Nhu Lan Sandwich Shop

The food is great although I have limited myself to chicken. I have downgraded them a bit because they close at unexpected times, and I don’t go there unless I **MUST** have a sandwich…

You can never go wrong with the sandwiches here.

After Song Que closed, I had a long period of morning. Finally, when I thought I was ready to start a new relationship again, I tried this place. It’s dimple and very tastey. The prices are amazing at 4 $ per sandwich. The cold cut and meatball were my fist to try, and it doesn’t disappoint. There isn’t a whole lot of filling, but there is definitely enough. And remember… only four dollars. This is definitely my go to for banh mi.

I really like their sandwiches, really tasty and a great lunch option for a lazy weekend day. Their bubble teas are great as well. The shop is definitely not fancy looking, that’s fine because I always order take out.

Nhu Lan has solid banh mi sandwiches that will please your craving for a traditional Vietnamese sandwich. As a Vietnamese American who has grown up eating a countless number of banh mi sandwiches, Nhu Lan isn’t the best I have ever had, but it didn’t disappoint me either. The banh mi thit nuong #1 is the best sandwich they have here. It is the traditional banh mi thit and will give you the most authentic taste of Vietnam. I also tried the banh mi ga (chicken) and that was fine as well, just not my preference when it comes to banh mi. I always prefer the traditional banh mi thit (Vietnamese ham). They also have another banh mi with what you could call cut up Vietnamese meatballs. That one was also okay as well, nothing special and there are definitely better options for that sandwich at other places in Eden Center. The only thing that I could see some more traditionalist (i.e. my mom) complain about would be the amount of Vietnamese mayonnaise or what they call «secret sauce.» I don’t mind the sauce, but I did notice they put more than typical on their banh mi sandwiches, so be wary of that.
Overall, I enjoyed the banh mi sandwiches I had here. While not the best in Eden Center, I still liked what I had to eat. If you’re new to trying banh mi sandwiches, this would be a good place to start, but if you’re more traditional, then there are better options in Eden Center.

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 pâté and mayo on this sandwich was sad looking
— Bread was spongy/​chewy even after reheating in the oven.
Banh Mi Pâté Cha (Pork Pâté)
— Same issue with the bread
— More pâté 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.

My uncle bought 15 Combination Sandwiches, BANH Mi Thit Nguoi and all it comes is a couple slices of head cheese, pâté and butter. I looked on their website and their combination sandwich should also comes with ham but there is no ham in all the sandwiches. My aunt called and spoke to lady on phone and we told her there is only head cheese, pâté and butter. We thought it should also come with cha which most combination sandwich should come but the lady told us that would be extra. Now that I saw our sandwich and compare to theirs online, it is totally missing the ham. Vietnamese customer service really sucks and rude. I like American better as they know how to bring customers back. If it is their mistakes, they would first apologize to their customers and make up for their mishaps. Vietnamese would say who the hell care. Take a look at the sandwich they made for us and the one they posted on their website.

Enter building with big clock on it via door to the right of the entrance directly under the clock. Fourth stall on left. Delicious — tried one of each with exception of fish offering. Six sandwiches for $ 20 or $ 4 each. Bread and greens were very fresh and while I can’t vouch for authenticity, it was very busy and I was the only white guy in there.

Mmmm banh mi. Buy 5 get 1 free ($ 20). Favorites are red pork and chicken.
Could have a little more filling, but not mad. The sandwiches are fresh and taste delicious. And watch out for those peppers they can be killer

There was, tucked away in my 6in. sandwich, a footlong hair. Tossed that one away immediately and went on sampling the other 5 sandwiches (who doesn’t buy 6 sandwiches at a vietnamese joint) because, hey, mistakes happen.
The flavor was adequate: not bad, not great. What offended me was how all of them were woefully lacking in filings. None of my sandwiches had more than a sprig of cilantro, some of them were missing cucumber altogether, and the most plentiful ingredient was lard.
I came here based on everyone else’s reviews here, but my experience came flat.

My usual go-​to spot for banh mi used to be Banh Mi So Mot. However, my mom has informed me that the shop has gone downhill and she heard from her friends that this is the best place to get banh mi from now. (And if you know anything about vietnamese people, it’s that they love to share recommendations via word of mouth and their recommendations are always on point.)
It is a tad bit more expensive than other places ($ 4 for one), but it’s so worth it! It’s delicious and they even toast it for you! I was super surprised to receive my banh mi warm and ready to devour. My entire life I’ve been eating it cold.
This place is super worth it and has my mom’s seal of approval.

Best bahn mi in the DMV and has been for years. If you think otherwise, you’re on crack. YUM.

Just. Damn. Good. I’ve been to some damn good vietnamese places in NYC for bahm mi. This place is just as solid if not moar solid. So good, make you slap your mama. My major message here is: it is good. Super spicy peppers available upon request. You’re welcome.

Ordered 40′ ahead and still have to wait 20′ for 15 sandwiches while it was a slow day.

Pros: The banh mi are freshly made. The meat, ingredients & taste’re pretty good. The fillings in the banh mi are above average. Affordable since each banh mi costs only 4 bucks; If you buy 5 banh mi, you’ll get 1 free.
Cons: Longer waiting time. Since they make everything fresh and as you order, you can be waiting anywhere from 10 – 15 mins. The banh mi is a bit more greasy than your average ones. They also put too much mayo in there, which can be quite heavy.
Overall — 3 ½ stars.

Last night, I went truly old school and challenged Nhu Lan, one of the very first banh mi shops to open up in the area. As a tween, I remember chomping down on many a baguette sandwich from this unassuming hole housed inside Eden Center’s main mall.
Here’s how it went:
Bread: This was so incredibly disappointing, it bordered on being offensive. Eating a sandwich formed of brick is not enticing. While other places have invested in terrific bread vendors or baking bread on premises, Nhu Lan obviously freezes and warms up their bread — evidenced by a chewy crust that was neither moist or fluffy.
Meat: Fresh tasting, but stingy (on the cold cut). All the components were there, but not in any meaningful way — like attendance at an obligatory party. The meat ball had a great texture and was incredibly flavorful, showcasing pepper and salty fish sauce. The star in both sandwiches was the beurre Frentel (French canned butter) that was generously slathered inside. Salty and creamy.
Pickles: Fresh, good crunch to the julienned radish and carrot — but with not enough vinegar bite, can one call it a pickle? Besides adding texture, I’m not sure it contributes to the overall flavor. And did they omit the cucumber? That’s a serious sin.
Overall Flavor: All in all, it’s not bad (meatball is far superior), but the bread is the downfall (like the crust on a pizza).

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 Unilocal 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 came here because I’ve read the good reviews and love trying new places for bahn mi.
I love the buy 5 get one free deal, your total comes out to around 17.50 plus tax.
The place is super small and can be easily be missed. It’s inside a plaza inside the Eden Plaza next to Song Que.
I got three chickens and three red pork bahn mi’s.
The meat is cut really small and thin which was a con and they don’t put enough vegetables.
But the sauce is good.
Overall the sandwich itself wasn’t too bad but I wish the meat pieces were a little more generous.

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, pâté, 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