I recently took a trip to Chicago to visit friends and eat at a few food stops I’ve had my eye on. I stayed with my friend Mike, an equally eager eater, who lives in Ravenswood on the north side of town. My goal was to eat great food on the cheap, from the small local places usually only the townies know about.
The first day of my trip was quiet and slow. It was a Friday and Mike was at work until 6pm, so I set off to wander the unfamiliar streets for food. I ended up in Lincoln Square, a busy and bustling place filled with lots of bars and restaurants. I tried to keep a keen eye for something a bit off the map, skipping all the usual touristy looking places. A half hour, a few blocks and fresh squeezed lemonade later, I ended up at the Nhu’ Lan Bakery just off the Brown Line Rockwell station.
As soon as I saw the sign, I knew the Nhu’ Lan was my kind of place. When I walked through the door, I was hit in the face with the smell of fresh baked bread and herbs. The menu was small, consisting only of sandwiches (mainly pork based), baked goods and a few fresh rolls. I ordered a grilled lemongrass pork sandwich with shaved carrot, diakon, fresh cilantro and jalapeno’s. I also grabbed some shrimp and tofu fresh rolls with a sweet chili dipping sauce. The sandwich was absolutely amazing! The bread was soft and chewy on the inside, with just the right amount of crust on the outside. The pork was shaved thin, char-grilled and dressed with a dark, sweet and salty lemongrass sauce. What do you get when you combine fresh cilantro with spicy jalapeno’s and a good crusty baguette with grilled pork? The best sandwich I’ve ever had! And guess what, it only cost $2.95 and when you buy 5 you get one free!
I ended up falling in love with the Nhu’ Lan bakery and returned three times in four days. By the end of my trip I was on a first name basis with the owners. If your in Chicago and want a truly great meal, stop by Nhu’ Lan and try a bahn mi, you’ll be in pork sandwich heaven!
-Jay
