Yay! The first banh mi chain has finally come to Portland, OR! Being so fresh and new to Portland, it's non stop busy every time I've gone in so far. This place is located at Eastport plaza right next to all the fast food restaurants. If you don't know what banh mi is, well basically it's a Vietnamese sandwich. It is a French baguette filled with a meat of your choice usually it being pork/cured ham/pate, there are also other choices on the menu such as beef or chicken. Then on go the pickled carrots, some fresh herbs, and lastly the spicy jalapenos are added in for a nice kick in your mouth when you bite into it unexpectedly. The service is quite slow, even though it seems like they have a factory in the kitchen. For some reason it takes them forever to put out an order though. If you can try not to get an iced coffee, I swear it's just instant mix with some condensed milk mixed in. I was expecting some Vietnamese drip coffee but they just scooped it out of a pitcher and I knew it wasn't going to be yummy :( My order was a combination sandwich and an iced coffee, the coffee was so so, tasted like instant coffee and had wayyy too much ice inside; if you really want to try it just get shaved ice instead of ice cubes. The sandwich was not half bad, the bread was actually very good, unlike most places where it's toasted/baked for too long and it gets hard and crusty, the bread here was crunchy and fluffy inside! The meat was so so also, taste like any other banh mi, pretty average, the bread was pretty outstanding though!
(3)
Chad P.
Still wonderful at most of the food and the great service. Wonderful pastries, Thai tea, and all of the lake. Only complaint was that the Banh Mi was lacking a bit on the fixings. I feel like a bit more vegetables and cilantro on the inside would be a little bit better than what I got. It definitely wasn't the same as last time. Still willing to give this place more chances though!
(4)
Jenny C.
Lee's is my current obsession! I absolutely love their baguettes, they're freshly baked every thirty minutes and they're to die for. Their sugarcane drink is also delicious. I always want nuoc mia but no place makes it as good as back in Vietnam. But once Lee's opened up, it definitely satisfied my nuoc mia cravings! Their pate is also super yummy! They sell their own in small containers and taste oh so good with their fresh baguettes. I've had their sandwiches before but they don't taste as good as their competitors, however their other items definitely has me sticking around!
(4)
Lin H.
Though I am from California and visit often, I have never been to a Lee's. I had taken note of people carrying bags of the distinctive baguettes to loved ones at airports, however, and wondered. Finally, it arrived and I was able to see for myself. I am likely spoiled by An Xuyen's remarkable pastry display and competitive prices. The available pastries and extras here are just mediocre at best. In the evening, it is just dismal. They have their own brand of lap cheung (sausage), which I find curious, but not enough to try. I mean. Why mess with success? The tried and true are awesome, cheap and chock full of red dye, sodium and nitrates already. Do I really need the corporate version? The banh mi themselves didn't offer anything to me other places didn't. I wasn't wowed by fast food competitive prices. The sandwich itself was forgettable and drowning in Lee's (TM) mayonnaise that you could purchase separately in little cups in the fridge. Just in case that's your jam (or sauce), I guess. What I WAS courted with were these weirdly addictive and cheap baguettes. When I stumbled upon them warm, I was truly lucky. I have since gone out of my way just to purchase hot from the oven crisp-on-the-outside-soft-in-the-center nutritionally void corporate baguettes for ridiculously cheap. Thanks Lee's. That'll do.
(3)
Carolyne T.
Came here from California, a land FULL of Lee's Sandwiches. My friend that lives in Portland wanted to stop by this place because they had buy a sandwich and get a coffee for free. While walking inside, my friend's first complaint was that it was too hot and that there was no air conditioning. My friends ordered sandwiches and it had A LOT of butter. The butter tasted good, nonetheless. My other friend ordered the spring rolls, 2 for $3.99. The spring rolls took wayyyy too long to make. My friends all finished their sandwiches before my friend got his spring rolls. Overall, not bad. I never eat Lee's back at home but having it here was better than I remembered.
(3)
Elysia M.
Ok sooo I am coming from the bay area where Lee's is like a staple. This is a pretty new one and oh my gosh! It's the nicest Lee's sandwich EVER. everything is brand new, really clean, and not very Vietnamese. They even have "European" Sandwiches on the menu! WHa?? They have the regular Lee's stuff with sandiwches: pate, pickled veggies (daikon and carrot), aioli mayo, jalapeno, etc. The sandwich was of decent size, but it was kind of expensive for a Viet sandwich. There wasn't that much meat but it wasn't the least amount I've had before. They have other types of Viet desserts and plates like spring rolls and noodles there as well, I unfortunately didn't get to try but maybe I'll go back and try!
(3)
Shana L.
This was my first time trying Lee's Sandwich and although my Pork BBQ Bahn Mi was good, the customer service was terrible. We ordered an egg roll and asked the guy at the counter if we could get it without shrimp because my boyfriend has a shrimp allergy; of course they said okay. My boyfriend took the first bite, and guess what? He bites into shrimp. I took the egg roll and the bitten shrimp piece to the workers and they looked at me as if I was CRAZY and told me that it was daikon. Went back to my table and told my boyfriend it was daikon so he took a bite again. What do you know?! I find a full baby shrimp in there! Too irritated to go to the workers, we just left.. straight to Walgreens to get some allergy medicine. I don't know about you guys, but I know that ain't freaking daikon, and I'm Asian. What do you guys think? Picture posted in Photo's. If you have a food allergy, BEWARE.
(1)
Andrew H.
A chain for bahn mis? I can't say that I'd heard of Lee's prior to walking in but they have stores in California, Colorado and Texas to name a few states. Bahn mis have always been in one off stores with just Vietnamese families usually running the business. I've been to An Xuyen, Bihn Mihn a few other local places and love the food out of all of them. So how does a company with 55 stores compare? Surprisingly pretty good. House made mayo? Check. House made pickled carrots and daikon? Check. A 12" French bread roll? Check. I was quite surprised, pleasantly at that. You even have the option of getting regular sandwiches like turkey or roast beef (they refer to those as European sandwiches) There's even a mini grocery store of sorts where you can purchase Vietnamese sausages, coffee, the house made mayo, desserts, bread and other ethnic items. As for my bbq pork sandwich? It was really good. All of the above mentioned items, plus cilantro, jalapenos, salt, pepper and a splash of soy sauce. The last being different from other bahn mis I have had in PDX. The roll was a bit sturdier than some of the one off places and nice and crispy. There was plenty of pork and lots of crunchy veggies. The price was very much in line for this type of food and and the fried banana I got to accompany was really tasty as well. The two together was barely $5. I keep finding new food up and down 82nd. If you folks living in inner Portland or over on the west side haven't found your way out to here, you should. You're missing out on some great Asian cuisine. Enjoy.
(4)
Julie T.
Their sandwiches are pretty bomb for just less than $4. I wish the ones in Chicago would be less expensive. Grilled Pork - I wish I gotten this one instead. My boyfriend had this one and he killed that sandwich. It was pretty good from that one bite I had a chance to take. Lee's Combination Special - It was good but nothing compared to the grilled pork. I always get the combination specials when I get banh mi and this one was pretty meaty, which is not a bad thing. Pork & Shrimp Eggrolls - These were pretty bomb, just like how momma makes them. The service was quick and friendly. The baguette is pretty different from what I'm used to trying. It's harder in texture compared to the banh mi's in Chicago but I guess that's what makes them unique. It was an intriguing experience.
(4)
Ellie F.
The Vanilla Coffee's are the yummiest. Laun is such sweet man. These really are so delicious.
(5)
Dana M.
I came here just for the coffee and it was as great as the concentrated stuff I buy I Costco lol... Didn't buy their sandwiches cause the cousin told me they weren't good..
(3)
Andrew A.
PROS In almost every category do I prefer this Vietnamese bakery specialty over any other. The Cafe Sua Da is not iced down like at so many places. The savory pastries are not too flaky, and the sandwiches are scrumptious. They offer a nice selection in their take home section, go for the box of egg rolls for $14. CONS The Beignets (3 for $1) were weak. And the breakfast egg and cheese on croissant was terrible, very fast food-like. Best Baguette does have the Drive-thru so that's where they one-up Lee's. Friendly service and clean environment
(4)
Elise T.
7 sips of my coffee and I'm done... feels like I'm being cheated. Lee's: You should pour first and then add in ice, not the other way around.
(1)
Marc F.
I could see it was a flashback Latte Slow-motion brain freeze wear me down Ice coffee reflex got me wound There were no defects to be found Croissant disappeared without a sound Yelp mornin' was a hot flash-factor Breakfast still focused in my mind Testimonial proofread hard to find Yelp evenin', we'll chance the Latte grind Stop-time caffeine buzz that's left behind Lee's Chain, Lee's Chain, Lee's Chain Lee's Chain, now Lee's Now I'm lookin' at a rough-cut Bánhmì Veggie baguette just now disappeared Cured Pork baguette sweet-talk in my ear Asian French Fusion love for me is strong This Lee's Chain moment can't be wrong Lee's Chain, Lee's Chain, Lee's Chain Lee's Chain, now Lee's J. Geils Band & dough smiles again
(5)
Sophia H.
I love Lees!!!! I drove 3 hours to portland from Seattle just for their amazingly to die for original ice coffee!! This location is very modernize, clean and very easy to find.
(5)
John L.
Was a little disappointed. The bread was not as good as I hoped for. Not as light and crunchy on the outside and not as soft and fluffy on the inside. The chicken bahn mi was ok. The veggie bahn mi was no good. The coffee was good but almost too strong for me. Kept me feeling jittery all day long. I'm sure there are other people who would appreciate the strength of the coffee.
(3)
Justin T.
Do not banh mi until I've had me Liver on bread and a sammich from Lee's They spread the liver thick so you can masticate it quick Many hued pastels greet you But the pork will defeat you Paul McCartney covers blare From a casio keyboard there Wings are juicy, warm and breaded As the Rasta's locks are long and dreaded Rocking rolls for your mouth Rockin rolls for your rolls Rolls 4 yo mutha' rolls 4 yo trolls pate in a can, will steal your soul
(5)
Vannak P.
We travelled from Seattle just for Lee's and it was worth it. The bread is fresh and cut from a long baguette. We had the BBQ Pork and Grilled Pork. Both were delicious but I liked the Grilled Pork better. The place is clean and large. We also ordered the Passion Fruit Juice and that was awesome as well. Only other place for Passion Fruit Juice is Hawaii. We love Lee's Coffee now come to Seattle for a location!
(5)
Myduyen N.
My brother-in-law insisted I stop by here on the way home from Portland. He's a picky eater but he raved about Lee's so I had to try it. I ordered their famous coffee even though I was never a fan of Vietnamese coffee.I also ordered their macarons, sugarcane drink, and 2 different kind of banh mi. The Vietnamese coffee was so creamy and the taste wasn't all that strong. Not sure what type of creamer they use but I honestly do not think they use condense milk. The fresh sugar cane was also good, it brought me back to drinking them fresh in Vietnam. The sugarcane definitely quenched my thirst! For the macarons, the worker told me they get shipped from California. Not sure how often they're being shipped but the quality is still good. As for the banh mi, I ordered the chicken and bbq pork. I didn't try the chicken since I brought it back for my brother-in-law and his family. The bbq pork is not your ordinary pork, it was like thin sliced bacon. That was recommended by the employee and I have to admit it was really good! I will stop by Lee's every time I head to Portland.
(4)
Sarah E.
This Lee's location has a long way to go to be up to the usual amazing standards of their other locations (in CA). The sandwiches were amazing as always, but everything else was severely lacking. The customer service was terrible and slow. The lady at the pick-up counter was incredibly rude, and even punched in my number on the loud speaker AFTER I told her that the order was mine three times. The iced vanilla coffee was terrible. There was clearly way too much vanilla syrup pumped into the coffee, which ruined the whole thing. I'm very disappointed, since I know that Lee's usually has great service and great coffee. I hope this was a fluke, but I am definitely turned off to this particular location for a while.
(2)
Jung K.
Hardest bread I've ever eaten. All our family members had bloody gums and the worst part was that the fillings were bland. Too bad because I loved how clean and modern their interior was and the employees were very nice and friendly, explaining anything I had questions about. Prices were reasonable and there was a large variety of desserts (which also were disappointing. Best Baguette has better bread and desserts hands down) Largest chain of Banh Mi restaurants in America, they claim. REALLY? They need to get their act together and fix the bread situation.
(2)
Ngan T.
I was here at 10:00pm which was their closing time, but this one guy still happily took my order. I got 2 sandwiches #11, and they came with 2 free cups of coffee due to the promotion they're having. Before I left the store, the guy even gave me 2 baguettes at no extra charge (so many free stuff) lol This place is absolutely AWESOME and highly recommended :)
(5)
Leslie J.
Got the pork meatball sandwich and I must say its pretty delicious. The spices, or sauce and veggies are fresh and full of flavor and the bread is just right, not old and hard. I think the bread was my favorite part!
(4)
Jim W.
Had my lunch at Lee's Sandwich for the first time ever since it was opened back in August. I have been to Lee's Sandwich franchise stores in little Saigon in Santa Ana California. The quality of the sandwich is on par with the ones in Southern California. I am so glad Lee's sandwich franchise starts to open up in Portland Oregon area. I wish Lee's sandwich will soon open another store in Beaverton because I don't have to drive all the way to the southeast. The homemade baguette taste really good, probably the best Vietnamese baguette you can find in Portland area. I really like the quality of the baguette itself, it tastes a bit like the baguette from Paris with a combination of crunchy and tenderness. Other Vietnamese baguette you normally find is not that good because it is so light inside and so crunchy without the chewy and tender taste. The ham, cha Lua and pate is average. Otherwise, I would have rate it a 5 star.
(4)
Scott N.
I want to like Lee's but I feel I have very little options when it comes to what they do right here. The BEST thing about this place is their baguettes; it comes hot out of the oven every 30 minutes and it's the best bread in town. There's a satisfying crunchy crust and the inside is light and fluffy, how it should be. Another thing I like about this place is their pate chau because the meat inside is really tasty and they give a nice large portion that won't leave you feeling like you've been cheated. Sadly, that's the most praise I can think up for this place. Their coffee is a little too syrupy most of the time, it's most noticeable with their iced version, and most of their pastries are not good or simply over priced. That is not a croissant, that's a round bread bun that you clearly took from the same dough as your baguette. You can't just slap dough down, not let it rest, not fold in butter several times, and call it a croissant. Long story short, come here for the excellent $1.50 baguettes for your breakfast with eggs at home; you'll be satisfied.
(3)
Lacey H.
This place is so delicious, I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Two reasons I only gave it 3 stars: 1- they NEVER make my sandwich correctly, I always get a #5 and add dried shredded pork. There is not a button for that on their register and I tell them they have to tell whoever is making the sandwich to add it. Even after telling them that it's always either missing the pork or they added this tendon looking stuff. Other than that this place makes the best banh mi that I have ever had in my life!
(3)
Simon T.
Ah, the famous Lee's Sandwiches...the largest bahn mi chain in the country. I stopped by one evening to finally give it a shot. While I often like to get one of the hot bahn mi's (such as a meatball, bbq, or grilled pork), I decided to go with their signature Dac Biet "special combo" and a large meatball bao. First, the bao. It was probably the largest bao I'd ever seen...but as soon as I saw it, I had a feeling that it wouldn't be what I was hoping for. I could immediately see the way it was wrapped in plastic that it'd be sitting out for some time, and, when opening it, could tell that the actual bun wasn't soft and fluffy. Instead, it had the texture and taste of Play-Doh. I eventually just tore off the bread to eat the meatball egg filler inside, which was peppery but mediocre at best. The bahn mi itself was really tasty. The bread had a satisfying crunch to it - definitely a little harder than other places in town, such as An Xuyen Bakery, with a little less crumble than Best Baguette. The dac biet was filled with Vietnamese cold cuts that were flavorful, chewy, and satisfying. The vegetables were fresh. Their house mayo was very rich and completed it perfectly. Was it the best bahn mi I've ever had? Not really - but it was definitely good. Their bakery had plenty of other things to choose from, including their popular Lee's Coffee, but the star of the show was definitely the house special. As long as I avoid the baos in the future, I should be a content repeat customer.
(4)
Trang T.
I came during their grand opening on October 18th, 2014. The sandwich wasn't as great as I thought it would be but I decided to try their sandwich again some other time when its not so busy, and I think it's pretty good. I think it's better to give another try. I would suggest going here and give them a chance. They also sell macaroons, and frappucinos which I want to go back to try it out!
(4)
Mia P.
I am a big fan of banh Mis. We always love to try new and different sandwich shops. I've been to a Lee's in California and I never did find it that great. So when the chain decided to open up in Portland I wasn't one of those super excited customers that waited in line. I still wanted to try it for another time to see if I liked it better. Nope still don't like their weird doughy bread.
(1)
Bryan H.
Love these sandwiches . We have these in long beach ca . I recommend the combination and also the grilled pork with extra mayo. They are delicious and good lunch for the next day, veggies on the side . I'm so glad I found this place here while I'm away from home. Will definitely be coming while I stay 2 months in Portland . Ps try the Italian soda mango is my fav
(4)
Dan R.
Am a long time fan of Best Baguette on Powell, but had to check out Lee's Sandwiches at Eastport nearby. Both places are modern sterile commercial environments. And while Lee's (chain from Cali) has more sandwich and other food options, for Bahn Mai Best Baguette is the winner--more meat, better bread (Lee's has some cornmeal on the bottom which gives a hard but not crisp texture), & lower price.
(2)
Lily Y.
I go here once a week and order the same thing. I always ask for extra mayo as it tends to be kind crispier than normal. They always get my order right which is nice since I dont like cilantro. Their frapps are okay, I like the ice coffee way better. There is never a wait and the workers are fast.
(5)
Hien S.
I tried the beef stew soup it's pretty good here, haven't tried the curry soup yet. But is there anyways that these guy can make their French bread little softer instead?
(3)
David D.
It was good in the taste aspect of it, but the bread was just hard and each bite was more difficult take each time as the roof of my mouth right behind my two front teeth was getting torn up. I came home to find that my mom had gotten them as well so i figured id warm the bread up and eat it but that didnt really help, as it git cold and hard quickly. overall the meat and everything inside the sandwhich was good, but i definitely cant eat here again for a good three months if i go back at all... I didnt try the iced coffee myself but i have friends that say it was pretty good, better than most places, but the only complai t with that was you get a cup full of ice and no coffee, but i figured that it wont destroy the top of your mouth when you drink it so coffee lovers ENJOY. I give it 2 stars because they had a tv and i could catch the basketball game, and for the meat and ingredients inside the sandwhich. The pain is not worth another sandwhich
(2)
Benson N.
Okay let me start by saying I'm so tired of best baguette and other banh mi sandwich places. So I decided to try Lee's sandwiches; surprisingly they weren't that busy even on their second day of opening. The set up of the place is formidable. Assorted snacks and chilled beverages all up to where you order and where you order there's more fried and baked goods. ( egg rolls, sesame balls, steamed buns etc ) There are over a dozen workers, woah. I honestly felt so awkward for the only two caucasian workers there but it seemed like they were the only ones who could communicate in English while the rest spoke Vietnamese. Anyways, about their food... Sandwiches.. Number 11 ( special combo ) and number 5 (grilled pork) were good! I brought one home to my mother who is extremely difficult to please and when I say this I mean it is so damn rare of her to compliment an establishment on their food. I dropped it off at her door and said "It's from Lees' try it." Next thing I know she's calling my aunt and telling her it's good. Seriously I was mind blown. LOL I would bump this up to a 5 star rating just for that but I have yet to try their drinks! So this review is not yet complete.
(4)
Katie S.
The owner replied to my comment and confirmed the fact that they do use condensed milk. I guess the coffee is just not good at all. On the other hand, we do ocasionally get fresh baguettes from them for our breakfast. We like to toast them (again) for a crispier texture instead of the doughy texture they come in. As for the sandwiches, they are hit or miss depends on what you get.
(3)
Rachel H.
Holy cow. Their fresh baguettes are seriously amazing. I got one that was fresh out of the oven (I had to wait 5 minutes for it to finish baking, totally fine with me!) They have a huge menu, smoothies, sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches (they open at 6am, by the way). Being an Asian establishment, everyone was super friendly and the place was spotless.
(4)
Kathryn K.
The iced coffee is expensive and you get more ice then coffee. The sandwich was just ok. They put all the veggies on the sandwich so I had to pick through it to take out the jalapeños and the cilantro stems. The grilled pork had a lot of grease and fat. It was almost half fat half meat in the sandwich. The bread was the high point. Crusty on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside.
(3)
Donna K.
Lee Sandwichs now in Oregon! It's about time! I'm giving 4 stars based on the THAI ICED TEA and the bread. Everything else can be 3. The banh mi is not that special. It's just another Vietnamese sandwich with the same meat toppings. The bread is soft and does taste fresh. Hard bread does not work for Vietnamese sandwiches simply because most the time you order Vietnamese sandwiches, you do not eat it right away. Hard bread tastes more and more like cardboard the longer you wait to eat it! I would recommend sticking with the original Vietnamese sandwich with the multiple types of meat, pate and pickled vegetables. The people that are running the place seem to have no idea what's going on. KInd of a mess and chaotic, but it's not like I would sit down and eat at the place. Possibly if it's less chaotic and messy. Mmmm... just thinking about the Thai Iced Tea... however I'm sure there's a lot of half and half . I can taste the film left on my tongue as I impatiently suck every last drop! Bonus: There's a bunch of other things to order, and I'm not sure if it's even on the menu. Doesn't really work like In & Outs secret menu, but it is kind of like a secret like from everyone....
(4)
Cynthia X.
Nice clean place. Lots of other treats to buy there. I got the grilled port bahn mi and it was good. I would definitely come back. I like the bread here better than Best Baguette. But they do skimp on the veggies so make sure to ask for extra.
(4)
Tracy T.
We came in around 330pm it wasn't busy at all and there were literally 5/6people standing behind the register however no one offered to help or order for us. What kind of service is this? We ended up with a few items. First, the iced coffee was totally filled with iced, I can't even get any coffee through the straw and I did after 20 mins when some of the ice melted. The croissant was totally a disappointment, one bit and done with it. The pork baguette was alright. It was tiny, and not stuffed all the way like any other places. We also ordered steamed bun. No comment tho.
(1)
Warren C.
After coming here several times I can say that I enjoy this place for the most part. Things I do like here are the Pate Chaud, the smoothies, and the Banh Mi's are not too bad. What makes me come back so often is the smoothies they make here. I've become quite addicted to the cantaloupe smoothie which literally tastes like I'm eating cantaloupe. The service isn't the best and I have found on a few occasions having to wait longer than normal for a fairly simple order. On one occasion they messed up my order and when I addressed the issue the people behind the counter thought it was appropriate to make me wait so they could help the current customers before fixing their mistake and getting to me. My wife was not happy that night. Overall, I come here at least once or twice a month but probably won't ever come so much to ever be a regular here. Fair warning don't expect excellent customer service.
(3)
Wil C.
Been here several times since grand opening and it has slowly gotten worse each time. My main complaint is the consistency of the bread, at first when I started going there it was always soft and fresh but the last couple times it was dead and the bread was so hard it shredded up the roof of my mouth really bad. This Lee's is also not as quick and efficient as the ones in Cali, when busy this place takes forever. The other big seller here is their iced coffee which is a little too sweet and strong for my tastes. I am used to the smooth taste of Stumptown and other great local roasters so Lee's coffee tastes cheap to me and it's kind of a rip off since they fill the cup with so much ice. Despite my complaints this will still be my go-to spot for Banh mi since there are not many options in PDX. Their biggest competitor, Best Baguette has crappy bread and I am not paying $9 at places like Lardo and Double Dragon for non-authentic banh mi.
OK, I like the food. I have had no problems with the bread. Nice staff. Only problem I have had in the past is they almost always get my order incorrect. You give them any special instructions, you had better check your order before you leave. Also the past few times it was very loud inside. Radio and tv blaring at the same time.
(4)
Kristi P.
I was so excited that Lee's was in Portland! I'd been to a location in Houston and loved their green pandan coconut waffles, which were made to order. Unfortunately, things are totally different at this location. When I tried to order a waffle, the cashier looked at the display case and said they were out. Where are the batter and waffle makers? If they pre-make them and just sit out all day, they would not be good. How disappointing. I also did not see the Deli Manjoo.
(2)
Jordan R.
I'm giving this place a 5 because the food is very tasty and reasonably priced. You basically get two sandwiches for the price of one. My favorite is the turkey and cheese on baguette but I've also tried a few others and have allows been satisfied.
(5)
Joe H.
Yes, service is slow. My cashier quite clearly is new to the game. The sandwich (#4, grilled chicken) was a little drier than what I'm used to from Lee's in San Jose area (normally the chicken is a bit greasier, more recently cooked), but the bread is exactly the same. The chicken wings are wicked good. I hope the service picks up a bit as they work out the kinks. 3.5 stars.
(4)
Steven K.
sandwiches are good and cheap but I'm pretty sure they've never gotten my order right the first time.
(3)
Keely N.
The bread hurts the roof of my mouth and gums. The carrots are slightly too big. Save your money and go to best baguette or banh mi Minh.
(2)
Nathan Z.
Ah, a Vietnamese sandwich chain finally arrived in Portland. The service is very good here, you can tell the management's expecting of the employees. I gave it three stars because it is not as good as best others around them and too slow. Also, who came up with the idea of building that stupid long cashier table? It is long and tall while most of the cashier are short, a customers need to lean forward to pay.
(3)
K A.
Their bread is really good and doesn't cut the roof of my mouth like other places, but they really skimp on the filling. They have some work to do as far as efficiency goes and balancing how many employees they have doing each position, but they are pretty new here so I understand they're still figuring things out.
(4)
Sarah T.
I live less than a mile away and was excited to see that they deliver. When I called to order, I found out that they only deliver for large orders. Bummer! They should take the delivery option off of yelp.
(1)
William G.
I love this place! Their sandwiches are excellent, fresh, and at a great price. I usually get the European style since it is on a croissant rather than a baguette. My order is always large and very fresh tasting. The place is very bright and they offer a variety of sandwiches, snacks, and smoothies. The service is stellar and they seem very appreciative of my business. This place is always exceptionally clean which matters a lot to me. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHECKING THIS PLACE OUT! Great lunch spot.
(5)
Lina C.
After having almost broken my tooth twice on random bone pieces in my pork banh mis I've vowed not to buy the sandwiches anymore.
(3)
Rose H.
Best bread I've ever had on a bahn mi !! Very quick service and lots of options. 1st time I came I was not sure what to expect so I went with a European sandwich. The super accommodating young cashier tried to save me some money since I did not want meat on my sandwich. However even after explaining it to the cook, they put meat on it anyways and the wrong type of cheese. Then I watched them "fix it" by just taking off the meat and adding the correct cheese on top of the wrong cheese. If someone is vegetarian, they generally would like you to re-make the entire sandwich. Next time I got the Asian Sandwich #12. Much better experience. Made correctly and yummy!! I will be back, and I tell everyone looking for sandwiches to check them out.
(4)
Jimmy C.
This is the Spot!!! I ordered the #5 grilled pork and the iced coffee... uhn-b-lee-vuh-bull'...
(5)
Isleidy S.
Smoothies are delicious and fresh, favorite would be the coconut or strawberry mango!
(4)
Michael S.
I prefer best baguette sandwiches over them because they put more meat and pate paste in their regular sandwich. But I do love their pati chods and other selections. I prefer their iced coffee over Starbucks or dutch bros!
(3)
Hayden N.
Lee's Sandwiches is a big chain in California, they just open their first location in Portland. I was so excited when I saw them put it in and it took them awhile to open. I even walked in one day, assuming they were open, and all the workers just ignored me. Then an owner approached me and asked if I needed help--turns out they weren't open for another couple days...how embarrassing! He insisted that I come back for their grand opening and took me a few weeks after to make it in again. They have such good Vietnamese Iced Coffee, they bottle it and sell it in Asian supermarkets--that was the only product they had available in Oregon before the storefront opened. I normally get their Banh Mi Dac Biet (specialty sandwich)--I like the taste and texture of the bread and its full of meat. The head cheese is my favourite out of other banh mi places, it just has this charsiu type flavor and gelatinous texture. I also tried their large pate chaud, which had too much meat and the puff pastry get soggy from the fat on the meat that it falls apart. Skip their pate chaud, go to Binh Minh if you are really craving it. The only bad thing, its 900 calories per sandwich. That's 2/3 of my allowed caloric intake per day! I won't be eating here everyday.
(3)
Sherrie S.
Asked for the combo sandwich just as it was in the PICTURE on the menu. For some reason the cashier wanted to know if I'd ever had a Vietnamese style sandwich before. Who hasn't?! They left out all the pickled veggies (why?). Got home and opened the bag--dry bread and meat only.
(1)
Tracey C.
My brother in law who was visiting from Alaska was the one who turn me in to this place. Sandwiches are either Asian or European. I love my sandwich on the baguette. You can have your sandwich on a crossiant if like.
(4)
Viet N.
Finally! I've been going to this place in SoCal and Las Vegas for years! The sandwiches are amazing and I buy the long baquette bread for only $1.50 and I can make 3 sandwiches with one. Prices are a tad high but I don't care mind paying for quality! Now, just be open 24 hours or later and I'll be more happy!
(5)
Matt B.
great sandwiches, great price, good customer service. the bread is way better than there competitors.
(4)
Minh T.
Update on the sandwich only today especially on the bread itself. It is a bit more golden brown this time and tasted a lot better more like the ones in Cali. A couple of more try and they keep this up, they will get a 4 star from me. Below is my original 2 Star review the first Yelp page Lee launched that got bad reviews, where they had to launch a new page...a no no, but since it is so early in the game that I guess it is ok to do if your business wants a fresh start again and undo your wrongs but looks like they still have lots of misses. Keep up the good work and you will get there: My original review below: I always load up on Lee sandwich and coffee when driving from Cali back to Oregon to keep me fed and awake. However, they are never my first stop nor 10th stop when I visit Cali, unlike places like in and out which usually would be in my top first 5 place to seek out once the rubber cross the Cali border. For customer service they get a 4 stars, friendliness a 2-3 stars since the workers seem machine like. Bread in Cali is 3-4 star, coffee is not expensive but very creamy and almost very much mocha infused. In Portland the bread is too white and to soft, most likely not enough oven time during the grand opening in order to crank out more to meet the demand. I had to put it in my halogen oven for 2 mins or else I could have only eaten 10% of it. This will hurt your reputation and will take you a while to recover. I'm a fan of your successful franchise like the first reviewer whose comment sounded very sympathetic and for good reasons since we all like to see you succeed here. Just don't be rushing and over confident because your success in my opinion is based solely on convenience, location, ok food and fast services. This rating is for the grand opening only since I don't think you can stay open for more than 2 months if the bread continues to be this bad. Same comments from my father, his few friends, my coworkers, my wife and unfortunately myself. If they all yelp you will see 5 more 2 star reviews. I predict that you will get no return customers and will only get disbelievers like myself to come to try. I thought my parents and friends' comments might have been biased because they some how favor the local banh mi places but they were dead on.
(3)
David T.
i dont understand what the hype is all about. its alright. i live walking distance and can care less to go back. on a good note, their baguette is better than the average vietnamese joint. filling is just bland and dry.
(2)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :4124 SE 82nd Ave,Ste 788
Portland, OR, 97266
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dessert Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes Good for Working : Yes
Jay P.
Yay! The first banh mi chain has finally come to Portland, OR! Being so fresh and new to Portland, it's non stop busy every time I've gone in so far. This place is located at Eastport plaza right next to all the fast food restaurants. If you don't know what banh mi is, well basically it's a Vietnamese sandwich. It is a French baguette filled with a meat of your choice usually it being pork/cured ham/pate, there are also other choices on the menu such as beef or chicken. Then on go the pickled carrots, some fresh herbs, and lastly the spicy jalapenos are added in for a nice kick in your mouth when you bite into it unexpectedly. The service is quite slow, even though it seems like they have a factory in the kitchen. For some reason it takes them forever to put out an order though. If you can try not to get an iced coffee, I swear it's just instant mix with some condensed milk mixed in. I was expecting some Vietnamese drip coffee but they just scooped it out of a pitcher and I knew it wasn't going to be yummy :( My order was a combination sandwich and an iced coffee, the coffee was so so, tasted like instant coffee and had wayyy too much ice inside; if you really want to try it just get shaved ice instead of ice cubes. The sandwich was not half bad, the bread was actually very good, unlike most places where it's toasted/baked for too long and it gets hard and crusty, the bread here was crunchy and fluffy inside! The meat was so so also, taste like any other banh mi, pretty average, the bread was pretty outstanding though!
(3)Chad P.
Still wonderful at most of the food and the great service. Wonderful pastries, Thai tea, and all of the lake. Only complaint was that the Banh Mi was lacking a bit on the fixings. I feel like a bit more vegetables and cilantro on the inside would be a little bit better than what I got. It definitely wasn't the same as last time. Still willing to give this place more chances though!
(4)Jenny C.
Lee's is my current obsession! I absolutely love their baguettes, they're freshly baked every thirty minutes and they're to die for. Their sugarcane drink is also delicious. I always want nuoc mia but no place makes it as good as back in Vietnam. But once Lee's opened up, it definitely satisfied my nuoc mia cravings! Their pate is also super yummy! They sell their own in small containers and taste oh so good with their fresh baguettes. I've had their sandwiches before but they don't taste as good as their competitors, however their other items definitely has me sticking around!
(4)Lin H.
Though I am from California and visit often, I have never been to a Lee's. I had taken note of people carrying bags of the distinctive baguettes to loved ones at airports, however, and wondered. Finally, it arrived and I was able to see for myself. I am likely spoiled by An Xuyen's remarkable pastry display and competitive prices. The available pastries and extras here are just mediocre at best. In the evening, it is just dismal. They have their own brand of lap cheung (sausage), which I find curious, but not enough to try. I mean. Why mess with success? The tried and true are awesome, cheap and chock full of red dye, sodium and nitrates already. Do I really need the corporate version? The banh mi themselves didn't offer anything to me other places didn't. I wasn't wowed by fast food competitive prices. The sandwich itself was forgettable and drowning in Lee's (TM) mayonnaise that you could purchase separately in little cups in the fridge. Just in case that's your jam (or sauce), I guess. What I WAS courted with were these weirdly addictive and cheap baguettes. When I stumbled upon them warm, I was truly lucky. I have since gone out of my way just to purchase hot from the oven crisp-on-the-outside-soft-in-the-center nutritionally void corporate baguettes for ridiculously cheap. Thanks Lee's. That'll do.
(3)Carolyne T.
Came here from California, a land FULL of Lee's Sandwiches. My friend that lives in Portland wanted to stop by this place because they had buy a sandwich and get a coffee for free. While walking inside, my friend's first complaint was that it was too hot and that there was no air conditioning. My friends ordered sandwiches and it had A LOT of butter. The butter tasted good, nonetheless. My other friend ordered the spring rolls, 2 for $3.99. The spring rolls took wayyyy too long to make. My friends all finished their sandwiches before my friend got his spring rolls. Overall, not bad. I never eat Lee's back at home but having it here was better than I remembered.
(3)Elysia M.
Ok sooo I am coming from the bay area where Lee's is like a staple. This is a pretty new one and oh my gosh! It's the nicest Lee's sandwich EVER. everything is brand new, really clean, and not very Vietnamese. They even have "European" Sandwiches on the menu! WHa?? They have the regular Lee's stuff with sandiwches: pate, pickled veggies (daikon and carrot), aioli mayo, jalapeno, etc. The sandwich was of decent size, but it was kind of expensive for a Viet sandwich. There wasn't that much meat but it wasn't the least amount I've had before. They have other types of Viet desserts and plates like spring rolls and noodles there as well, I unfortunately didn't get to try but maybe I'll go back and try!
(3)Shana L.
This was my first time trying Lee's Sandwich and although my Pork BBQ Bahn Mi was good, the customer service was terrible. We ordered an egg roll and asked the guy at the counter if we could get it without shrimp because my boyfriend has a shrimp allergy; of course they said okay. My boyfriend took the first bite, and guess what? He bites into shrimp. I took the egg roll and the bitten shrimp piece to the workers and they looked at me as if I was CRAZY and told me that it was daikon. Went back to my table and told my boyfriend it was daikon so he took a bite again. What do you know?! I find a full baby shrimp in there! Too irritated to go to the workers, we just left.. straight to Walgreens to get some allergy medicine. I don't know about you guys, but I know that ain't freaking daikon, and I'm Asian. What do you guys think? Picture posted in Photo's. If you have a food allergy, BEWARE.
(1)Andrew H.
A chain for bahn mis? I can't say that I'd heard of Lee's prior to walking in but they have stores in California, Colorado and Texas to name a few states. Bahn mis have always been in one off stores with just Vietnamese families usually running the business. I've been to An Xuyen, Bihn Mihn a few other local places and love the food out of all of them. So how does a company with 55 stores compare? Surprisingly pretty good. House made mayo? Check. House made pickled carrots and daikon? Check. A 12" French bread roll? Check. I was quite surprised, pleasantly at that. You even have the option of getting regular sandwiches like turkey or roast beef (they refer to those as European sandwiches) There's even a mini grocery store of sorts where you can purchase Vietnamese sausages, coffee, the house made mayo, desserts, bread and other ethnic items. As for my bbq pork sandwich? It was really good. All of the above mentioned items, plus cilantro, jalapenos, salt, pepper and a splash of soy sauce. The last being different from other bahn mis I have had in PDX. The roll was a bit sturdier than some of the one off places and nice and crispy. There was plenty of pork and lots of crunchy veggies. The price was very much in line for this type of food and and the fried banana I got to accompany was really tasty as well. The two together was barely $5. I keep finding new food up and down 82nd. If you folks living in inner Portland or over on the west side haven't found your way out to here, you should. You're missing out on some great Asian cuisine. Enjoy.
(4)Julie T.
Their sandwiches are pretty bomb for just less than $4. I wish the ones in Chicago would be less expensive. Grilled Pork - I wish I gotten this one instead. My boyfriend had this one and he killed that sandwich. It was pretty good from that one bite I had a chance to take. Lee's Combination Special - It was good but nothing compared to the grilled pork. I always get the combination specials when I get banh mi and this one was pretty meaty, which is not a bad thing. Pork & Shrimp Eggrolls - These were pretty bomb, just like how momma makes them. The service was quick and friendly. The baguette is pretty different from what I'm used to trying. It's harder in texture compared to the banh mi's in Chicago but I guess that's what makes them unique. It was an intriguing experience.
(4)Ellie F.
The Vanilla Coffee's are the yummiest. Laun is such sweet man. These really are so delicious.
(5)Dana M.
I came here just for the coffee and it was as great as the concentrated stuff I buy I Costco lol... Didn't buy their sandwiches cause the cousin told me they weren't good..
(3)Andrew A.
PROS In almost every category do I prefer this Vietnamese bakery specialty over any other. The Cafe Sua Da is not iced down like at so many places. The savory pastries are not too flaky, and the sandwiches are scrumptious. They offer a nice selection in their take home section, go for the box of egg rolls for $14. CONS The Beignets (3 for $1) were weak. And the breakfast egg and cheese on croissant was terrible, very fast food-like. Best Baguette does have the Drive-thru so that's where they one-up Lee's. Friendly service and clean environment
(4)Elise T.
7 sips of my coffee and I'm done... feels like I'm being cheated. Lee's: You should pour first and then add in ice, not the other way around.
(1)Marc F.
I could see it was a flashback Latte Slow-motion brain freeze wear me down Ice coffee reflex got me wound There were no defects to be found Croissant disappeared without a sound Yelp mornin' was a hot flash-factor Breakfast still focused in my mind Testimonial proofread hard to find Yelp evenin', we'll chance the Latte grind Stop-time caffeine buzz that's left behind Lee's Chain, Lee's Chain, Lee's Chain Lee's Chain, now Lee's Now I'm lookin' at a rough-cut Bánhmì Veggie baguette just now disappeared Cured Pork baguette sweet-talk in my ear Asian French Fusion love for me is strong This Lee's Chain moment can't be wrong Lee's Chain, Lee's Chain, Lee's Chain Lee's Chain, now Lee's J. Geils Band & dough smiles again
(5)Sophia H.
I love Lees!!!! I drove 3 hours to portland from Seattle just for their amazingly to die for original ice coffee!! This location is very modernize, clean and very easy to find.
(5)John L.
Was a little disappointed. The bread was not as good as I hoped for. Not as light and crunchy on the outside and not as soft and fluffy on the inside. The chicken bahn mi was ok. The veggie bahn mi was no good. The coffee was good but almost too strong for me. Kept me feeling jittery all day long. I'm sure there are other people who would appreciate the strength of the coffee.
(3)Justin T.
Do not banh mi until I've had me Liver on bread and a sammich from Lee's They spread the liver thick so you can masticate it quick Many hued pastels greet you But the pork will defeat you Paul McCartney covers blare From a casio keyboard there Wings are juicy, warm and breaded As the Rasta's locks are long and dreaded Rocking rolls for your mouth Rockin rolls for your rolls Rolls 4 yo mutha' rolls 4 yo trolls pate in a can, will steal your soul
(5)Vannak P.
We travelled from Seattle just for Lee's and it was worth it. The bread is fresh and cut from a long baguette. We had the BBQ Pork and Grilled Pork. Both were delicious but I liked the Grilled Pork better. The place is clean and large. We also ordered the Passion Fruit Juice and that was awesome as well. Only other place for Passion Fruit Juice is Hawaii. We love Lee's Coffee now come to Seattle for a location!
(5)Myduyen N.
My brother-in-law insisted I stop by here on the way home from Portland. He's a picky eater but he raved about Lee's so I had to try it. I ordered their famous coffee even though I was never a fan of Vietnamese coffee.I also ordered their macarons, sugarcane drink, and 2 different kind of banh mi. The Vietnamese coffee was so creamy and the taste wasn't all that strong. Not sure what type of creamer they use but I honestly do not think they use condense milk. The fresh sugar cane was also good, it brought me back to drinking them fresh in Vietnam. The sugarcane definitely quenched my thirst! For the macarons, the worker told me they get shipped from California. Not sure how often they're being shipped but the quality is still good. As for the banh mi, I ordered the chicken and bbq pork. I didn't try the chicken since I brought it back for my brother-in-law and his family. The bbq pork is not your ordinary pork, it was like thin sliced bacon. That was recommended by the employee and I have to admit it was really good! I will stop by Lee's every time I head to Portland.
(4)Sarah E.
This Lee's location has a long way to go to be up to the usual amazing standards of their other locations (in CA). The sandwiches were amazing as always, but everything else was severely lacking. The customer service was terrible and slow. The lady at the pick-up counter was incredibly rude, and even punched in my number on the loud speaker AFTER I told her that the order was mine three times. The iced vanilla coffee was terrible. There was clearly way too much vanilla syrup pumped into the coffee, which ruined the whole thing. I'm very disappointed, since I know that Lee's usually has great service and great coffee. I hope this was a fluke, but I am definitely turned off to this particular location for a while.
(2)Jung K.
Hardest bread I've ever eaten. All our family members had bloody gums and the worst part was that the fillings were bland. Too bad because I loved how clean and modern their interior was and the employees were very nice and friendly, explaining anything I had questions about. Prices were reasonable and there was a large variety of desserts (which also were disappointing. Best Baguette has better bread and desserts hands down) Largest chain of Banh Mi restaurants in America, they claim. REALLY? They need to get their act together and fix the bread situation.
(2)Ngan T.
I was here at 10:00pm which was their closing time, but this one guy still happily took my order. I got 2 sandwiches #11, and they came with 2 free cups of coffee due to the promotion they're having. Before I left the store, the guy even gave me 2 baguettes at no extra charge (so many free stuff) lol This place is absolutely AWESOME and highly recommended :)
(5)Leslie J.
Got the pork meatball sandwich and I must say its pretty delicious. The spices, or sauce and veggies are fresh and full of flavor and the bread is just right, not old and hard. I think the bread was my favorite part!
(4)Jim W.
Had my lunch at Lee's Sandwich for the first time ever since it was opened back in August. I have been to Lee's Sandwich franchise stores in little Saigon in Santa Ana California. The quality of the sandwich is on par with the ones in Southern California. I am so glad Lee's sandwich franchise starts to open up in Portland Oregon area. I wish Lee's sandwich will soon open another store in Beaverton because I don't have to drive all the way to the southeast. The homemade baguette taste really good, probably the best Vietnamese baguette you can find in Portland area. I really like the quality of the baguette itself, it tastes a bit like the baguette from Paris with a combination of crunchy and tenderness. Other Vietnamese baguette you normally find is not that good because it is so light inside and so crunchy without the chewy and tender taste. The ham, cha Lua and pate is average. Otherwise, I would have rate it a 5 star.
(4)Scott N.
I want to like Lee's but I feel I have very little options when it comes to what they do right here. The BEST thing about this place is their baguettes; it comes hot out of the oven every 30 minutes and it's the best bread in town. There's a satisfying crunchy crust and the inside is light and fluffy, how it should be. Another thing I like about this place is their pate chau because the meat inside is really tasty and they give a nice large portion that won't leave you feeling like you've been cheated. Sadly, that's the most praise I can think up for this place. Their coffee is a little too syrupy most of the time, it's most noticeable with their iced version, and most of their pastries are not good or simply over priced. That is not a croissant, that's a round bread bun that you clearly took from the same dough as your baguette. You can't just slap dough down, not let it rest, not fold in butter several times, and call it a croissant. Long story short, come here for the excellent $1.50 baguettes for your breakfast with eggs at home; you'll be satisfied.
(3)Lacey H.
This place is so delicious, I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Two reasons I only gave it 3 stars: 1- they NEVER make my sandwich correctly, I always get a #5 and add dried shredded pork. There is not a button for that on their register and I tell them they have to tell whoever is making the sandwich to add it. Even after telling them that it's always either missing the pork or they added this tendon looking stuff. Other than that this place makes the best banh mi that I have ever had in my life!
(3)Simon T.
Ah, the famous Lee's Sandwiches...the largest bahn mi chain in the country. I stopped by one evening to finally give it a shot. While I often like to get one of the hot bahn mi's (such as a meatball, bbq, or grilled pork), I decided to go with their signature Dac Biet "special combo" and a large meatball bao. First, the bao. It was probably the largest bao I'd ever seen...but as soon as I saw it, I had a feeling that it wouldn't be what I was hoping for. I could immediately see the way it was wrapped in plastic that it'd be sitting out for some time, and, when opening it, could tell that the actual bun wasn't soft and fluffy. Instead, it had the texture and taste of Play-Doh. I eventually just tore off the bread to eat the meatball egg filler inside, which was peppery but mediocre at best. The bahn mi itself was really tasty. The bread had a satisfying crunch to it - definitely a little harder than other places in town, such as An Xuyen Bakery, with a little less crumble than Best Baguette. The dac biet was filled with Vietnamese cold cuts that were flavorful, chewy, and satisfying. The vegetables were fresh. Their house mayo was very rich and completed it perfectly. Was it the best bahn mi I've ever had? Not really - but it was definitely good. Their bakery had plenty of other things to choose from, including their popular Lee's Coffee, but the star of the show was definitely the house special. As long as I avoid the baos in the future, I should be a content repeat customer.
(4)Trang T.
I came during their grand opening on October 18th, 2014. The sandwich wasn't as great as I thought it would be but I decided to try their sandwich again some other time when its not so busy, and I think it's pretty good. I think it's better to give another try. I would suggest going here and give them a chance. They also sell macaroons, and frappucinos which I want to go back to try it out!
(4)Mia P.
I am a big fan of banh Mis. We always love to try new and different sandwich shops. I've been to a Lee's in California and I never did find it that great. So when the chain decided to open up in Portland I wasn't one of those super excited customers that waited in line. I still wanted to try it for another time to see if I liked it better. Nope still don't like their weird doughy bread.
(1)Bryan H.
Love these sandwiches . We have these in long beach ca . I recommend the combination and also the grilled pork with extra mayo. They are delicious and good lunch for the next day, veggies on the side . I'm so glad I found this place here while I'm away from home. Will definitely be coming while I stay 2 months in Portland . Ps try the Italian soda mango is my fav
(4)Dan R.
Am a long time fan of Best Baguette on Powell, but had to check out Lee's Sandwiches at Eastport nearby. Both places are modern sterile commercial environments. And while Lee's (chain from Cali) has more sandwich and other food options, for Bahn Mai Best Baguette is the winner--more meat, better bread (Lee's has some cornmeal on the bottom which gives a hard but not crisp texture), & lower price.
(2)Lily Y.
I go here once a week and order the same thing. I always ask for extra mayo as it tends to be kind crispier than normal. They always get my order right which is nice since I dont like cilantro. Their frapps are okay, I like the ice coffee way better. There is never a wait and the workers are fast.
(5)Hien S.
I tried the beef stew soup it's pretty good here, haven't tried the curry soup yet. But is there anyways that these guy can make their French bread little softer instead?
(3)David D.
It was good in the taste aspect of it, but the bread was just hard and each bite was more difficult take each time as the roof of my mouth right behind my two front teeth was getting torn up. I came home to find that my mom had gotten them as well so i figured id warm the bread up and eat it but that didnt really help, as it git cold and hard quickly. overall the meat and everything inside the sandwhich was good, but i definitely cant eat here again for a good three months if i go back at all... I didnt try the iced coffee myself but i have friends that say it was pretty good, better than most places, but the only complai t with that was you get a cup full of ice and no coffee, but i figured that it wont destroy the top of your mouth when you drink it so coffee lovers ENJOY. I give it 2 stars because they had a tv and i could catch the basketball game, and for the meat and ingredients inside the sandwhich. The pain is not worth another sandwhich
(2)Benson N.
Okay let me start by saying I'm so tired of best baguette and other banh mi sandwich places. So I decided to try Lee's sandwiches; surprisingly they weren't that busy even on their second day of opening. The set up of the place is formidable. Assorted snacks and chilled beverages all up to where you order and where you order there's more fried and baked goods. ( egg rolls, sesame balls, steamed buns etc ) There are over a dozen workers, woah. I honestly felt so awkward for the only two caucasian workers there but it seemed like they were the only ones who could communicate in English while the rest spoke Vietnamese. Anyways, about their food... Sandwiches.. Number 11 ( special combo ) and number 5 (grilled pork) were good! I brought one home to my mother who is extremely difficult to please and when I say this I mean it is so damn rare of her to compliment an establishment on their food. I dropped it off at her door and said "It's from Lees' try it." Next thing I know she's calling my aunt and telling her it's good. Seriously I was mind blown. LOL I would bump this up to a 5 star rating just for that but I have yet to try their drinks! So this review is not yet complete.
(4)Katie S.
The owner replied to my comment and confirmed the fact that they do use condensed milk. I guess the coffee is just not good at all. On the other hand, we do ocasionally get fresh baguettes from them for our breakfast. We like to toast them (again) for a crispier texture instead of the doughy texture they come in. As for the sandwiches, they are hit or miss depends on what you get.
(3)Rachel H.
Holy cow. Their fresh baguettes are seriously amazing. I got one that was fresh out of the oven (I had to wait 5 minutes for it to finish baking, totally fine with me!) They have a huge menu, smoothies, sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches (they open at 6am, by the way). Being an Asian establishment, everyone was super friendly and the place was spotless.
(4)Kathryn K.
The iced coffee is expensive and you get more ice then coffee. The sandwich was just ok. They put all the veggies on the sandwich so I had to pick through it to take out the jalapeños and the cilantro stems. The grilled pork had a lot of grease and fat. It was almost half fat half meat in the sandwich. The bread was the high point. Crusty on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside.
(3)Donna K.
Lee Sandwichs now in Oregon! It's about time! I'm giving 4 stars based on the THAI ICED TEA and the bread. Everything else can be 3. The banh mi is not that special. It's just another Vietnamese sandwich with the same meat toppings. The bread is soft and does taste fresh. Hard bread does not work for Vietnamese sandwiches simply because most the time you order Vietnamese sandwiches, you do not eat it right away. Hard bread tastes more and more like cardboard the longer you wait to eat it! I would recommend sticking with the original Vietnamese sandwich with the multiple types of meat, pate and pickled vegetables. The people that are running the place seem to have no idea what's going on. KInd of a mess and chaotic, but it's not like I would sit down and eat at the place. Possibly if it's less chaotic and messy. Mmmm... just thinking about the Thai Iced Tea... however I'm sure there's a lot of half and half . I can taste the film left on my tongue as I impatiently suck every last drop! Bonus: There's a bunch of other things to order, and I'm not sure if it's even on the menu. Doesn't really work like In & Outs secret menu, but it is kind of like a secret like from everyone....
(4)Cynthia X.
Nice clean place. Lots of other treats to buy there. I got the grilled port bahn mi and it was good. I would definitely come back. I like the bread here better than Best Baguette. But they do skimp on the veggies so make sure to ask for extra.
(4)Tracy T.
We came in around 330pm it wasn't busy at all and there were literally 5/6people standing behind the register however no one offered to help or order for us. What kind of service is this? We ended up with a few items. First, the iced coffee was totally filled with iced, I can't even get any coffee through the straw and I did after 20 mins when some of the ice melted. The croissant was totally a disappointment, one bit and done with it. The pork baguette was alright. It was tiny, and not stuffed all the way like any other places. We also ordered steamed bun. No comment tho.
(1)Warren C.
After coming here several times I can say that I enjoy this place for the most part. Things I do like here are the Pate Chaud, the smoothies, and the Banh Mi's are not too bad. What makes me come back so often is the smoothies they make here. I've become quite addicted to the cantaloupe smoothie which literally tastes like I'm eating cantaloupe. The service isn't the best and I have found on a few occasions having to wait longer than normal for a fairly simple order. On one occasion they messed up my order and when I addressed the issue the people behind the counter thought it was appropriate to make me wait so they could help the current customers before fixing their mistake and getting to me. My wife was not happy that night. Overall, I come here at least once or twice a month but probably won't ever come so much to ever be a regular here. Fair warning don't expect excellent customer service.
(3)Wil C.
Been here several times since grand opening and it has slowly gotten worse each time. My main complaint is the consistency of the bread, at first when I started going there it was always soft and fresh but the last couple times it was dead and the bread was so hard it shredded up the roof of my mouth really bad. This Lee's is also not as quick and efficient as the ones in Cali, when busy this place takes forever. The other big seller here is their iced coffee which is a little too sweet and strong for my tastes. I am used to the smooth taste of Stumptown and other great local roasters so Lee's coffee tastes cheap to me and it's kind of a rip off since they fill the cup with so much ice. Despite my complaints this will still be my go-to spot for Banh mi since there are not many options in PDX. Their biggest competitor, Best Baguette has crappy bread and I am not paying $9 at places like Lardo and Double Dragon for non-authentic banh mi.
(3)John L.
Delicious Pâté so (chaud). Fresh bread every 30 minutes. I hear the sandwiches are also good but I haven't tried them yet.
(4)Rob P.
OK, I like the food. I have had no problems with the bread. Nice staff. Only problem I have had in the past is they almost always get my order incorrect. You give them any special instructions, you had better check your order before you leave. Also the past few times it was very loud inside. Radio and tv blaring at the same time.
(4)Kristi P.
I was so excited that Lee's was in Portland! I'd been to a location in Houston and loved their green pandan coconut waffles, which were made to order. Unfortunately, things are totally different at this location. When I tried to order a waffle, the cashier looked at the display case and said they were out. Where are the batter and waffle makers? If they pre-make them and just sit out all day, they would not be good. How disappointing. I also did not see the Deli Manjoo.
(2)Jordan R.
I'm giving this place a 5 because the food is very tasty and reasonably priced. You basically get two sandwiches for the price of one. My favorite is the turkey and cheese on baguette but I've also tried a few others and have allows been satisfied.
(5)Joe H.
Yes, service is slow. My cashier quite clearly is new to the game. The sandwich (#4, grilled chicken) was a little drier than what I'm used to from Lee's in San Jose area (normally the chicken is a bit greasier, more recently cooked), but the bread is exactly the same. The chicken wings are wicked good. I hope the service picks up a bit as they work out the kinks. 3.5 stars.
(4)Steven K.
sandwiches are good and cheap but I'm pretty sure they've never gotten my order right the first time.
(3)Keely N.
The bread hurts the roof of my mouth and gums. The carrots are slightly too big. Save your money and go to best baguette or banh mi Minh.
(2)Nathan Z.
Ah, a Vietnamese sandwich chain finally arrived in Portland. The service is very good here, you can tell the management's expecting of the employees. I gave it three stars because it is not as good as best others around them and too slow. Also, who came up with the idea of building that stupid long cashier table? It is long and tall while most of the cashier are short, a customers need to lean forward to pay.
(3)K A.
Their bread is really good and doesn't cut the roof of my mouth like other places, but they really skimp on the filling. They have some work to do as far as efficiency goes and balancing how many employees they have doing each position, but they are pretty new here so I understand they're still figuring things out.
(4)Sarah T.
I live less than a mile away and was excited to see that they deliver. When I called to order, I found out that they only deliver for large orders. Bummer! They should take the delivery option off of yelp.
(1)William G.
I love this place! Their sandwiches are excellent, fresh, and at a great price. I usually get the European style since it is on a croissant rather than a baguette. My order is always large and very fresh tasting. The place is very bright and they offer a variety of sandwiches, snacks, and smoothies. The service is stellar and they seem very appreciative of my business. This place is always exceptionally clean which matters a lot to me. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHECKING THIS PLACE OUT! Great lunch spot.
(5)Lina C.
After having almost broken my tooth twice on random bone pieces in my pork banh mis I've vowed not to buy the sandwiches anymore.
(3)Rose H.
Best bread I've ever had on a bahn mi !! Very quick service and lots of options. 1st time I came I was not sure what to expect so I went with a European sandwich. The super accommodating young cashier tried to save me some money since I did not want meat on my sandwich. However even after explaining it to the cook, they put meat on it anyways and the wrong type of cheese. Then I watched them "fix it" by just taking off the meat and adding the correct cheese on top of the wrong cheese. If someone is vegetarian, they generally would like you to re-make the entire sandwich. Next time I got the Asian Sandwich #12. Much better experience. Made correctly and yummy!! I will be back, and I tell everyone looking for sandwiches to check them out.
(4)Jimmy C.
This is the Spot!!! I ordered the #5 grilled pork and the iced coffee... uhn-b-lee-vuh-bull'...
(5)Isleidy S.
Smoothies are delicious and fresh, favorite would be the coconut or strawberry mango!
(4)Michael S.
I prefer best baguette sandwiches over them because they put more meat and pate paste in their regular sandwich. But I do love their pati chods and other selections. I prefer their iced coffee over Starbucks or dutch bros!
(3)Hayden N.
Lee's Sandwiches is a big chain in California, they just open their first location in Portland. I was so excited when I saw them put it in and it took them awhile to open. I even walked in one day, assuming they were open, and all the workers just ignored me. Then an owner approached me and asked if I needed help--turns out they weren't open for another couple days...how embarrassing! He insisted that I come back for their grand opening and took me a few weeks after to make it in again. They have such good Vietnamese Iced Coffee, they bottle it and sell it in Asian supermarkets--that was the only product they had available in Oregon before the storefront opened. I normally get their Banh Mi Dac Biet (specialty sandwich)--I like the taste and texture of the bread and its full of meat. The head cheese is my favourite out of other banh mi places, it just has this charsiu type flavor and gelatinous texture. I also tried their large pate chaud, which had too much meat and the puff pastry get soggy from the fat on the meat that it falls apart. Skip their pate chaud, go to Binh Minh if you are really craving it. The only bad thing, its 900 calories per sandwich. That's 2/3 of my allowed caloric intake per day! I won't be eating here everyday.
(3)Sherrie S.
Asked for the combo sandwich just as it was in the PICTURE on the menu. For some reason the cashier wanted to know if I'd ever had a Vietnamese style sandwich before. Who hasn't?! They left out all the pickled veggies (why?). Got home and opened the bag--dry bread and meat only.
(1)Tracey C.
My brother in law who was visiting from Alaska was the one who turn me in to this place. Sandwiches are either Asian or European. I love my sandwich on the baguette. You can have your sandwich on a crossiant if like.
(4)Viet N.
Finally! I've been going to this place in SoCal and Las Vegas for years! The sandwiches are amazing and I buy the long baquette bread for only $1.50 and I can make 3 sandwiches with one. Prices are a tad high but I don't care mind paying for quality! Now, just be open 24 hours or later and I'll be more happy!
(5)Matt B.
great sandwiches, great price, good customer service. the bread is way better than there competitors.
(4)Minh T.
Update on the sandwich only today especially on the bread itself. It is a bit more golden brown this time and tasted a lot better more like the ones in Cali. A couple of more try and they keep this up, they will get a 4 star from me. Below is my original 2 Star review the first Yelp page Lee launched that got bad reviews, where they had to launch a new page...a no no, but since it is so early in the game that I guess it is ok to do if your business wants a fresh start again and undo your wrongs but looks like they still have lots of misses. Keep up the good work and you will get there: My original review below: I always load up on Lee sandwich and coffee when driving from Cali back to Oregon to keep me fed and awake. However, they are never my first stop nor 10th stop when I visit Cali, unlike places like in and out which usually would be in my top first 5 place to seek out once the rubber cross the Cali border. For customer service they get a 4 stars, friendliness a 2-3 stars since the workers seem machine like. Bread in Cali is 3-4 star, coffee is not expensive but very creamy and almost very much mocha infused. In Portland the bread is too white and to soft, most likely not enough oven time during the grand opening in order to crank out more to meet the demand. I had to put it in my halogen oven for 2 mins or else I could have only eaten 10% of it. This will hurt your reputation and will take you a while to recover. I'm a fan of your successful franchise like the first reviewer whose comment sounded very sympathetic and for good reasons since we all like to see you succeed here. Just don't be rushing and over confident because your success in my opinion is based solely on convenience, location, ok food and fast services. This rating is for the grand opening only since I don't think you can stay open for more than 2 months if the bread continues to be this bad. Same comments from my father, his few friends, my coworkers, my wife and unfortunately myself. If they all yelp you will see 5 more 2 star reviews. I predict that you will get no return customers and will only get disbelievers like myself to come to try. I thought my parents and friends' comments might have been biased because they some how favor the local banh mi places but they were dead on.
(3)David T.
i dont understand what the hype is all about. its alright. i live walking distance and can care less to go back. on a good note, their baguette is better than the average vietnamese joint. filling is just bland and dry.
(2)