Lu’s Sandwich Shop

i ordered the cold cut sandwich. underwhelming. very little flavor, very little meat and veggies. i was disappointed. =(
maybe my expectations are too high. i know my banh mi pretty well. and boston just doesn’t have banh mi that is mouth watering and tempting. =(

Located inside the Phở Hoa Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown, this place has been hit or miss in terms of Banh Mi (Vietnamese styled sandwich) consistency. I have ordered the #2, the Banh Mi Thit Nuong (Beef) and the #3, the Banh Mi Ga (Chicken) a few times and I have found the Banh Mi to be mediocre (or a few steps above mediocre) at its best.
There have been times the baguette tasted so dry and possibly stale or over toasted. In fact, this place has broken the record in terms of having the driest and hardest bread I had at a place that serves Banh Mi. The baguettes, at their best have been decently toasty, not hard, not somewhat stale, and okay. The Banh Mi in the pictures I posted was one example of that positive experience. I also found the meats to be okay but the chicken strips were thin, kind of dry and were not meaty enough. Beef was decent, but I had better beef strips at other Banh Mi places in Chinatown.
This is not my main recommendation for decent Banh Mi in Chinatown, and I think there are plenty of better places (such as 163 Vietnamese Sandwiches or New Saigon Sandwich) in Chinatown to get Banh Mi. Getting a decent Banh Mi at this place is sort of like, playing a high stakes game of Texas Hold ‘em Poker and your opponent has a Straight Flush and you need a Royal Flush to win the game or you lose everything. I could have given this place 2 Stars, however, the lady who prepared the Banh Mi was nice though. That makes the service decent, so that is one sign that this place will hopefully improve.

I’m on a hunt to find the best banh mi sandwich in my neighborhood and I can unfortunately attest — this ain’t it. I ordered the marinated chicken, extra spicy. The bread was so hard when I finally crunched through to get to the inside, the chicken was thinly sliced and sparse. The carrots has some good flavor and crunch. But the heat from the jalapenos was too mild for me and they put the whole cilantro stem in there. $ 3 or not… when I was finished, I had to hit the tortilla chips I had in my cupboard because I was still hungry. The girl was nice — so here’s a star for her. So far… Miss Saigon is my winner.

Banh Mi was a favorite lunch time staple on the weekends during my childhood. My family used to make the hour commute into Chinatown from nearby Providence to stock up on fresh veggies and other hard to find ingredients that we couldn’t get back in Rhode Island.
I remember being a kid and waiting for the order of 10 and sometimes 20 sandwiches (and we’d get a few free ones!) to be crafted by hand in an assembly line of 3 – 4 Veitnamese women by the stairs of the old entrance to the supermarket. The sights and smells of them slicing through each loaf of bread, slathering on the butter concoction and smearing pâté, layering slices of fresh cold cuts and the to die for carrot/​daikon slaw. She’d always ask if I wanted «spicy». Those memories are hard to fade. I learned that they’ve moved to their other location in Dorchester and haven’t been able to check them out yet.
So, when I saw that Lu’s Sandwich Shop opened up in the adjacent space beside the jewelry store, they’ve been my go to place for Banh Mi whenever we visited Chinatown. It’s in the same stink filled alley way I used to walk through to navigate through so that memory is always there. The sandwiches, however, are truly hit or miss. I’ve gotten fresh bread a few times and have run into what tasted like day old bread as well. I can’t say that they’re horrible, but they get the job done when I’m in town and need a quick Banh Mi fix. The guy with the cart across the way underneath the cafeteria makes a better Banh Mi.
It’s safe to say that I don’t think I would ever get that feeling of yesteryear from buying sandwiches from my favorite ladies, but 15 years is a long time.
The price has gone up to $ 3.00 per sandwich if it matters to anyone.

I can’t quite express how excited I was to read MCslimJ B’s review. In his review, he created a flashback for me, reminding me of what used to be in the spot of Lu’s Sandwich Shop now: the two ladies who made amazing banh mi about 10 years ago. At only $ 1.50 at the time with a deal you couldn’t give up (buy 5, get the 6^th free). I yearn for the earlier days when banh mi was cheap, amazingly delicious, and just an arm’s reach over that high counter.
After they moved away, I finally realized that that wonderful lady who always made me the superior banh mi had a decent sized shop (Ba Le) on Dorchester Ave. Granted, though not much farther, it was still quite difficult for me to find my way there. With that, I decided to go on the quest for the better banh mi.
I’ve sampled many, even the ones in the motherland. Lu’s might not be the worst, but definitely one of.
In the motherland, the baguettes are freshly baked every early morning and old ladies would go to the bakery and pick them up. They would then go to their spots with their carts, as early as 5am, looking very much like NYC and their hot dog stands. Standing there, people like you and I would approach, asking for a banh mi (or two) and watching the crunchy, fresh baguette get piled on from being a clear, plastic screen. If you want extra toppings or meat? Just ask. A brilliant banh mi with all the yummy fixins couldn’t possibly put you back more than $ 1. I find that Ba Le has some of the same mannerisms as those old ladies.
Lu’s, on the other hand, is a much different story. To start, like many have said, the bread is stale. Hard, cold, crunchy in the way that it’s been sitting out for weeks, and soft in the not-​fresh-​anymore kind of way. The mayo-​butter concoction (which I must warn you: several sources have informed me that that concoction includes egg yolk so beware vegans!) is weak. There’s something lacking and desperately needs to change. Even worse is the chopped up deli ham that goes into the cold cut sandwiches. I felt betrayed, almost slapped in the face that they could sell a Vietnamese cold cut sandwich with strips of deli style ham.
The disappointment is out on the street and I’m laying there, wondering when someone will step up and stop the criminal act of ruining banh mi. Until then, I will trust my judgment and will make the effort to go to Dorchester to see those two sweet ladies again.

There are far better options within a block or two.
I got the ground pork sandwich (I’m a banh mi newbie) and was especially upset by the fact that bread was not warmed through and a bit too crusty.

i am ever so recently a huge fan of banh mi sandwiches. easy on the pocketbook, and a better than satisfactory lunch. lu’s is a-​ok, but not nearly as good as 163 vietnamese sandwiches, located only a block away.
i tried their marinated chicken banh mi. the chicken was good, though perhaps a little too salty, but the vegetables were simply not as tasty as the pickled variety that you receive down the street. also, the sauce wasn’t quite as good either.
overall, an ok sandwich shop, but there are a whole bunch of other options that you may find a bit better only a few steps away.

Okay banh mi, but little reason to dine here when Mei Sum is across the street.
I remember when this stand, tucked between a jeweler and a Vietnamese grocery, made some of the best banh mi in town, when two really cute young Vietnamese girls made them super-​fast in this bewitching blur of arms. But no longer: the young guy at the counter appears staggered by my order. «Two each of sour sausage, pork meatball, BBQ beef, chicken, cold cuts; half spicy, plus one tofu.» ($ 2.50 each, 11^th is free.) As the line builds, his exactitude ebbs; the rolls only get a two-​second toaster-​oven visit.
Back at the office, my colleagues, bánh mì virgins whom I’ve pumped up with anticipation, weigh in. «Those juicy pork meatballs rock.» «The one with head cheese [cold cuts] could use a slice of Provolone,» says my Irish buddy, only half-​kidding. I’m disappointed: the rolls are sub-​par, stale-​ish. The collective verdict: «Loved the salad-​y bits, but too much bread, not enough meat, not enough dressing.» The tacit question: «What was MC raving about?» Mei Sum across the street is far superior, and if you have the time, the Phở Viet at the Super 88 in Allston drubs them all.

I really want to like this place more. Tucked away like some kind of secret and run by a sweet old lady who dutifully makes your Banh Mi with a smile.
But the bread is often stale and while the flavors of the ingredients are good it just lacks the freshness you can find elsewhere. For $ 2.50 for a lunch you can’t complain too loudly, especially when New Saigon Sandwich has a huge line and you’re in a hurry.

This is a great little shop! Despite its hole in the wall appearance, I’ve had many a great and affordable meal from here. I always get the cold cuts sandwich. Admittedly the meat is sort of a mystery, but it’s declicious!
Make sure to check out their refrigerated desserts too. I tried one earlier this week. The dessert I got was a mix of tapioca with plantains, absolute heaven on earth. The spring rolls are good simply because they’re so cheap, but the peanut sauce is a bit off.
Lastly, make sure you get a drink to go with your sandwich. Eating a baguette the size of a men’s size 11 shoe can be a bit harsh on the salivary glands.

Of course it’s cheap as chips — $ 2.50 for a sandwich that’ll stuff you up for hours — but it’s by far from the best in the area. It is quite cute that it’s basically an old lady and a young helper standing at the back of a jewelery shop with a little toaster oven, a stack of bread and some fillings. They sell other saran-​wrapped items of vivid green color and such, but the Banh Mi is what matters.
I took the plunge with sour sausage and loved my filling choice. It took a few minutes to be made and toasted in the right way but that gave plenty of time to try and assess if they make shakes or not (they’re advertised but I didn’t see anything they would make them with).
I didn’t start on my sandwich until 20 or so mins later (so maybe I’m partly to blame) but the bread was tough to devour — a giant hulking mass of bread that was crisp to the point of serrated. I know it should be that way, but somehow it failed. I think the bread to filling volume ratio was all wrong. Too much bread, too little love.

Get-​in get-​out nobody gets hurt. Lunch for two-​fiddy.
I get:
#1 Mystery meat er, cold cuts
#2 Beef
#5 Sausage
I always get hot peppers. Sometimes I splurge and get two.
I always eat them immediately before they self destruct.

Disappointing. Simply disappointing. I absolutely love banh mi, but this sandwich was less than satisfying. I perhaps didn’t give it a fair chance since I ate it after stuffing it in my backpack for 5 hours while I sat on a bus back to NYC, only to eat it upon reaching my corporate apartment. By that time, it was cold, but I’ve had cold banh mi before and it was just fine. So, I’m still confident that this place just doesn’t know how to make banh mi. The tofu just lacked any flavor, and the typical banh mi veggies were in dreadfully short supply. Also, this place charges $ 2.50 for tofu banh mi, which while cheap for dinner, is still overpriced compared to SF or especially Orange County. I give it two stars just because it’s still cheap and I didn’t have to wait in line fighting with old Asian grandmas who keep cutting in front of me.

i like to go through the jewelry store entrance. it makes me feel like i’m in little saigon in chicago at my aunt’s jewelry store on argyle st.
that being said, banh mi time. as far as i’m concerned, there is no other kind to get other than the dac biet («the special»). what’s in the special, mags? it’s a variety of vietnamese coldcuts. the most important of these coldcuts is headcheese (
— i noticed there is no head cheese of vietnamese origin on this entry). if you’re too lazy to read the entry, i’ll break it down for you — it’s a coldcut made of various meats from the head. in this case, pig. it also contains pâté of some sort. and some white condiment which i have yet to identify.
if any of those ingredients turns you off the deliciousness of the sandwich, then you have no business considering yourself a foodie. and i say «be gone with you.»

I’ve always been a huge fan of Vietnamese sandwiches and Lu’s does an adequate job of providing me with my weekly VS fix. I always order the #1 Vietnamese cold cut (being the not so adventurous type) and have been pleased with the results each time. Although I have little clue as to what the types of «cold cuts» are inside the baguette; it doesn’t really matter I guess if it tastes so good. My favourite part of the sandwich is definitely the butter/​mayo-​like spread in which they slather on (I can never get enough of that stuff) and always tell them to put extra (and would buy a whole container of it if they sold it). The pickled veggies offer the perfect balance to the richness of the protein, and at $ 2.50 a pop; you can’t really beat the value. But only buy what you can finish since the baguette gets soggy overnight from the soy sauce and veggies.

The sandwich at Lu’s is good but not that great. Their seasoning is a bit off. I always get mine at Saigon Sandwich Shop. The service is more friendlier too. Plus, they give the RIGHT change.
I recommend the grilled beef sandwich over the cold cut. It is more flavorful. You can ask your sandwich to be cut in half if you like to at Saigon Sandwich.

Really tasty really cheap sandwiches. I love the mix of french bread and Vietnamese fixings… pork, carrots, spicy sauces, cilantro… mmm mmm mmm! I suggest the pork sandwich with EVERYTHING– you can’t be picky when you are trying something so new and different! I have to admit though, the «décor» of this place is GHETTO Asian style dirtiness that you find in most of Chinatown. But, once you get over that (esp if you work down in Chinatown all the time), you are in for a really tasty sandwich at Lu’s. Try it out!

I usually get my Banh Mi fix at the cart at the Chinatown Eatery. But today I said to myself, «Self, that place is seriously sketchy.» And so I headed over to the cleaner, more FDA-​approved Lu’s Sandwich Shop. It’s good, but not better than the cart or Chau’s Bakery in Dorchester. They do offer more choices, offering Vietnamese cold cuts, bbq beef, chicken, ground pork, and tofu. But the sandwich was very very salty and the veggies almost over pickled. I also am not sure if they used any pâté which is one of my favorite elements of this sandwich. Maybe you only get the pâté if you get the Vietnamese cold cut version. Anyway, it’s a good place to go if you’re after your first Banh Mi experience as the menu options are clear and the hostess speaks English. All sandwiches are $ 2.50.

This shop is a hidden gem!
Tucked away alongside a jewelry shop, this is a strictly carry out establishment.
The sandwiches are indeed $ 2.50 and fabulous. Fresh crusty bread with meat or tofu that has a little marinade topped with crisp wedges of cucumber, matchstick pieces of carrot, a generous handful of cilantro and slivers of daikon radish makes an impressive value sandwich.
This is like a high quality Subway– Asian Style.
This place also sells bubble tea and other drinks and dessert goodies. :) The service is also very friendly – they remembered me after having been in there once!

Although they have the most variety of Vietnamese sandwiches (Banh Mis) including chicken, sausage etc, I find that their sandwiches aren’t that great in taste and some of their sandwiches are more expensive than other places in chinatown. The beef sandwich is just lacking in that special something. Their butter/​mayo is not as tasty as it should be. Better Banh Mis at either Saigon Sandwich (alot of variety) or my fav Banh Mi Saigon cart downstairs of Chinatown eatery which has only beef and cold cut, but they are the best in town!!!