Soulwich

These sandwiches are so good!!! We stopped by here for lunch. Walking in, the man at the register warmly welcomed us and got our order taken. Our sandwiches came out warm and fresh. The bread was delicious and crunchy on the outside. I would highly recommend those place to anyone who enjoys Banh Mi sandwiches, check this spot out and support this locally owned business!

Finally managed to go and wow! So good! Friendly duo run the place, nice and clean. Vegan options, great selection and solid prices. Great Seitan. Reminds me of my favorite sandwich shop I went to in London.

I ordered the Indonesian BBQ Seitan non spicy and even if that was still a bit spicy (prob from the chili aioli) waw this was excellent! Tasteful, simple, delicious!

Sandwich was very dry and flavorless, ingredients were not evenly distributed throughout the sandwich. I only tasted the flavor on the very last bite that had some sauce and it was soggy.

I just had the most delicious sandwich for lunch - highly recommend the Paneer Fig. It was outstanding! And the pair behind the counter were lovely as well! I’ll be back soon!

I love the ginger peanut salad! Always a great experience here. Independent, locally-owned too!

I love this mom-and-pop restaurant. The food is always outstanding and affordable. A true fixture of modern Evanston!

Their Tuna Rice Itsu is fantastic! Very friendly staff and the service is perfect. The place accepts credit cards but prefers cash, so give 'em cash 😀 Don't forget to get their Burmese homemade chips! They are delicious and addicting. There's paid parking out front but very limited. This is perfect if you're looking for fast, tasty, and healthy spot in Downtown Evanston. As a bonus, they play really cool chill music!

I really love this place, everything is delicious and fresh, but their hours are horrible! I wish they would be open after work. Still, it's a special treat to get to go there.

I love this place and the owners. The meals are exceptionally tasty. I keep coming back because it is worth it for me.

Great place for really good and interesting sandwiches and with many vegan selections. So glad they are back in business!

Delicious food with vegan versions of their offerings. Chatted up the person taking my doer while I waited for my food and he was nice & friendly. A small cute place that focuses on a handful of items that don't disappoint.

I can't believe I went this long without trying a Soulwich sandwich. I got the Indonesian Ginger BBQ with pork and it was incredible!!! The burmese chips were also delicious.

I am from Evanston and came here to have an amazing sandwich. I was shocked to find that the food wasn't as good as I remembered...it was better

We tried a couple of sandwiches from this spot! It was interesting to see the limited open hours as the reviews rave about their sandwiches. They have a small menu of sandwiches, salads and refreshments which makes it an ideal location for a local lunch spot if you have flexibility with open hours. We tried the Singapore Tikka and the Sesame chili tuna sandwich which didn't take long to receive. The tuna sandwich with the chili oil and banh mi toppings was really good. They asked if we wanted it to be spicy but I didn't taste anything spicy about the sandwich but the flavors were well put together. I wasn't a fan of the tikka sandwich which needs maybe the tikka sauce to bring the ingredients together.

Soulwich is like a mystical creature in Evanston. I don't understand the reasoning behind their scarce opening days/hours, but I do recall how I instantly gave up on studying at a nearby coffee shop to go to Soulwich for the first time when I saw two customers with their own sandwiches. In the event that your schedule lines up with Soulwich's opening hours, you drop everything to go! No complaints with regards to the flavor of sandwich I tried (Indonesian Ginger BBQ with pork). It was pretty good, with toppings that I don't often get to eat in sub-style sandwiches. My qualms were primarily with the flaky opening hours and the serving size. For the price, I wish I had gotten more!

I like Soulwich's taste in spices and their ultra-crumbly bread that cleaves to the fillings. I appreciate the interesting vegetarian options and the fact that it's affordable. However, they have this drink display case full of drinks they don't actually carry, and a menu full of crossed off items, and the guy behind the counter thought that was funny and quirky instead of misleading and strange.

Well the menu is limited, a few sandwiches and salads but guess what I now have a new favorite go to sandwich when in Evanston: Indonesian Ginger BBQ with pork with a side of homemade chips. The chips were excellent, the sandwich was moist and flavorful. A perfect quick lunch.

My friend and I have been DYING to go here, but because of the extremely specific store hours we've never been able to find a time. Thankfully we finally got to try it last week! And it definitely lived up to the hype. We both got the Indonesian Ginger BBQ sandwich with pork, and it was absolutely delicious! The textures were balanced with crunchy creamy and juicy making the perfect bite. If you ever find yourself free during Soulwich hours, please give it a try!

Amazing pork sandwiches, would highly recommend, and the owners are extremely friendly and hospitable!

Fantastic lunch spot in Downtown Evanston!! This place is great, tasty sandwiches, salads, and the chips are delicious. Super friendly staff that serve you your sandwich from a wicker basket, it's adorable. Definitely check it out

Incredible sandwiches that you can't get anywhere else! Soulwich is one of the best restaurants in Evanston, and the owners couldn't be more friendly. This is a gem.

Potbelly meets banh mi sandwich. That's what it tastes like. It was pretty simple, although good. They asked if we wanted it spicy and we said yes, so it had a good spice. We would have liked more seitan and sauce on it. The cole slaw is good, tastes like Asian sesame.

I love the food at this place very much. Soulwich is a unique restaurant specializing in big and fresh flavors. I real enjoy the Indonesian ginger BBQ sandwich with pork. It is so delicious and not your ordinary sandwich. You can also customize the protein in each sandwich and decide whether you want it spicy. The Burmese chips are worth a try, too. Everything tastes so fresh. The bread is delicious. Drinks are good. The whole place is nice and relaxing. The owners are lovely people. This place is truly a hidden gem in this area.

Excellent sandwich. Crispy bread and mildly spicy and complex flavors. Seems like a local joint.

Welp it is Jan. 2024, 12:39PM surprise they are closed. Soulwich has not been open a single day this year. No sign, nothing. I wanted so badly for this place to be a success. Waiting for someone else to come in and open a delightful and dependable food spot... currently Soulwich is a waste of prime space.

Best sandwiches in chicago. I was so happy when I learned they opened back up. Try the Indonesian BBQ and the Burmese chips. Nice sized portions and delicious. You won't regret it

Do not listen to yelp, This business isn't closed. they just opened back up and I'm going to declare they have the best sandwich in Evanston. My family just moved here from The West coast and one of my biggest complaints about Evanston is that the food scene is pretty mediocre. Sure, You can find good sandwiches here but not great sandwiches . Well, I just had my first great sandwich in Evanston. My friends, Go and eat a great sandwich!

Best banh MI in Chicago. It's unbelievablly good. If only they weren't open only like 10 hours a week lol. It's soo good

The best thing about their sandwiches is high quality, very clean ingredients. The bread is so soft the texture is really great. I got the fig sandwich with chicken and it was amazing! The Burmese curry sandwich was less flavorful and bland. The Burmese chips kind of tasted weird to me in the beginning, but oddly the more I had it the better it became. Wish they had more drink items available on their menu, but it's definitely a great lunch spot.

Delicious sandwiches (highly recommend the fig one), and everyone that I've taken here has loved their experience. Also really kind and charming customer service -- when I left my wallet behind, they went above and beyond trying to contact me and return it (I'm still super grateful!) Portion sizes and prices are super affordable and will definitely keep you more than satiated -- also some of the most unique flavors that you'll find for a sandwich spot.

I had the Indonesian Ginger BBQ. It was flavorful and the bread was perfectly toasted. The vegetables could be a little more evenly spread but overall it was a quality sandwich! The couple running the shop were also very friendly and helpful!

Oh my gooood. I don't know how but soulwich somehow has made some of the best sandwiches I've ever had. The service is great. The women who owns the place literally works every day and is so helpful and WORKS for her money. I got the Indonesian ginger bbq with chicken and it was sooo good. Def recommend. The veggies are crispy and fresh, the chicken is that good white meat, the bread was handmade by Jesus' hands himself and the sauce is sweet and tasty without being too overbearing. If you live in Evanston and haven't been hear you are missing out, trust me.

They make unique and delicious sandwiches. Their homemade slaw and potato chip sides are a bonus. Make sure to grab one of their ginger sodas with your sandwich. A complete and scrumptious meal. If only they had a location in San Diego... Can't wait to go back when I visit Chicago again!

Fabulous and extremely delicious sandwiches. To go with this was fantastic counter service with a friendly smile! All natural and fresh. We had Burmese coconut curry sandwich with homemade seasoned spicy chips and sesame chilli tuna sandwich. All was so tasty and completely satisfying. Some of the best sandwiches ever! Good music also playing in the background.

This was my first time here; a friend highly recommended it to me. So in someway this is kind a like an Indian fusion restaurant. I had a sandwich that had overtones and flavors of Indian food, yet I was eating a sandwich. It was very good but the portion size wasn't a lot. You could also have the sandwiches and bowls but I opted for the sandwich. They have a very simple menu but from what I've heard from my friend everything on the menu tastes great. They basically have sandwiches or salads and each comes either with coleslaw or homemade potato chips. I enjoyed my sandwich as well as the chips. Many of the sandwiches comes with your choice of meat: chicken, steak, or beef. I like that they have variety here. If it's crowded don't expect to find a seat because there isn't a lot of seating. But for a quick bite to eat and to have something that's a little different this is a great place to come.

My friend and I walked in around 7pm on a Thursday night, and we were asked to order to-go because they were getting ready to close. We didn't mind at all, and I don't know if they were closing early just on that night, but Google says they are open Mon-Sat 11am-8pm, and Yelp says they are open Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, so keep in mind these websites may not be completely correct. There is a nice outdoor seating area. There aren't that many tables, both inside and outside, but it's rarely too crowded that you can't find a place to sit. There is a note at the register that says they prefer cash, but in no way do they enforce this or pressure you about this. I didn't see the note in time and paid with a credit card but would have been happy to pay with cash (sorry!). Sandwiches come with a side, and you can choose between slaw, regular chips, or spicy chips (all homemade!). I ordered the Indonesian Ginger BBQ with pork with Asian slaw. Their service is very prompt; we got our food in like 5 minutes after we ordered. The sandwich was amazing, very flavorful and the BBQ sauce was really good. I'm not a fan of carrots, and I got scared of how it looked like there were a lot of carrots in the sandwich, but they're not overpowering at all. The slaw was a little watery, though. I will order their spicy chips next time since I tried one of my friend's chips and ended up snagging the entire bag :P

I was taken aback by all of the positive reviews. Lots of 5 star ratings with raves about their offerings. I expected a flavor exploration. During a Friday lunch-rush we stopped in for a couple sandwiches. The place was a little over half-full. There's a counter to order sandwiches and a string of low, two-top tables and one where two sets were pulled together. Walls nearer to customer seating are mostly barren. A few pieces of art are set in random areas. I'm wondering why they don't utilize the wall for a large menu? When customers enter to order, find a menu on the counter and pick from that. There are two which are ragged and torn. (Side-note: There are print shops nearby.. make new ones!) Soul-less and mediocre. Competing within the Banh mi market is not easy. Vietnamese eateries can bring it w/ their flavor combinations and cost-effective pricing. But this is bland and lacking of flavor. It'd be something if the veggies & meats were treated. But this is not so. There is very light addition of sauces or seasonings, then plain cut veggies and last (what seems like blanched) meat. We had chicken and pork. IMO If the menu says "tikka", most are gonna think of chicken Tikka masala or Tikka fry (a tikka style BBQ'd meat) found at most Indian or Pakistani restaurants. This type of usage is what is mostly prevalent in America. If your "tikka" is different, I think it's up to them to describe this effectively to their customers. Granted Indian and Pakistani cuisine has traveled to foreign lands. And therefore, combine with local flavors and become a different sort. Still, it should be explained. Cost-wise, I'm not seeing its value. If I worked in Evanston and wanted a sandwich that would settle my hunger but not cause any discomfort, sure this would work. It's like a veggie sandwich on good bread but lacking enthusiasm. For us two guys; 2 sandwiches. One with Burmese chips & the other with slaw and two drinks. Roughly under $25 dollars.Too costly in my opinion. One and done.

I wish Soulwich wasn't so far away in Evanston because it's so good and cheap. They have a range of different Asian-influenced sandwiches that sound super appetizing, plus they're a small business and I love supporting small businesses. They even had a sign that they prefer you use cash, as the credit card fees hurt their margins, and someone's kid was sitting behind the counter. The place felt really warm, and a great place to get a meal. I got the Indonesian ginger BBQ soulwich - chicken, not spicy - with the chips, and it was so filling and yummy. The food was served really quickly, which was perfect, because I was ravenous, and was a generous portion. Eating the sandwich definitely gets a little messy, and next time, I might try the spiciness, but it was great and I wish they had one in Chicago. During my dinner there, it definitely seemed like a popular space for the nearby Northwestern students to come by and have a nice dinner with friends that wouldn't break the bank.

Soulwich is so good! I can't believe it took me so long to finally try out their food. Their menu is filled with sandwiches and bowls with an Asian twist and I love how they have a good variety to choose from. I ended up choosing their tuna salad, which seems to be a Yelp favorite, and I was absolutely pleased with my choice! Their bread was extra crispy and the tuna filling was delicious! I especially enjoyed the side of homemade chips and looking forward to trying the Burmese chips in the future. I think they prefer that customers pay with cash! They have seating outdoors when the weather is nice and there are few tables and seats inside. Service was great and friendly!

I got the #4 Indonesian BBQ with pork with a side of Burmese chips. It was "juicy" and flavorful. Really hit the spot for lunch. The music was a bit loud but maybe it was just that day I was there. I'd like to go back again to try their other options. Seitan, anyone?

I'm allergic to soy and garlic, so Soulwich isn't typically a place I'd choose for lunch. However, my dining partner really wanted to go there, and since the restaurant accommodates those with food allergies, I was golden! I ordered up the sesame chili tuna sandwich. I'm not a huge fan of tuna, but I actually really enjoyed my sandwich. Piled high with tuna and served on a special homemade bread, it was fresh with no mayo and made with cilantro and pickled carrots throughout. The sandwich was served warm with a side of homemade coleslaw or seasoned chips. Since the slaw was made with soy, I opted for the chips but ended up giving most of them to my dining partner. The sandwich portion size was just right and a great value at under $8. Excellent customer service. One of the owners walked me through the menu, because I was honestly really overwhelmed with so many choices! Can seat approximately 12 inside, and a few more outside. Seems like most people order to go here. Overall, a great quality restaurant.

Very unique concept for sandwiches and delicious as well! I don't really like going out of my way to sandwich shops but the yelp reviews were too enticing. Tried the following sandwiches with 3 other people (Big enough to share.. they cut them in halves for you) -Indonesian Ginger BBQ:Pear juice, Sesame Seed, Oil, Fresh Ginger, Garlic, and Soy Sauce -Singapore Tikka:Tomato, Butter, Onion, and Curry -Burmese Coconut Curry:Burmese coconut curry, onion raisin, and coconut All of the sandwiches were very good but they also all tasted pretty similar to each other except for a slight different in the seasoning of the meat. My favorite was the INDONESIAN GINGER BBQ bc it was more flavorful than the other ones. Like the other reviews, I found it to be a little messy bc the sandwich will start to come apart so make sure you don't come during busy hours so that you can grab a seat (small shop, limited seating) Generous FRESH veggies in each sandwich( cilantro,carrots) and lots of chicken(or whichever meat you choose) make me want to come back for more (even though there's plenty of great restaurants in the area) Unlike the other reviews, I don't recommend paying for the chips. Tried the Burmese and Wasabi chips and I coudln't really taste the flavor. It tasted like regular chips and I wasn't too impressed. Next time I shall try the coleslaw. Don't forget the sriracha sauce.. although the sauce can get addicting and I found my lips burning by the end of my meal. So worth it thougth :)

This place is a hidden gem! I love this small business as a option when I'm craving a sandwich but don't want to visit one of the other large chains in town. The Fig Paneer sandwich is DELICIOUS and I'm also a fan off the Indonesian BBQ. It is helpful that you can customize your protein for the different sandwiches and they offer vegetarian options. Don't miss the Burmese chips!

Totally unimpressed and befuddled at all the great reviews. Ordered 4 sandwiches, 2 of which tasted exactly the same - bland and dry with only the vaguest hint of curry powder. The seitan teriyaki was overly sweet, the bread was dry as well. No options for kids (we asked for just plain chicken with all the fixings and they said it wasn't an option - little did we know all the other sandwiches were more like plain chicken anyway) and the strangest thing of all, they have like 15 sodas on display, all of which are some version of ginger ale. Ginger lemonade, ginger tea, ginger passionfruit juice - not a single one without ginger unless you wanted soda. Asian slaw as a side was brown, flaccid and unappealing. Sometimes yelp does you right in a new place, sometimes yelp does you wrong. This time, guess.

This is my favorite on-the-go lunch spot in Evanston! My go to sandwich choices are the Indonesian Ginger Bbq with seitan or the Sesame Chili Tuna. The seitan in the Indonesian Ginger Bbq soaks up the sauce made with pear juice, sesame seed, oil, fresh ginger, garlic, and soy sauce and it's absolutely delicious and well balanced. It satisfies any vegetarians "meat" cravings! I like that the sesame chili tuna is made without mayo and is still really satisfying. Both sandwiches have veggies (shredded red cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, and cilantro) that give it a fresh taste and nice cool crunch. The locally sourced bread is chewy with a flakyish crust that completes the whole thing. You have a choice of either a homemade Asian slaw (light, carrot/cabbage cole slaw comes in a little to go box) or homemade chips (get the burmese chips-they have a nice little kick!).

Absolutely incredible vegan options!! Indonesian Ginger BBQ w Seitan was the best vegan sandwich I have ever had.. hands down..

Because of its limited hours, I had never been to Soulwich until today. Soulwich is an asian fusion sandwich shop and is extremely underrated. I got the Singapore Tikka (with chicken) and the Indonesian Ginger BBQ (with seitan) and LOVED both! The Singapore Tikka had incredible flavors, crunchy carrots, onions, with a delicious and flavorful curry. The chicken was a great addition to this sandwich. I especially loved the Indonesian Ginger BBQ. I have never been a fan of seitan but it was an incredible complement to the flavors in the sandwich. I have never had a sandwich with ginger flavors in it, but LOVED the asian flavors (soy, garlic, sesame seed oil) with the sharp ginger taste. I also had a side of coleslaw and it was such a great alternative to chips! So crunchy, flavorful, and yummy, definitely a must try if you're here. The woman that served us was so kind and had our sandwiches made very quickly. I'll definitely be back with friends to try other sandwiches, since I loved the two that I ordered so much.

No frills eatery, even the menus you order from are extremely tattered. However, the food was good. Fresh, interesting flavor combinations. The presentation of the place is a bit off putting though.

Often closed in the middle of the day. Sandwiches are kinda Wierd and not very good either

What a great little spot. Had the veggie (seitan) version of the Indonesian ginger bbq sandwich and it was delicious and filling. Portions aren't huge but it was fresh and flavorful.

Love love LOVE this place. My boyfriend introduced me to it and now I literally think about these sandwiches on the daily. My favorite is the Indonesian BBQ w/ Pork but you can't go wrong with anything you get. Honestly incredible. You have to go.

As a new resident of Evanston, I've been eating my way through all the food options and decided to try Soulwich out for lunch. I decided on the Burmese Coconut Curry sandwich with chicken. Unlike other reviewers' comments about the sandwich being too wet, mine was not. It was moist, but missing any coconut flavor. Nor did the sandwich have onion or raisins as described. Unfortunately, I got my sandwich to go and learned all this once I got back home. The bread was delicious and the chicken was good quality, but overall, it didn't taste like the description and was bland. As others have mentioned, the service and staff were great and I'm confident they would have fixed my sandwich had I eaten at the shop and could point out the omissions. This place gets rave reviews, and is close to home, so I'll probably give them another try in the hopes I experienced a lemon of a sandwich today and it's not the norm.

Food: 3 Decor: 3 Service: 4 I came here with two friends for dinner around 8pm. 1. Singapore Tikka with chicken, 8 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/x9-IcWixbknuqvZo-bCsiA?userid=2fN8mN7uUjOw-QqtcgYqXQ Mediocre. As another customer next to me put it, the sandwich was good, but there's something missing. Chicken was good, but I didn't really care for the curry since it didn't complement the chicken well, and it made the sandwich really wet. Coleslaw wasn't that great. I've had better banh mi for less than half the price here.

Sandwiches aren't bad, but they're nothing to write home about. The guy who served us (maybe the owner?) had an IDGAF attitude, which was off-putting. FOOD: 3 stars I got the INDONESIAN GINGER BBQ with PORK and it wasn't bad. The bread was nicely toasted and the pork was flavorful, albeit slightly dry. The veggies added a nice freshness to the sandwich. A decent sandwich at a decent price, but nothing worth writing home about. A downside was that the sandwich was oily and it dripped through the paper and onto my hands. It was challenging to eat without getting my hands all oily. The BURMESE CHIPS were kettle chips with a hint of seasoning. I enjoyed them. SERVICE: 2.5 stars The guy who took our order (maybe the owner) seemed disinterested in having our business. Even when I started paying with my card but obliged to pay in cash, per the gentle request on the sign by the register, his response was flat and ambivalent. Hey man, if you don't care about your business, why should I? I should've just paid with card, which would've been more convenient for me. He did bring the food out to us at our table outside, so I can't complain about that. But I can't remember ever being served by such a listless person. Bleh. AMBIANCE: 3 stars The inside is whatever. The menu by the register is laminated, but is old and worn. There's really minimal character to this place, though it does seem clean. Having outside seating was nice. The product they put out is decent and at a fair price, but with listless service and decor, I've no reason to return.

I came here over the weekend and absolutely fell in love with this place. It's family owned which is always great but the whole family was working! The father takes your order, the daughter rings you up and the mom makes your sandwich-- what could be better! On top of how nice they were, the food was fantastic. I had the Indonesian Ginger Pork Sandwich and it was fantastic. I also opted for spicy chips (made fresh in house) and the slaw- both were great. Highly recommended!!

The Burmese Coconut Curry was a no-fuss eat. A compact delight: chicken, shredded carrots, cucumber, cilantro, and coconut curry stuffed into a roll. I chose to get the slaw, which was sparingly tossed in a light sauce. You should get the chips. But that's just me. To be honest, the coconut curry was underwhelming. As a die-hard fan of rich Indian foods, I was moderately disappointed to not find the creamy, savory flavors I love in curries - in fact it was rather liquid-y. The curry leaked into the wrap in mini pools, and I was sad I couldn't sop it up because of social constructs called Manners in a Public but Privately Owned Eating Space. Nevertheless, the underwhelming flavors were not underwhelming enough to keep me from coming back. I will come back for you, Soulwich. The store owner was so cheerful and chipper. He makes people - college students especially it seems - feel right at home. Strikes up good conversation, and cares about his customers. A mood picker-upper. Probably part of the reason I'll come back!