Nhu Lan Sandwich Shop

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 - chicken3. Xiu Mai - Vietnamese meatball sandwich4. Pate Cha - Vietnamese ham pate 5. Bi - shredded steamed pork and pork skin6. Thit Do - Vietnamese red meat (pork)7. Nem - square sour pork sausageand, 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.

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 5-10minutes 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)!

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.

4.10.22This 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Excited to get some banh mi at Eden Center. Ordered a couple tofu banh mi sandwiches. Got home. No tofu. Just vegetables. Won't be coming back.