Lotus Banh Mi - Chicago UIC

Chill spot to grab reliable Vietnamese food!! We have tried many locations in different places, but this is a tried and true location. This is our Go To - the BahnMi, Pho, rice bowls, spring rolls - all great options. It's the chicken wings I could literally live off of. Great flavor, always served HOT (temperature), and fresh. Alright - 8 years later. This is STILL our go to place. The other day I went on my way up north for some me time creative class, and this was my choice of dinner. This time I tried the Curry Rice Bowl. Delicious seasoning! My only suggestion would be to add more chicken which might be an option for additional charge, but I was so excited, I didn't even look for that. This was the first time I tried this, and I was pleasantly surprosed because this isn't in my usual line up. Years later, their flavors, recipes, quality all have still stayed true. This is important as they have now 3 or 4 locations, and when restaurants start expanding, they outsource ingredients/marinades to make it easier. This ends up changing the recipes, and that's frustrating when this is your comfort food.

Super GREASY broth!!! Do not recommend. We ordered the beef pho, ginger chicken pho and both broths were flavorful but extremely greasy. I've eaten pho all over the city of Chicago bc my bestie and I are pho lovers and so I know what good broth tastes like. But this broth here was so greasy every time I took a sip of the broth I felt like I was drinking oil that's how greasy it was. I had a ring of grease on my lips and it was just too oily I couldn't even finish half the bowl. The beef pho was more flavorful than the chicken pho, the chicken pho was a tad bit salty but then chicken was tender. We also ordered the pork egg roll which was crispy and tasty no issues there. But we ordered the shrimp spring roll which on the menu lists it as two but it's literally one spring roll they cut in half instead of two whole spring rolls which I thought was a cheap move on part of the restaurant. In terms of the drinks, I don't see any prices listed on the menu for drinks so I didn't see the cost until after paying. We ordered the bubbly drinks lychee and red yuzu both were good but nearly $4 a drink. They have a small selection located in the fridge next to the register. I was hoping they had Vietnamese ice tea but they don't even serve that only iced coffee, disappointing. Lastly, this place is self serve which I wasn't aware of since it was my first time coming here, I paid 15% tip and realized after that I had to serve myself!!!! This will be the first and LAST time I come here. Crazy nonsense asking for tip when customers have to bring their own pho to the table. I do not recommend this place unless you like drinking oil for broth. Overall, disappointed. The space is very small so not ideal for dine in. Hard to find parking it's metered except for Sundays. They do have a garage which is $3 for 2 hours.

Staff is very nice, food comes out quick. Very tasty pho that’s full of flavor. I’ve tried both chicken & veggie. I was surprised that the veggie pho was very flavorful. Shrimp spring rolls were also very good, the shrimp tasted fresh. The portion for the pho is very generous, more than enough for one person (I couldn’t finish & had to take the rest to-go). I’ve also tried the banh mi before and that’s also good. I still prefer coming here for just the pho though. Come hungry!

A very peaceful place to have lunch. The pho and banh mis are delicious 😋 I would absolutely recommend coming here on a chilly day 🩵

I was craving Pho. From a Google search I decided to try Lotus Bahn Mi, since I was not far from the location. In this area of town you have the option of paid street parking or paid garage parking. This restaurant is bright, clean and quaint. The service was friendly and great. You order at the counter and pickup when your order is ready. My friend and I dined in for the whole experience. I love ginger, but have never had ginger flavored Pho before. Lotus Bahn Mi's Pho options are different from any Vietnamese Pho restaurant I have ever dined in or dined from, across the country. Curious about the taste of their Ginger Chicken Pho, I decided to try it. Let me tell you it was quite delicious! This dish has the perfect balance of ginger flavor, as it was not over powering.

Most times I get the veggicado sandwich. It's so good and the added loaded veggies give it such a good church and falvor...especially the cilantro. I love the soft, chewy bread that makes the sandwich even the more better

I really like this place so it’s unfortunate that I had such a bad experience with my meal last night. I ordered several of my favorites: - Shrimp Spring Rolls - Pork Egg Rolls - Chicken wings The first bite I took of the port egg rolls tasted funny and was very chewy to the point I spit it out and found a rubber band in the bite. See photo. Hoping I could salvage a bit of the meal I tried the shrimp spring rolls. Much of the rice sheet that it was wrapped in was too hard and dry to eat.

Lotus' beef pho was delicious on such a cold day. Very friendly service and our pho was ready to enjoy in 5-10 minutes. Inviting atmosphere to dine-in and fun drink options. My only critique is that the broth was warm, but not piping hot. I will definitely be back to try Lotus' rice bowls.

Food is great and the and the cook Virgilio needs a rase Espesholy the window cleaner he works really hard

great service, friendly staff, and yummy food! great space to come and get an iced coffee.

Finally found a good pho spot near us. This is going to be in our rotation. Got the chicken pho. It has seasoned and grilled chicken thighs. So much flavor. The broth is rich and delicious. Noodles were a bit different than others I've had. They had a little more bite to them and were slightly thicker, I think? Really good. We also randomly got the chicken wings and whoa! These were insanely good. The sweet chilli sauce is out of this world. They were fried nicely and kept their crisp, even though we got takeout. Staff was super nice and the order was ready pretty quick. Everything packaged really well for takeout.

There is a parking garage very close to the location and it was $3 for 2 hours so that was nice. They had water, Sriracha and hoisin sauce out self serve which is nice. I got the banh mi and it was pretty good I really liked the bread, the meat was ok. My friend got the beef Pho and that was very good I would order that next time. The pork egg roll was very crispy and I likely the sweet chili sauce with it.

Service & food are great. I requested substitution to make the salad low carb without the noodle and they happily prepared it as requested. We'll definitely come back and highly recommend this place

Five stars for the beef pho alone! I have never dined in but picked up multiple times and the order is always packed neatly to avoid spills, with fresh and hot food. The pho is so amazing when feeling under the weather, and I love the veggies and fixings they provide with it. Egg rolls are also very good as well as the wings.

The sunny-side beef banh mi at Lotus Cafe in Chicago was truly out of this world, with its perfectly balanced flavors and tender, flavorful beef. Each bite was a delightful fusion of freshness and taste, leaving me eager for the next. Lotus Cafe is a must-visit spot for anyone looking to enjoy some of the best banh mi in the city.

Very great customer service. The food is very delicious. I would definitely come again and recommend my friends Very clean Viro is very nice guy Elida is a nice lady Manuel has a nice personality That cashiers are very professional I will definitely come again

Not exactly traditional, but a great sandwich nonetheless! Place is clean and well decorated. I personally love the Sunny Side Beef sandwich. Service staff are quick and accommodating. Overall great experience and location is super convenient near UIC.

Food is very delicious! Highly recommend. Great customer service. Get the beef bowl ......... stop by

Food is always so good. The staff is friendly and very helpful. The Vietnamese coffee is the best. The restaurant is always clean.

Nice ambience at the store. I've always bought their banh mi - love the honey grilled pork.

Ordered honey grilled pork pho and pork egg roll. The serving size on the pho was massive. The soup was rich and the veggies toppings pulled it altogether. The noodle was cooked just right and the pork pieces were savory and abundant. The egg roll was crispy with light. Wish I had another! Ambiance was casual and comfy. Will definitely come back to try the rice bowl and banh mi sandwiches.

Amazing Bahn mi, relaxed atmosphere. Very clean with quick service. Everything went well and the iced coffee is delicious.

If you like Banh Mi (and who doesn't) you have to try this place. I ordered it for delivery, so can't comment on the location, but the food was delivered faster than the predicted time on yelp. I ordered the Honey Grilled Pork Banh Mi and an order of shrimp spring rolls. So delicious! I am going to have to restrain myself or I might order this every day!

This place was the best unexpected and maybe my favorite meal of the trip. A very small but flavor packed menu. We ordered a little of everything and nothing disappointed. The wings were absolute perfection, the shrimp rolls were fresh, the pho was soul satisfying, the sandwich had a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, crunchy, savory perfection. Staff was friendly and helpful. The spot is small but cozy and cute. Love the artsy decor and chalkboard wall.

I love Vietnamese food. I love pho and banh mis the most and Lotus has some of the BEST bánh Mi in the Chicago area. The sandwiches are well crafted and the bread is always fresh. The meats are tender and flavorful. They have delicious wings as well that are crunchy and drenched in yummy sauce. Service is always quick and never had any issues. I wish they bring the coconut water back because it was yummy. It's a great spot for lunch alone or with a friend as it's a small restaurant but I usually order it to go. So yeah I highly recommend it.

Was hoping for a good viet place closer to the Loop, but this was not it for our group. Not an awful place, but very below average food for very above average prices. Had the beef noodle salad (bun) Wasn't bad, but tasted like someone pan fried beef that wasn't left in lemongrass marinade long enough + regular vermicelli and a few pieces of lettuce. Again not bad, but for 15 dollars definitely not worth. Have had MUCH better bun for much cheaper in other cities. Ginger Chicken Pho Again wasn't bad, but overpriced for what it is. For Pho, Bun, or Bahn Mi... hit up Argyle or Chinatown

My coworkers and I come here often for takeout when working in the city. Love this spot! Great flavors. Huge portions. And for the city and portions, reasonably priced! Line will be out the door but goes fairly quickly. Popular spot. Have had the CURRY CHICKEN RICE BOWL and GINGER CHICKEN & LIME VINAIGRETTE SALAD....both were great! Very tasty.

Quick and healthy bite! They have a great selection of teas and drinks in the fridge. Just grab what drink you want from their fridge and there's a self-serving kiosk for quick ordering. Place is clean and quiet

Amazingly good service and food. Had the belly classic banh mi. There are so a variety of drinks to choose from. 10/10

I've been here a few times and it always hits the spot! I usually get the Banh Mi and the spring rolls - so fresh and flavorful. Service was pretty quick and an affordable spot - both the Banh and Spring Rolls total to around $15 which is amazing for the quality of food and the portions. My friend also really enjoyed the Pork Rice bowl. Highly recommend.

Solid banh mi sandwich (though I could have used more carrot/radish pickle and mayo); the tofu was perfectly tender and chewy and the avocado added a nice creaminess. The Vietnamese iced coffee was delicious (deeply roasted coffee flavor and just the right amount of condensed milk). On the whole I was happy with Lotus Banh Mi's take on what is possibly the perfect light summer meal - super satisfying and will return!

4/5 1. Ginger chicken banh mi - the baguette could be a little bit more toastier and crunchier. The flavor is boom. Chicken is really tender. 2. Shrimp spring roll- delicious. Good balance between the crunch and chewiness. I did have to ask the cashier for peanut sauce. Peanut sauce was not bad. At least it wasn't some diluted ones. 3. Cashier could be a bit more welcoming. Definitely see myself come here often if I were to live in Chicago

Lotus Banh Mi has pretty good banh mis. However when I first tried it I was trying to figure out why it tasted different. My theory is that since this is in Little Itali, they use a softer Italian style bread, rather than the typical crispy french baguette. Nevertheless it's a pretty good spot for a quick banh mi. I like the honey grilled pork sandwich. The "salads" they sell are actually my favorite item from Lotus. The salads all come with rice vermicelli noodles, egg rolls, and some flavored fish sauce to either dip or pour over (Nước Chấm/ Nước Mắm). I like to cut up the egg rolls with food scissors when I get home. Parking is convenient with a cheap parking garage nearby. Since I just parked for a short while to order takeout, I didn't even get charged to park there!

5 star review here! Great food, love the sandwiches, and the pho... friendly staff, strongly recommend!

The food has always been exceptional here. Their Banh Mi sandwich and rice bowls are always of quality taste with fresh ingredients!

One of the best banhmi sandwiches I ever had. I don't like much sweetness but the honey pork was really good. The best part is the bread is soft which is not your usual. Service was quick. Ambiance- located in UIC campus area

This was my second time in the restaurant and I had more expectations. We ordered Honey grill pork banhmi and beef banhmi. In my opinion both were very sweet, more than usual. The service was very good as always. The staff is kind and attentive. I really like how quiet the restaurant is, and the good taste in decoration. I will always go back!

Their pork Bahn Mi sandwich is delicious as well as the rolls. Also the bone broth is a must.

Super fresh and tasty food. Sandwiches and bowls are delicious. I still haven't tried the pho, but it's on my to do list.

Don't particularly like the noodle in their Pho; but the short ribs were good. Love the Pork Chop Rice, it was so good. They try really hard to provide good service, and they did a good job of it. The dining area is okay, you can join several tables together and they still have a different section to avoid the crowd. Overall, it's okay.

Cute restaurant on Maxwell street. They have a kiosk for you to order or you can order up front. I had the classic bhan mi sandwich and it was so good. The bread was fresh and had the perfect amount of toppings. Would highly recommend!!

The pho the wings and the spring rolls were so good. The sandwich was good as well but we added the wing sauce onto it to add some flavor. Food came out quickly and the staff was nice.

Great pho, broth was super meaty and hearty. Good banh mi and has a water pitcher. Good interior and clean bathrooms

OMG what happened to lotus! In my college days it was soooo good and something I craved. Now today we went it drastically changed. The bread used to be crunchy and but today it was soggy. It was already far drive and left disappointed. Before we order we were told that it would be a long wait since they just got a big order which is fine but I felt like the quality in food should be consistent.

The best pho I've had in Chicago. Sure, coming from California, the notion of a bowl of pho costing more than $10 is basically on par with a war crime. But this pho is that good. You can taste the seared, slight smokiness in the broth. It's complex, savory, and aromatic. Another personal favorite is the pork egg roll vermicelli bowl. A joy. This is a small restaurant, with a few tables and some stools against the window. But the service is always pleasant and fast. Which is important when I'm trying to get a bowl of pho in my belly ASAP.

Got Bánh mi. Clean and friendly staff. The sunny side beef was delicious. Bread is soft and warm.

all i ordered was the soy garlic wings, and they were yummy! the sauce was sweet w a kick bc i got spicy! like the korean soy garlic flava

This was so good. I had the Sunny Side Beef- and I LOVED the extra vegetables on the Banh Mi!

The foods good. The service is pretty consistent. The ambiance was fine but it was nearly empty but it was 12 o'clock on a Monday.

Para mi son caros , hay lugares mejores y acsecibles , y al igual una gran variedad, pero claro quieres segun sabor a mexico ,te va a costar caro

Had the shrimp spring rolls which were so tasty. The ban mi was also good but not the best. Overall 4/5 would recommend.

I ordered a tofu bahn mi and the tofu was super cold and tasted like it was never ever warmed up. Also I added an egg and I got a super crunchy part which was probably an egg shell. It was so gross that I just I stopped eating the sandwhich. I called to inform of them this and the girl started to say that I waited to long to pick up the order, but then she realized I didn't and said the veggies make the sandwhich cold which makes no sense. So how will a meat sandwhich stay warm? I would never return here based on how I was treated even after their mistakes.

Came in for lunch. Staff were kind and the food was really satisfying. It is impressive in the most surprising way. I really enjoy pho and finding a great broth isn't an easy task. This place delivers! Add a little bit of the dry chili blend and that will hit the spot for spice lovers. I will definitely be coming back.

Food was not as good as I was expecting. I have been here several times prior to COVID. We ordered 5 sandwiches. The French bread was not fresh and crisp. Instead, the bread was soft, which takes away from Banh Mi expectations. The ingredients were good on all the sandwiches though. We also ordered an order of the shrimp spring rolls. The menu indicated 4/ $6.95. So this usually means 4 rolls... the size of a wrap. However, what you actually get is: They served 2 rolls, cut in half for $6.95. See photo. Those are actually half rolls. This is a small restaurant with three tables. Two tables seats 2 persons. One table seats 4. There's window seating, but that would be tight especially with social distancing. There is street parking- metered. Safe area.

I wanted something warm and soothing. I researched restaurants that had pho in my area with good reviews. I wanted to dine in but their hear wasn't working so got it to go. I also tried the shrimp spring rolls. The portion of the pho was great and it was delicious. I will definitely be back

You're hungover, you want some pho, you don't want to pay too much, and you don't want to drive all the way up north to Viet town. If these are true, then this is your place. I am not sure if their pho is super authentic, since I am not Vietnamese. It does the job. However, I am not a fan of their beef bahn mi since their beef has more cartilage than I'd like. I don't prefer cartilage in my beef.

I always love this place! The belly sandwich is one of my favorites and the portion is huge. Parking is kind of tricky but I love having a good bahn mi option close by!