pairs4life wrote:

lemoneater wrote:Also - fun news from the owner! The Lakeview location is nearly ready to open. It's near Belmont & Broadway, about a block from the lake - prime smoothie real estate. This location will have much more seating.

Huzzah! But will they be open on Tuesdays?

Nope. I tried to go yesterday and struck out.

Sign on door of Lawrence Avenue store today says they are temporarily closed. It would be best to call ahead if you plan to visit.

Thanks. I was there on Sunday evening & all was well.

handwritten sign on door says "closed for remodeling" and there was evidence of work being done when I peered in on Friday afternoon.

Drove by a half hour ago and they were definitely open, though it looked like workers were still doing a few things in the doorway.

http://chicago.everyblock.com/food-insp ... n-5536884/

princessducky wrote:http://chicago.everyblock.com/food-inspections/nov14-nhu-lan-bakery-failed-inspection-5536884/

Remodeling . . . well, in a sense I suppose. That is one of the most disturbing reports I've read and very disappointing. Thanks for posting.

BR wrote:

princessducky wrote:http://chicago.everyblock.com/food-inspections/nov14-nhu-lan-bakery-failed-inspection-5536884/

Remodeling . . . well, in a sense I suppose. That is one of the most disturbing reports I've read and very disappointing. Thanks for posting.

no one who eats here should be surprised, at least about the refrigerator issues (the kitchen problems, obviously, the customers couldn't be aware of). i've complained more than once when i stop in there about the food (shrimp rolls, pork cakes, etc.) that sit out unrefrigerated. i don't buy them, even though their explanation is that these things are 'cooling off' and then will go in the cooler. ba le used to do the same thing, but stopped this practice when they moved next door and bought more refrigeration.

justjoan wrote:i've complained more than once when i stop in there about the food (shrimp rolls, pork cakes, etc.) that sit out unrefrigerated. i don't buy them

I buy them. All the time. Good stuff. And I know that I'm buying meat that's sitting out at room temp - caveat emptor.

inspector wrote:NO BIRDS, TURTLES OR OTHER ANIMALS

While I'm glad to hear that no rogue turtles were found, I do wonder why this even exists on their checklist. Are there restaurants in the city with infestations of turtles?

-Dan

dansch wrote:

inspector wrote:NO BIRDS, TURTLES OR OTHER ANIMALS

While I'm glad to hear that no rogue turtles were found, I do wonder why this even exists on their checklist. Are there restaurants in the city with infestations of turtles?

My guess is this is directed at pet turtles-- turtles and other reptiles can carry Salmonella, so they would not be good to have as pets in a restaurant. Although I do remember going to a Korean BBQ buffet in some strip mall where they had a little turtle pond-- was a long time ago, so I may be mis-remembering.

That said, the image of an infestation of turtles does tickle my fancy! As Nature's Little Tanks, turtles can be quite destructive.

Cheers, Jen

justjoan wrote:i don't buy them, even though their explanation is that these things are 'cooling off' and then will go in the cooler.

If it's any consolation, every time I go into the place I buy the pork patty (looks like a bun wrapped in plastic) that is sitting on the counter. It's almost always warm when I get it. In my limited experience in food safety, it seems plenty salty enough to sit out past cooling with no ill effects. I do believe Nhu Lan has rapid enough turnover for it not to be an issue. With as much LTH traffic that goes to Nhu Lan, I think if people were getting sick because of their food, we'd have heard about it by now.

How about this for some health safety (From an excellent charcuterie shop in Ha Noi, NOT from Nha Hang)

)
[/quote]

great picture!

I'm currently sitting in Nhu lan enjoying a #1. No visible changes other than the meat is no longer cooling on the counter, but is in the cooler next to it.

laikom wrote:I'm currently sitting in Nhu lan enjoying a #1.

Great, another health code violation.

cilantro wrote:

laikom wrote:I'm currently sitting in Nhu lan enjoying a #1.

Great, another health code violation.

Took me a while, but now i get it. At least it wasn't a #2.

nhu lan is open, with all the perishables now in refrigerator cases. i don't think anyone has reported the other good news: they are now open 7 days a week. i've gone there more than once on a tuesday to discover the placed locked up.

Nhu Lan has now added Pho. Haven't tried it (couldn't stay away from the sandwiches on last visit, not enough room for both), has anyone else?

I've had it a couple times. I'd call it a solid but not great bowl of pho. I found it a little heavy on the spices and less beefy than I'd prefer.

On the other hand, their beef stew, bo kho, is outstanding. If you're in the mood for soup I'd highly recommend it. It's listed on the sandwich menu because it's served with a baguette.

Hoping to try Monti's for the first time for Saturday lunch, I was only a little disappointed to find that they don't open till noon. I wasn't going to wait 45 minutes, especially since I noticed Nhu Lan is only half a block away.
A superb backup to my original cheesesteak plan was one of the great $5 sandwiches in Chicago, the lemongrass tofu. I'd forgotten how close to the texture of beef the tofu in this sandwich is. Any carnivores who have resisted the opportunity to try a vegan meal should start with the #10 sandwich at Nhu Lan. Fresh ingredients and friendly service made this a serendipitous detour.

turkob wrote:I've had it a couple times. I'd call it a solid but not great bowl of pho. I found it a little heavy on the spices and less beefy than I'd prefer.

Agree, solid not spectacular pho.

Here's a little tip that I'd like to relate Many fish bites if you got good bait . When I bought pho at Nhu Lan they said 15-minute wait, which was fine. When I received the pho it was hot, also fine. It then occurred to me that I just waited 15-minutes for pho to be heated when I was not eating it for 4-5 hours and planned on heating it up anyway.

Nhu Lan pho is take-out only, if you are not going to eat it right away save yourself the 15-minute wait time and ask them not to heat it.

TomInSkokie wrote: Any carnivores who have resisted the opportunity to try a vegan meal should start with the #10 sandwich at Nhu Lan.

This afternoon, right after I ordered the usual sandwiches for dinner tonight for wife & I, I remembered this statement.

Next time as I am a carnivore that usually resists meals that are 100% vegan.

for the first time ever, I sat at Nhu' Lan and ate my sandwich there at the bakery, normally it is at least 30-45 mins before I eat it after pick up.

I have to say I much prefer the sandwich after it has sat for a bit rather than fresh made.

Same w/Bari. Way better an hr after p/u.

Nhu Lan expanding to Uptown?: http://www.uptownupdate.com/2014/04/nhu ... weiss.html

G Wiv wrote:

turkob wrote:When I bought pho at Nhu Lan they said 15-minute wait, which was fine. When I received the pho it was hot, also fine. It then occurred to me that I just waited 15-minutes for pho to be heated when I was not eating it for 4-5 hours and planned on heating it up anyway. Nhu Lan pho is take-out only, if you are not going to eat it right away save yourself the 15-minute wait time and ask them not to heat it.

I really have no idea, but I'm just wondering, do the health codes allow this, or does it have to have been brought up to boiling temperature within a certain amount of time before being served?

I stopped by Nhu Lan yesterday for the first time, after spending a relaxing Sunday afternoon at the Red Lion just a few doors away.

I'd had plenty to eat and drink at the Red Lion, so I planned to get a bahn mi to take home for lunch the next day, and put an ice pack in a little car cooler for that reason. I got the #1 special (working my way methodically through the menu). The lady who took my order wanted me to change to a #3 or #5, who knows why, an extra 45 cents or that's what they had on hand, but I stuck with the #1. I don't think it was made to order; it was brought out from the back and looked and felt premade (bread cold and stiff--my initial impression was that it was stale). Mind you, this was around 5:45 on a Sunday night. I asked how soon they were closing and was told, usually 7*, but they were hoping to close early, around 6, because of Mother's Day.

Last night I unwrapped the sandwich to put some mayo on the bread before rewrapping it tightly to store overnight. Say what you like; I am anti dryness in foods, and I didn't think the bread was particularly fresh at the time that I bought it. That said, it made for a great lunch today.

* I am not sure about this and I really don't want to misinform anyone, but I *think* I saw on a sign by the door "We are now open 7 days a week, 7 am-7 pm." If that's true, it would confirm the other reports of a 7 pm close and constitute a change in the closed-on-Tuesday sitch ... but don't take my word for it; I can't be sure. Should have taken a picture of that sign. Call and find out for yourself if you need to know about Tuesdays.

I read through this whole thread before posting this, so I'd like to go back for the pork belly bahn mi, the lemongrass tofu, the ginger chicken. I was dismayed though, to read that extensive list of health violations in Nov 2012, and to see that an inspection was also failed in Feb 2014 (for fewer and apparently less serious reasons), although a pass is reported for the most recent inspection in March 2014.

I also noted that all the bahn mi items on the menu cost at least $1 more (i.e., typically $4.50-$4.95) than the prices shown on the online menu, which from the info in this thread I gather reflect the prices in 2009, which were in turn all about $1 more than the prices in 2007. Not a steep rate of increase and still very affordable and delicious sandwiches. Rents go up and food prices go up. But given that it's quite a hike from where I live, I do wish they were consistently passing their health inspections; if they were, I'd feel more comfortable about making an effort to go back to try more varieties of the bahn mi and get some shrimp spring rolls too.

edithpiaf wrote:Nhu Lan expanding to Uptown?: http://www.uptownupdate.com/2014/04/nhu ... weiss.html

I'll be sad if they close the Lawrence Ave location since it's walking distance from home but Weiss Plaza really isn't that far and I could get them on my way home from work. Win/win. But still hoping for Lawrence Ave to stay and Weiss Plaza to be just an additional locaition for them.

Pretty sure it's expansion, not a move. And, yes, they are now open every day.

Building was for sale about a year ago. Not sure if it is a move or an expansion. Could be one or the other or both. With the way things are going in that area I wouldn't be surprised that if the owner did sell, they may let the lease of the restaurant expire and knock it down for a redevelopment. There are new condos up and down Lawrence all over the place.

On the other hand, it would be nice to keep an authentic place in the neighborhood, so hopefully it's an expansion.

It's an expansion. Went to the Lawrence Ave location last night and asked. They said they are keeping all their locations because each serves a different neighborhood. Food would be the same as would be the prices.

Good news for me.