Lotus Cafe & Banh Mi Sandwiches

"Many know Lotus Cafe as a University Village mainstay — owners Dao Nguyen and Kim Dao are former UIC students — but with a number of locations across town, all have access. A small-but-mighty banh mi menu includes honey grilled pork, sauteed rib-eye with sunny-side up egg, and the Veggiecado (crispy tofu, soy, avocado, sweet chili sauce)." - Eater Staff, Adam Rothbarth

"Mellow pop music and muted earth tones make Lotus Cafe a tranquil place to enjoy a bowl of pho. And since most locals opt for takeout, it’s easy to get one of the handful of tables at the quiet University Village location of this Vietnamese mini-chain. Choose proteins like five spice beef or ginger chicken to go in your banh mi, pho, rice bowls, or noodle salads. The sandwiches come on ultra-soft bread with a pleasant chew, complemented by a generous amount of crunchy vegetables. But pho is the real star here—the noodles have a nice bite, and the fragrant broth is balanced, not too salty or sweet." - veda kilaru, adrian kane

"Mellow pop music and muted earth tones make Lotus Cafe a tranquil place to enjoy a bowl of pho. And since most locals opt for takeout, it’s easy to get one of the handful of tables at the quiet University Village location of this Vietnamese mini-chain. Choose proteins like five spice beef or ginger chicken to go in your banh mi, pho, rice bowls, or noodle salads. The sandwiches come on ultra-soft bread with a pleasant chew, complemented by a generous amount of crunchy vegetables. But pho is the real star here—the noodles have a nice bite, and the fragrant broth is balanced, not too salty or sweet. Like the banh mi, the flavor is a little light, so make ample use of the accompanying sauces. photo credit: Veda Kilaru photo credit: Veda Kilaru photo credit: Veda Kilaru" - Veda Kilaru