well, who knows.

First time coming to Lotus and it hit the spot. The line moves quickly even when there are 20 people and your food is nice and hot. We took our food to-go and it stayed warm until we got back to the office but I wouldn't recommend going too far as it may cool off and not pack as much of a punch. The smell in the restaurant will make your mouth water! As for seating, there was plenty to go around but filled up quickly so if you are hoping to enjoy your meal there I recommend you go before or after the lunch rush. All in all, it is a quick, hot, tasty meal for less than $15!

Had a craving for bahn mi and was not disappointed by Lotus Bahn Mi. Very fresh ingredients. The tofu bahn mi was delish. Service was quick and kind. Quiet location which I appreciated. Going back for the pho which smelled phenomenal.

Came here craving some soup and pho and it hit the spot! If you want authentic pho, this isn't the place - but if you come knowing it's a pho chain, I'd say it's pretty good for "Americanized pho". The bánh mì was especially good. The bread was much softer than actual bánh mì youd get at a family owned store. Everything else was pretty good, the flavor is there although no authentic Vietnamese food, it was still really good!

Sooo good. Perfect for windy cold day in Chicago. I couldn't decide so I got both the beef pho and banh mi chicken sandwich and both were just delicious. The beef pho consisted of rice noodles, sauté beef, bone broth, onions, scallions, cilantro, beansprouts, basil, lime and jalapeños. The banh mi chicken sandwich included ginger puree, soy sauce, grilled onions, mayo, cucumber, cilantro and jalapeños. The restaurant is very busy during lunch time but worth the wait. Very clean and excellent service at the counter. I really enjoyed the concept and the food.

I didn't enjoy my tofu bahn mi at all. The bread had no chew, rather it was crumbly. The tofu had a very odd bitter taste to it and the pickled daikon and carrot was mushy. I ended up just eating half and throwing the rest away because I just couldn't eat it. I did appreciate how easy and quick the online ordering was. Perhaps they do other dishes better.

Great place to come for lunch that has a wide variety of options from pho/noodle soup, bahn mi sandwiches, and even rice bowls. Quick to order like a Chipotle where you can choose the type of food + protein and has healthy portions! Keep in mind that since they do so much that the taste isn't the same as a place that specializes in one type only like a Pho shop that has the word in the name. We got a Beef Pho Noodle soup and the tofu bahn mi. Since they don't specialize in pho, the meat was lackluster yet the soup and noodles were still delicious. The bahn mi would have been a bit dry given that the tofu was fried so it was good that we asked for some peanut sauce on the side to go with it that made the meal. Would definitely go again to try other things.

Good for a quick meal on a busy workday. The tofu banh mi was alright, nothing about it stood out. I was disappointed that their veggie pho had chicken/pork broth as options and no vegan/vegetarian broth. Ambiance is good with plenty indoor seating.

I've been a few times now. The pork banh mi is really good and something different. The line doesn't get too crazy and if it is long it moves fairly quickly. The workers don't seem to be the friendliest but honestly might just be a language barrier thing. Looking forward to trying the ramen, I hear it's good. The dining area is nice, nothing special but fairly modern and clean.

This location is the nicest and most inviting. When you walk in, that's the first thing you noticed. The food, meh. You can tell it's fresh however the flavors are lackluster. I had the ginger chicken, it just tasted like boiled chicken. The garlic chili sauce tasted like nothing. I've had the beef at the Washington location... it's not much different.

I ordered the tofu noodle bowl and it was tasty but very dry with the standard sauce. Would recommend getting an extra on the side if you order this dish!

The beef sunny sided up is a great Bánh mi. Clean and friendly restaurant. I would recommend for a quick bite

love the food here ! ingredients are so fresh and your selections are made to order in front of you. And they are large portions too!

Come here almost everyday for lunch and it is definitely fresh, definitely delicious and hits the spot for lunch very close to what you would call your favorite and best vietnamese spot. Very solid place to have lunch and the staff is very sweet and they remember you. The ambiance is cute for a place for lunch but this is also not a high end restaurant it's your local yummy grub for work and there is nothing wrong with that. I have had their pho, their bahn mi, their rice bowls and everything you can think of on the menu. The line all the way out the door speaks for itself.

Biggest fan of Lotus in the city. I've been to all their other locations and this could be their best one. Workers are so friendly, the inside is very clean/spacious, and the food is still very high quality. My favorites are the honey grilled pork banh mi and curry chicken rice bowl. The banh mi meat is so flavorful and is balanced out by the veges. The pho is also very good. I'm Vietnamese and it holds its own against some of the other Vietnamese restaurants that just specializes in pho. I'd recommend getting here a little before 12 because that's when the rush hits. The only thing I wish they had was the wings, which they have in their other location at UIC.

Ordered the the Curry Chicken bowl. It was cooked well, had fresh vegetables and had good flavor. I was enjoying it until I found a cooked insect. I know they are considered protein but it was definitely not what I ordered.

The Banh Mi is soooo fresh. Their bread is consistently on-point. It tastes freshly baked, with a little crunch and a soft inside. Also, impressed with how clean and relaxing this place is. It's a great spot to chill out for lunch!

Excellent food. Nice and clean. Open! I ate the Pho with crispy tofu. Did not disappoint

Food is incredible and staff is very friendly. The sunny side beef Banh Mi is a consistent go to.

Have recently been going back into the office after a long COVID hiatus and decided I needed to check out this new spot. I got the curry chicken bowl. It was delicious! Sauce came on the side, which I appreciated, but I just smothered it anyway. Loved that it was packed with lots of veggies! The chicken was well seasoned and a generous portion as well. Appreciate the sustainable packaging and availability for mobile order/pick up. Very happy overall! Adding to my downtown lunch repertoire. Support our downtown businesses and check it out for yourself!

I went very close to closing time. They were very gracious and told me it would be ok for me to eat it there. My Banh Mi was very fresh, filling and a good value.

Great pho and I've had the bowls (delish) all good really! Nice people and good food, doesn't get better than that

Best food downtown for lunch hands down. The bahn mi are so good, and they never skimp on toppings. Everyone there is very nice and the place is clean, spacious, quiet and comfortable.