Nhu Lan Sandwich Shop

I was looking for a classic Bánh Mi and instead received a sandwich which was nothing of that sort. I ate the shredded pork with pickled cabbage. The cabbage was cold but so was the pork. The bread was overwhelming. No hoisin sauce. Food contains dairy. The entrance was wheelchair accessible but cramped. No quality seating. Restaurant offers take out only.

Decent banh mi. Got the classic banh mi and it was ok. Not enough pate, but overall was fresh. It does give you a longer banhmi for 7 bucks but not enough filling. Still prefer huong binh bakery over this.

Best banh mi sandwiches around, which is saying a lot in this area, especially in Eden Center. No tables; only to go.

Got a tofu banh mi with no Mayo and it was so good! The gentleman who took our order was so nice and let us know they have beef and chicken flavored tofu. We got ours no Mayo (vegan) on traditional bread and their pickled veggies and fresh cilantro made me such a happy person. I LOVE Eden Center for its variety, vegan and non-vegan alike! If you’re in the area, definitely stop here for not only a sandwich but so much more. (Also, keep in mind $10 minimum charge for cards!)

I got the thinner shredded pork and red meat pork banh mi and the quantity of meat was very small. The bread is decent and the price was $7 but I actually prefer other banh mi shops after trying it out here. They only have takeout as of August 11, 2023

Great sandwich shop. I love the meatball bahn mi. Hard to go wrong here, especially at $6 per sandwich. One of the best bahn mi places around.

Note: As of December 2022, you need to order by phone and they'll bring your food out to a table that's blocking the door. Service was quick, order was accurate, and food was tasty. They also put enough toppings in my takeout bag for all my sandwiches (some places skimp). The price also includes tax, so it's easy to do the math and you're less likely to get ripped off (unlike other places that shall remain nameless...)

One of a few stores that accept credit card here. In terms of the food, I tried the banh mi sandwich with pate (#1) and one of the deli rice paper dishes, in which both were amazingly delicious. However, I did not enjoy the avocado boba drink, which lacked avocado taste - a bit disappointed. While the store inside may not receive an ‘A’ standard, the food was on point. Would definitely go back again.

I've been meaning to try out Nuh Lan Sandwich Shop for a while; the last time I came, they were closed unexpectedly. Since I don't really go out of my way to go to Eden Center, I knew I had to stop by when we were somewhat closeby. Their menu is pretty straightforward in terms of the banh mi sandwiches: 1. Thit Nguoi (assorted cold cut combination) 2. Ga - chicken 3. Xiu Mai - Vietnamese meatball sandwich 4. Pate Cha - Vietnamese ham pate 5. Bi - shredded steamed pork and pork skin 6. Thit Do - Vietnamese red meat (pork) 7. Nem - square sour pork sausage and, 8. Fish Currently, all these sandwiches are priced at $7. I went for the #2, the Ga (chicken) - I did request extra pickled veggies, extra mayo, and NO cilantro; unfortunately, even though this was repeated back to me and confirmed, I still got cilantro. Fortunately, they were easy to pick out, but the 'scent' was kind of on there. The sandwich itself was just okay; the chicken was of larger chunks and tasted fresh - none of that weird off-putting chicken odor to it, thank goodness. It also seemed as if they use some type of butter spread; the hubs wasn't a fan of it, but I didn't particularly mind it. Not sure if there was any mayo in there. The pickled veggies were good, but, again, not sure if they adhered to the customization request for an extra helping. The bread itself could have been more warm and fresh, but we did go later in the evening, so it was a little chewy. The entry way is blocked by a table, so you can't enter; you just place your order, and pay once you receive it. The individual who seemed like the owner, was kind and sweet! The entrance to this indoor vendor place is to the west of the Good Fortune Supermarket; you'll see some folding signs and such, point to the direction; when you enter, just go straight, and it'll be to your left. Plenty of parking in the Eden Center lot. +friendly service +plenty of parking in the Eden Center lot +located east of the Good Fortune Supermarket

There are a bunch of places around the DMV which serve up a quality banh mi, many of which I frequent when I'm out and about in my daily life. However, whenever I'm near Eden Center (or at least on a monthly basis) I make sure to pop in to get one of these Viet sammiches at Nhu Lan. To me anyway, Nhu Lan is the grande dame of the banh mi scene in NoVA. I've been patronizing this small shop located in one of the interior hallways of the main Eden Center for over 20+ years. And while other banh mi shops have come and gone, Nhu Lan has been owned and operated by the same family since 1986. How's that for longevity? Pre-pandemic, customers used to be able to walk into the closet sized storefront and place their orders, while also perusing the various homemade pickles, pork rolls (cha lua), fermented tofu cubes, etc. During the pandemic and going forward, there is now a small folding table where customers can place their orders. I understand this precaution, since in such a confined space all it takes is for one or more of the staff to get sick, and then the whole business is impacted. I typically get 1-2 of their "legendary" number one combos. I say "legendary" since this was the sandwich which launched my obsession with banh mi sandwiches oh so many years ago. A baguette is toasted and filled with a shmear of pate, Viet style meats, pickled veggies, and topped with fresh cilantro. What really differentiates Nhu Lan's banh mi is the use of their house Sốt Bơ Trứng (often abbreviated Bo) or Viet style mayo. The main difference between American and Viet style mayo is the omission of lemon juice and the inclusion of a bit more sugar. The result is the spread is a more yellow in appearance (from the egg yolks) and sweeter, which is a nice contrast to the saltiness of the meats. There is a small table outside the shop, along with a few chairs where I will usually enjoy my sandwich while it's still warm. That first bite allows me to taste all of the contrasting sweet/salty flavors along with the different textures of the soft bread and crunchy veggies. Nhu Lan has had to change with the times, like all restaurants. Gone is the "Buy Five, get One sandwich" free deal. And of course, the sandwiches are no longer $2.50 like they once were back in 2006. But even at $7/sandwich (as of this review), it's still on par with what other places charge. When I mention to friends and work colleagues that I still hit up Nhu Lan, they often suggest trying other "newer" places - which again, I do depending on where I'm at on any given day. But partly for nostalgia, but mainly cuz I think they have a quality product, I'll always come back to Nhu Lan.

Hole in the wall spot for Banh Mi. $7 for a sandwich which is very reasonable and seems the standard for Eden Center these days. I got the pate and ham one (#4) - good amount of meat but a little stingy on the pickles and veg. The bread also felt stale and not crunchy on the outside, which is quite rare for my experience at Eden Center's sandwich shops. Hopefully, it's just an off day.

I only eat redmeat sandwich here becsuse the others are not too yummy for me. The redmeat however, is GREAT! Each banh mi cost $7 and no buy 5 get free deal anymore. They take about 5-10 minutes to make 3 sandwiches and there are chairs to sit outside and wait for them to make the sandwich since they are not allowing you to go into the store. The husband of the owner are very soft spoken and sweet. The owner is really depends on her mood, she can be rude, but can be really nice at times, depends on when you catch her. They cut the banh mi in half makes it easier to eat (or atleast in my opinion)!

Excellent banh mi - we tried chicken, pork and meatball. Might be a shade on the pricy side at $7 each but the quality is high.

tried this place on a whim! I went when they first opened up, so the owner was still setting up. she took my order & told me they are no longer offering the buy 5 get 1 free :( I still bought 5 ($7 a sandwich) and the extra pickled veggies ($5). my mom loved the pickled veggies. sandwich was good and we ate all of it within a few days. I'll probably stick with banh mi DC though.

Quality banh mi for $7 (tax included). Cash only. The selection is very limited, the meat portion on the sandwich is very minimal, and the price is higher than at other places. BUT the roll is stellar -- crisp and warm and large, and the flavors are on point.

4.10.22 This was our go-to sub shop growing up when my fam would go to Eden Center. It's been a few years since I've been back here. I stopped in to pick up a chicken and pork sub. The bread is longer than I remember it. My husband wanted the pork and when he undid the wrapper, he asked what it was. He was expecting shredded pork and not ham. He thought I messed up his order, which he "claims" I've done a lot recently. I ended up switching with him as he didn't think he would like the pork. I thought it was good, but generally prefer the chicken. He liked the chicken, but would have preferred the pork. He also said he prefers bread to be less crumbly. You can ask to have your veggie toppings in the sub or packaged separately. Currently, they have a table blocking the entrance and are taking orders at the door or by phone. Note, this store only accepts cash.

This has been one of my favorite banh mi spots for the longest time. This has since changed after today. The reason for this is the price is not on par for what you get. The sandwiches are going for $7 now and they stopped doing the buy 5 get 1 free deal. I wouldn't care as much about the price tag if they just kept giving you the same amount of food. As seen in the photo, the combination comes with very little protein. They even gave me very little ingredients (jalapenos, radish, cilantro, and cucumber). For 5 sandwiches, I received 1 stick of cucumber, small handful of cilantro. I get that some places may be going through tough times but if you increase the price and give less food, what's the point? I hope they fix this as I really dig their bread here and will try again in the future.

Really enjoyed this simple, cheap eat at the Eden Center! Just $7 and enjoyed under the parking lot tent. Service: 10/10 Vibe: N/A Pork banh mi: 10/10

Pretty solid sandwiches for the price. They know what they are doing and do it right. I was a little surprised by the red meat as i never has this before but it was good. I am a cold cut person and really enjoyed my sandwich. The pickles were a little too sweet for me but i did enjoy it.

A good banh-mi place! Pretty similar to every other one in Eden tbh, but a little pricey-er ($6 each). I still think it's delicious and filling. I didn't get my bread toasted, but they did put the veggies on the side so my bread wouldn't get soggy so that was nice.

FALLS CHURCH, VA 11/18/18 TAKE-OUT DINNER +The Vietnamese Meatball banh mi was pretty good. +The pickled vegetables in the banh mi provided a sweet flavor profile, and gave a nice contrast to the meats. -I have had better Cold Cut Combo banh mi's elsewhere. -The French baguette was not crisp or crunchy on the outside, and lacked freshness. -This banh mi joint takes cash only. -The staff is very hard to understand and we had to order by shouting out the numbers of the menu items. -There is no sit-down area, but a table or two with some chairs outside of the shop. -No loyalty rewards program. -The facility is more than likely a few inspections and violations away from being shut down. For now, Banh Mi So 1 and Banh Mi DC continue to be the front runners for #1 best banh mi shop in the DMV.

I Nhu I was going to like this place, and I did. It's been a Lan time since I liked a place this much. The food doesn't contain sand - which is good. There is nothing Nhu under the sun. Except for Nhu Lan Sandwich Shop, that is, the home of some of DC's tastiest and freshest Banh Mis. Lovely little dirt cheap sandwich shop in the wonderful Vietnamese Eden Plaza of Washington DC's VA burbs. I recommend everybody stop in this amazing Plaza and sample the wonderful delights that it has to offer. This is one of the better spots in Eden, and even though it's not the best sandwich I've had of its kind - I still give it 5 stars because it's good and it's fresh and it's cheap and service is really nice. I hope they don't Banh Mi from the shop for nudity. Time will tell.

This is my hand down favorite banh mi in Virginia. I really like the buttery banh mi. I usually get the cold meat banh mi and the banh mi bi. If you like bì, definitely get the banh mi bi because they add fish sauce and the butter cream so it's sweet and buttery. I personally like banh mi here because it's buttery and it is well seasoned. The down side to this place are the price and that they only take cash, no credit/ debit card. Banh mi used to be super cheap but nowadays they are jacked up. I'm a little disappointed that they raised the price but I feel like the amount of meat is less. I was a little sad to eat my banh mi and didn't taste any bì in the banh mi. This place look very small and old but the banh mi with their special butter doesn't taste like any other banh mi around this area. Due to covid, when you order anything, make sure you call ahead of time to place your order and make sure to bring cash.

Cash only place :( you can't get any banh mi if you don't have cash in your pocket. The best way to avoid taxes. I'm sure they make way more money than their tax reThey have good food but their customer service is mean. My cousin came to buy some bánh mi from them. She also said customer service very bad here also.

Delicious. Flavorful. Worth it. I'm a traditionalist and we got 2 combo 1's. Great flavor. Not skimpy. It's a 20'x20' deli of hardworking people next to a travel agency. Right now they practice cash only and social distancing. You can call ahead your order. They have at least 7 menu options, it's inside the shopping complex - not along the walkway but inside the center next to a karaoke center and a beauty center. The definition of hole in the wall perfection.

This is the real deal,no frills just great sandwiches for a great deal of 5$. I got a pork and pork skin sandwich, the bread is hot and crispy, the meat is tender and flavorful and the vegetables are fresh. This place is located in the Eden Center, they have small tables outside their counter where you can enjoy your sandwiches or it is always nice to walk around Eden with a sandwich in hand and maybe a bubble tea that you can get at any of the tea shops nearby. They also have a deal that you buy 5 and get one free. That's a great deal for the delicious sandwiches.

One of my go to spots as I frequent the VA area, this has been a traditional spot for me to stop by before heading back home to NY. It's a small business that you'd want to get behind and support especially during these crazy times that 2020 brought upon the world. No frills, simple, and delicious. At a relatively cheap price, it's hard to beat. The american in me would love a bit more filling, but my gut thanks them for keeping it a balanced ratio that won't make you overly stuffed to hold you over for a few hours. Authenticity is the only way all of Eden Center is, and this place is nothing short of it with its dank paté on some crispy yet fluffy baguette toasted per order to perfection. The collagen oozing out from the meats leave a glistening mess that you just want to dip the sandwich back into to add that extra artery clogging affect because why not its delicious. Cash only can be a nuisance but not too big of a deal for a great bang for buck meal. Stay fat mother suckers

We ordered about 25 banh mi sandwiches here to-go to feed a party. (If you buys $5 they give you one free) It was good. It only took them about 30 min to get the order together. They were nice, but I found it odd that they did not provide a receipt after we paid. They just took a name to come back. The sandwiches were good, but it had a lot of mayo, pate, butter, fat... So def not something for someone who is watching the waistline. But they were tasty. :)

Our bread was old and hard. We called to order and was told it should be ready in 10 minutes. When we came 15 min later , we have to wait for them to complete our order as the workers were busy chatting and forgot. There are other sandwich places in the same plaza, perhaps you might get better luck elsewhere.

Inside one of the little mall strips, it's a pretty straight laced offering of banh mi. 8 different flavors, and with the exception of 1 cost a straight $5, cash only. There's also a Buy 5 Get 1 Free promotion if you're buying a load for your friends/family, and I did see a decent amount of people doing that. It's not really my favorite, but I always judge a place based on the classic combo - #1 here. It felt like every note was hit - decent selection of sliced meats, the freshness of the cilantro, and the punch from the crunchy jalapeno. I wasn't really a big fan of the bread - It had a really great crunch that doesn't hurt my teeth, but the stuffing aspect felt pretty thin or compacted, so the bite was a little hard for my liking. It's still probably one of if not the best banh mi options in Eden Center - you definitely get what you're paying for. But I guess my standards are a little high from all my time in Cali.

We came here because the banh mi store we wanted to try closed early. I'm so glad we did gave this shop a try. The banh mi here was very flavorful and lots of meat! We ordered no. 1. Today we went to try the one we missed yesterday and it was a big disappointment. Therefore, I would rate this place as the best at Eden court!! We

Yumm! This is def. the best place to get banh mi in the dmv area! Each sandwich is $5.00 and if you buy 5 sandwiches, you can get one free. I love how flavorful each one is. My favorite one is the combination. It has so many different types of meat in it. It's the perfect bite with the fresh cilantro, sweet and briny pickles, and creamy pate. The meatball one is good too! The meatball is so soft and flavorful. I tried the chicken one too! I think the chicken one was my least favorite, but it was still really good. You have to make sure you bring cash because it is a cash only place.

Looks like crap for $6 and no longer buy 5 get 1. Bought 30 of this crap! Buyer Beware!

Use to love this place but not anymore. They are getting stingy on their meat. Not only that, their prices have gone up and there is no more buy 5 get 1free. My sandwich is missing some meat by the time I got home. My husband asked for red chili and lady told him they don't grow chilies and don't have any. That's absurd. Vietnamese sandwich place don't have chilies. I will never buy my sandwiches here ever again. I will pass this on so people don't go here.

Hands down, one of the best banh mi shops in Eden Center (Banh Mi So 1 is also a very solid contender). There are 5-6 sandwiches to pick from and you can't go wrong. I usually order #1 which is the standard banh mi with deli cuts and pate. Very simple but still very good. If you like a little kick in your food, ask for extra jalapenos to be added. I usually grab a sandwich and then head to Kung Fu Tea for a drink. Also if you bring a bunch of friends, you can do the Buy 5 Get 1 Free special - not that banh mis aren't already super reasonably priced to begin with. The only drawbacks to this shop are that 1) cash only and 2) they close when they sell out and they often sell out so get there early!

I was going on a road trip back to CT and needed a quick snack on the go. Of course when in Eden Center, you must find something delicious! I looked at reviews and Nhu Lan was the best place. It's inside the Eden Center shopping mall at stall 14. I almost missed it. The place is small... the workers are nice and it's quick and to the point. I ordered the pork meatball banh mi that had pate as well (LOVE pate). It came out hot and tightly wrapped and at 5.00 cash, you can't go wrong. Truth be told, I couldn't save it for the road. The pork was warm and soft...the veggies crisp and a tiny bit sweet... the "special butter" was rich and delicious....it was perfect...except for....my take on bread for a banh me. I want it soft on the inside and a bit crunchy on the outside... fresh... yeasty... this was crumbly and seemed stale. Which was disappointing because supposedly they get them from a fresh bakery (also why they lost a star). With all that said...i WOULD go again..and I WiLL!. Next time. shredded pork and pate! YUM!

Their prices seem to keep going up, while the filling is either the same or sometimes less. As of early 2019, it's currently $5 each. I get some of the reviews about the bread. It seems their baguettes are slightly undercooked sometimes. You can see this in some of the Yelp photos where the bread looks pale/white rather than golden. This was the case last time I came here, my bread was white and some bites had an extra chew towards the end because it was still doughy in the middle. Maybe that's why I sometimes see people bring their own bread and hand them to the lady to make sandwich with instead of the in-house bread. Other than that, these sandwiches are good. First time I came here, I tried not to get my hopes up and suspected maybe it was just hype. I still wasn't even that sure just opening up and looking at the sandwich, but I really like their special combo, really well-balanced. The flavor didn't feel lacking or having too much of anything. Some places go overboard with the pate spread, and you'll spend hours burping the taste back up. But these leave me wanting more without hours of side effects. I also like that they don't skimp on the cilantro. Some places just give you one sprig for the whole sandwich. Service and prices are lacking, and what keep me from frequenting. But the classic sandwich is solid.

Honestly, pretty disappointing given its Yelp rating and the plaudits given in the Falls Church News-Press piece on the best bahn mi in Eden Center. Ordered the pork skin and meat option at the suggestion of the woman at the counter, but was charged $6 even though the list price was $5.50. The sandwich itself wasn't bad, but the amount of meat packed in it wasn't what you might call "overflowing," and the overall sandwich was smaller than the $3.75 bahn mi you could get at Huong Binh. The special "butter" was good, but $6 for a sparsely-filled banhi mi is a relatively poor value for this area. No cards, only cash--but that's the situation for most shops in Eden Center, so no real surprise here.

I probably spent more time wandering around the labyrinth of Eden center to find this place than it took to order and eat my sandwich but it was worth it. I've tried the meatball, combo, chicken subs here and they are ALL good. Freshly toasted French roll, secret butter sauce, flavorful meat, and crunchy pickled veggies. If you're new to the shop, start with their combo of cold cuts. It's a classic and it's guaranteed to please. For a healthier option, go for their pulled chicken. Juicy and full of flavor. I could have been satisfied with one perfect bite, but then my better judgement took over and forced me to eat every crumb like a savage. Sorry not sorryz Tips: 5 for 4; cash only

Love this place and its banh mi. They have a buy 5 get 1 free deal that I believe doesn't have a end date, that's just their regular deal. The ladies at the counter are nice and super fast with your orders. I really like the vietnamese meatball and pate banh mi (2 different banh mi's to be clear). The chicken is a bit plain but that's fine, I just wouldn't order it unless you like that clean white chicken with pickled veggies taste. MAKE SURE TO HAVE CASH BTW!

We ordered the Chicken Sandwich / Banh Mi Ga and the Banh Mi. We loved our sandwiches so much!! Will definitely visit again!! :)

The absolute best Banh mi place at Eden in my opinion. I grew up eating banh mi here and not much has changed. I usually go for the Banh Mi Dac Biet which is not on the menu, but it does have an assortment of all their cold cut meats. Smothered in pate and their secret butter sauce, its a lot more flavorful then half the banh mi I've tried anywhere in Eden. They are smaller but a lot better. They're pickled veggies that comes with them are the best of the best and you'll know what I'm talking about once you try them. Some tips: Buy 5 get one free for $20 You can always get pickled veggies on the side If you want to eat right away, tell them and they will toast it for you so its nice warm and crunchy. If you call for pick up they usually have it done within 15-20 mins.

Growing up in VA, my mom would buy us banh mi from this shop all the time. Walking into this place always brings back childhood memories. My very FIRST banh mi experience was from here, many moons ago. Their #1 Assorted Cold Cut Combination is our family's favorite. The baguette may not be as tasty as some of the others I have had in the past, but all the goodies that go into the sandwich make it extremely flavorful. It comes with mixed meats, ham, pate, head cheese, peppers and secret butter. The shop is small. Some seating is available outside the store (about 3 small tables). The owner of this place has been here forever. It's always nice to see a familiar face. Service is quick. Our usual order of 6 banh mi's are always ready within mins. If you buy 5, you can get 1 Free. Sandwiches are $3.50 each. They also have drinks and specialty desserts within reach.

Dear Song Que, I'm cheating on you. I have taken on a mistress to banh mi on the side. Her name is Nhu Lan and she lives in the indoor area. Nhu Lan isn't as pretty as you, or as endowed in the deli area, or as crunchy in the veg, or as crusty in the baguette. She even has to put her seating out in the hall because she's so tiny inside. It's not you, it's me. I still love you but I also adore Nhu Lan's abundance pressed pig ear and you just aren't consistently freaky that one way. Yes, you give me balls in my mouf but sometimes boba won't be enough to keep me from straying. This is just how it's going to have to be, I'm sorry. I'm splitting my time between you two. Loving noms, Ruth

Was craving for a banh mi, so decided to try this place. Very small place, tucked in this shopping center, not much place to sit and eat. The sandwich was good, but mediocre.. nothing really special. I had the #1 cold cut combo. There were other sandwich places around here too, but not sure how good they are compare to this place. I would stop by again if I was craving for some banh mi.

This was the third stop on our Banh Mi crawl and it's located in sort of a Vietnamese market. It's really tight in there and I don't even know how they serve food out of this place. I do not see much of a kitchen behind the counter. Just two ladies making sandwiches. It's like someone selling food out of their van or setting up a lemonade stand with a side of Banh Mi sandwiches. There's not really any place to sit inside. I went with the shredded pork sandwich. They toast their bread here and put a generous helping of their "special butter" on the top half. I did not bother to ask what the "special butter" was, nor do I think I want to know. The sandwiches are not super large, but very plentiful, nonetheless. Just the right size. I wasn't a huge fan though, as the pork was a tad dry even with all the ingredients on the sandwich. It was just okay. They still come cheap though, which I think the going price for a banh mi sandwich at Eden Center is under $4. Even with the sort of dry roasted pork, this sandwich will kick Subway and Pot Belly's ass. With that said, I don't think I'll be back. I probably just got the wrong sandwich but, I still wasn't all that impressed with what I got. A-Okay for me.

This makes me so, extremely, very sad. This place has really gone down hill. Still the best special-mayo-based sauce ever but there was barely anything at all on my bahn mi. They just keep getting skimpier and skimpier ever time I order from here and she charged me $7 this time even though the sign posted still says $6. I wasn't going to argue with the person making my food especially since I drove 40 mins for this sandwich and was salivating by the time I walked up to the menu. I kid you not, barely anything on the sandwich at all (just look at my sad photo). What meat there was was not meat at all...it was just pork fat...ALL.OF.IT, literally ALL! I wish I was joking because this place HAD the tastiest bahn mi I ever had in my life. Do not go here! The owner did not change but something horribly wrong is going on with this business. I get that the pandemic has made things difficult for businesses but don't serve the loyal customers you do have horrible, over priced (for portion size) food. Bahn Mi DC was always my 2nd pick but they just moved up to first place. I will not continue to patronize this business unfortunately any longer. Today is a very, very sad day indeed.

Really great banh mi for an affordable price. I got the #1 and it generously filled with paté and cold cuts. The sandwich is on the smaller side so it would work great as a snack or a lighter lunch!

Best Bahn Mi shop in the Falls Church area. Bread is usually fresh and warm and they give you more meat compared to the other stores. Win-win situation to me!

Fantastic sammies! Crispy chewy French bread, tasty pork, meatballs, & veg. Buy 5 get one free. Cash only.

Banh mi, Banh mi, where to choose? Nhu Lan Sandwich Shop, I choose you. Located in the (infamous?) Eden Center with an abundant amount of pho and Vietnamese food options, along with a large Asian grocery store called Good Fortune, if you peek into the inside of the "mall" to your right coming from Good Fortune you will see a small collection of shops within the mall and to your left side there's a small little sandwich shop selling Banh Mi sandwiches for $5 a pop. (Cash only) There is no seating inside, but what's inside is a hardworking staff and tasty types of banh mi such as chicken, pork with pork skin, combination (ham, pate, mixed meats), Vietnamese meatball, pork pate, red meat, vegetarian (yes they have veggie options!), fish, and sour pork. Sometimes you just crave that cilantro and meat with mayo/butter sauce, spiced up with jalapeños and balanced out with the sweetness of carrots and the tartness of pickled radish. And when those cravings do happen to hit, check out Nhu Lan in Seven Corners!

I was craving Banh Mi and was in the area so I decided to stop by Nhu Lan. I got my go-to which is usually the #1 with assorted cold cut meats. I knew i was in for disappointment when I received my banh mi and it was light as a feather. I opened up my banh mi and this is my rating based on everything: The meat: Skimpy! The #1 is suppose to include an "assortment" of cold cut meat. What I got was two thinly sliced head cheese, and two thinly sliced ham?. Nothing else. Can we talk about how the four thinly sliced pieces of meat doesn't even cover the sandwich???? Urgh the worst! The bread: Did not taste fresh. Though they did toast it, it tasted chewy and like it was a few days old. The pate/picked medley/aioli: Delicious! The best part of the sandwich tbh. These three things are stopping me from giving Nhu Lan a 1 star rating. The store: Kind of an organized mess. They have a bunch of rice bags around but I don't know why? The food prep area is strategically blocked by the fridges around the store. Overall the taste of the banh mi is pretty good (yes even with the taste of old bread). There's so much competition in Eden alone for them to skimp out on meat portions like what I experienced. I'm hoping the sandwich I got was a fluke and it's definitely worth another try.

Great, cheap Banh mi place. It's located inside the building and might be a little tricky to find your first time. Ordering was simple and my sandwich came out in ~5 minutes. I saw some reviews saying it's $5 but they've increased the price to $5.50 now. It's still ONLY cash! My food was better than any other Banh mi place I've ever been to and at $5.50, it's so worth it.

My favorite banh mi shop in the whole Eden Center. They have a very small selections of Banh Mi, but it's perfect in my opinion. I LOVE their vegetarian banh mi mostly because they don't do the typical tofu filling! They use their homemade 'mam chay' as the filling. Man let me tell you, it hit the spot! It's salty, but it's balanced by the pickled veggies, crispy cucumber, spicy jalapeño & their secret buttery spread. I was skeptical when they said they didn't have tofu, but I'm glad I gave it a try. Now i wish I had bought multiple sandwiches!!!! I have tried all of the shops in Eden center that sells banh mi , and this is my go-to; hands down. Their bread is good even after a few days old. That's my pet peeve - crumbly bread. So far this has passed that test :)

I have been coming here for over a decade. This has been a staple for me growing up, and it still hits the spot. I always eat the combination without head cheese. Sometimes I get the pickled vegetables separate if I am saving for later and don't want the bread to get soggy; if I am lucky enough to be eating it fresh (ideally sitting in some Eden Center cafe with cafe sua da) after asking for it toasted. I love how generous they are with the butter and pate spread on the inside of the bread. You can't beat these prices, $5 each with the sixth free. It's easy to buy to eat with a couple others and then keep the extras for lunch the next day. It reheats wonderfully in the microwave or toaster oven, depending on if you're okay with the chewy or crispy bread. Disclaimer: they don't make their bread in-house. But they really get the flavors and portions right, with ample amounts of meat, and wonderful and fresh ingredients.

This was one of my less favorite banh mi sandwiches at the Eden Center, but I think that's mostly because I got a chicken one, which turns out to be way lamer than say, pork, or beef. I'd never make it as a vegetarian. Anyway, what was most memorable to me was: 1) So tiny! Just space along the counter to stand against the wall in a single-file line. Doesn't help that there's only one door, so after you retrieve your banh mi (after waiting, awkwardly, squished into the corner by the register), you have to squeeze your way back along the line and the counter to go back out the door. 2) They sell flan! Apparently a Vietnamese version? Get this: It's called "Banh Flan." It's Banh Flan from Nhu Lan! According to the label, it contains "r, milk egg, Nhu Lan." Obviously I bought it. Tasted like flan.

I rarely get banh mi at Eden because I always go to Banh Mi DC, but my BFF Justine S and I were there and both had a craving for banh mi. I decided to use Yelp and we found Nhu Lan, which is located inside the shopping center with the big clock. It's a tiny, little shop with seating available outside. This was probably the hot spot before the other banh mi shops opened up because they have a few framed news articles propped up from the Washington Post and other local newspapers. There were only 6 types of banh mi available (sorry, I forgot their names!) and I went with chicken... I know, I'm adventurous. The bread was crisp, there was a good amount of veggies, the jalapenos were spread out (instead of placed on one part of the sandwich like most places do), it wasn't overloaded with mayo, and they weren't skimpy on the meat! Overall, the service was quick and friendly. I'll definitely come back again whenever I have a banh mi craving if I'm in or around Eden.

I really wanted to like this place after it was recommended to me. Maybe it's because we took the sandwiches to go, but I was sorely disappointed in both the sandwiches I got from this place. Banh Mi Thit Nguoi (Combination Sandwich) - The spread of pate and mayo on this sandwich was sad looking - Bread was spongy/chewy even after reheating in the oven. Banh Mi Pate Cha (Pork Pate) - Same issue with the bread - More pate on this one, which was a plus - Very few pork slices. I felt like I was eating bread with flavoring added. This was a small shop inside the Eden Center strip mall. Maybe it was an off day. I may try them again the next time I'm in the DC area because of all of the positive reviews, but at this moment I can't recommend this place to anyone.