Lee’s Bakery

We are regulars here. You have to try it. Its a local institution. Dont expect 5 star dining service. You will be lucky if you get a refill on water. But the food is excellent! Pork sandwiches, phở, spring rolls all delicious. You cant find a less expensive meal for the quality.

My favorite place to get bahn mi’s. After all, it has been ranked as THE place to get bahn mi’s in America by The New York Times.
Now you know it’s real when anything is ranked by NYT.
Everything is good here, take my word for it.

Sandwiches for $ 3.55 and the dinner combo for $ 7 — Seriously good food at bargain prices. The décor is traditional Buford Hwy — but you’re there to eat not to critique. The baguets on sale by the exit are worth the trip. Makes killer french toast.

Hidden treasure! Very friendly staff. Food was very reasonably priced and tasty. Bread is baked fresh. It is located off the beaten path in a corner of a shopping center but it’s worth locating. Nice, diverse clientele. Not a large seating area but big enough to accommodate groups.

Went for the bahn mi. Loved being able to get a medium soup and half a sandwich for a great price (7 bucks). I also tried the yogurt & lime drink, which is a cross between a bubble tea without the bubbles and a yogurt lassi.
I’d highly recommend visiting for the bahn mi (like everyone else) if nothing else. I was also heavily tempted to do a $ 5 takeout homemade kim chi, but decided not to this go around.

I love the Phở and the sandwiches here. But of course that’s what their know for. Oh and the Mango smoothies without tapioca are yummie.
My husbands favorite is the Grill pork sandwich.

This place is interesting.
I got the tofu banh-​mi and it was super delicious and easily the best banh mi I’ve ever had. You can actually a sandwich free if you buy 5 sandwiches. Also the Vietnamese iced coffee was super strong but still tasted good. So 5 stars for the food.
The layout was kindof confusing and the signs were misleading. Basically you seat yourself and a waiter comes to your table. Then you pay at the counter after you’re done eating. If you just want takeout, you just order and then pay at the counter.
Service was fine, they could have been a little more proactive about refilling the water.
My biggest issue with this place was that there were little fruit-​fly like things on the sriracha bottle and they tried to get into my sandwich. Pretty gross.
Buuuuut at the end of the day, the sandwich was so so so good that I can’t give this place less than 4 stars. Maybe I’ll just take it home and eat it.

I’ve frequented this location two times, and judging by the other reviews I’m pretty sure it’s the better of the two.
Each time I have visited this establishment at various hours ranging from mid-​afternoon to early morning. Both times, it’s been heavily packed or showed signs of increasing traffic. Obviously, the food is that good if people are ordering their food at around 9am in the morning (menu features mostly lunch or dinner style items).
Atmosphere here is simple and no frills, however the food is anything but! Flavorful, fresh, and hot.
The banh mi with pork is always my go to, as well as the seafood phở. Vietnamese iced coffee
Is delicious as well; but the amount never seems to reach the top of the cup. As a coffee lover, I consider that quite disappointing.
The service is also pretty quick depending on the peak times of visitation. So if you’re on a time crunch-​plan accordingly!

Lee’s Bakery has something of a legendary status among my friends. And I am a little late to this party. Everyone seems to love that place, and I can see why. They serve up some of the best banh mi in the city. The bread, in particular, is just an exercise in perfection. The texture is great: soft on the inside, crispy on the outside. The first time I went, I had the «Lee’s Sunny Side Up Egg Sandwich,» which is banh mi with ham, head cheese, baloney, and a sunny-​side egg on the aforementioned fantastic bread. My friend had the Combo Congee, with what she and her husband refer to as soup with «squiggly bits,» a beef broth soup with Rare Steak, Well Done Flank, Brisket, Tendon, and Tripe (Phở Dac Biet). It looked really good. One day I will have to try it.
On that first visit, there were some delays in getting food to the table. I mean, this place gets slammed during the weekly lunch hour (and for good reason, the food rocks!). So it pays to have a little patience. But on that day, on a weekend afternoon, it wasn’t so busy, and we were wondering why she was the last one to get her food. (And by a big margin.)
The second time I visited, I had the Phở Ga (chicken noodle soup). This may be among my new favorite things – it totally hit the spot. This soup was a very simple work of art. The broth was nicely fragrant and perfect. The vermicelli and chicken pieces were delicious. Served with the ubiquitous plate of sprouts & basil & herbs, the only thing missing was a few slices of hot peppers. I wanted to pick up the entire bowl and drain the thing. And towards the end, I did. My friend had some spring rolls, which are clearly a hit, and some Shrimp Noodle Soup (Phở Tom).
Prices are quite reasonable. Pay at the register on the way out. They also serve up smoothies, boba, and some excellent chilled coffee. And as this is a «bakery,» you can even (very cheaply) take some of the excellent bread home with you. It makes for an excellent sandwich with nearly anything in your ‘fridge.
I understand why my friends love this place, and I’ll look forward to my next trip here. Holler if you’re coming with.

So my particular favorite food to get at most vietnamese restaurants is a combination dry egg noodle with phở soup on the side. This is topped with minced meat and fried lard (the best topping ever), fishcake, quail egg (this is also a really good topping), green spring onions, as well as lettuce and some places even put bean sprouts. There’s a small ladling of sauce, and you eat it all up after mixing it. Things I ate were:
–combination egg noodle, dry with phở soup on the side
–ngoi cuon (spring rolls)
— — —
Spring rolls
PROS
–fills you up
CONS
–mostly noodle and lettuce. This is definitely a filler roll. I’d have to say that Phở Dai Loi has the best rolls ever.
— — —
Combination egg noodle with phở soup on the side
PROS
–good quantity: Lee’s may be slightly more expensive but you get full and satisfied. Shareable if you get an appetizer.
–good flavors: egg noodles soak up the sauce really well. It isn’t too sweet or too salty.
that quail egg is a nice touch. It’s like a little hidden gem
–healthy: lots of vegetables but lots of meat as well
–well balanced: I’d say between the starch (noodles), the meat, the variety, and the vegetables, this combination is why this is my favorite thing to order on the menu
–soup on the side: it’s perfect even for a cold day because of that side of soup!
CONS
–NONE. I love it that much. Although, I could always use more fried lard bits!
I do need to go back and re-​visit their bahn mi though. It’s been awhile since I last had it and I honestly can’t remember much except for the fact that it was HUGE. Looking forward to going back! Pictures here:

The light and airy baguettes make it stand out. Their Banh Mi sandwiches go on them. They bake them in house, apparently by the ton.
Plus they spice the sandwiches perfectly and add all the the good crunchies – celery tops and peppers and things. I also had their vegan phở, and did not like it as much as the sandwiches. To be fair, I probably needed some remedial «Western person help» with what sauces to put in the broth. I got that at a phở place in LA and it made all the difference. Note the charming origami cranes, balls and flowers hanging from red thread near the cash register, they will make you smile. Get Lee’s coffee, it is awesome. Get a flan. Also awesome. I’m lucky to live near here.

I have visited in the past to try out their banh mi. I’ve done both chicken and pork and I can’t say I have a favorite. I think they are both pretty solid. On this most recent visit, I tried the fried rice and beef. I don’t know if you can get it with white rice (which I would have preferred). I didn’t to ask until I had already ordered. I also ordered the veggie (since this was recommended by the waiter over the pork) egg rolls.
The food was served up in a reasonable manner. The egg rolls were meh– I shoulda tried the pork. The fried rice and beef was pretty decent. Pretty much it is shaking beef — comes with the same salt, pepper, and lime. I have had better elsewhere, but the meat was very juicy. So that was great. The portion size was very fair. Service was horrible. We were pretty much ignored after we got our food. Had to ask for refill after our glasses had been sitting empty for a while. Even then… our waiter forgot. We had to ask someone else to get us water. :-(
Aside– they have cheap banh mi loafs. 3/​$ 1. More for the same price if you will take day old bread.

YUM. Lee’s Bakery is well known and for a very good reason– they do it right.
It’s located in a little shopping plaza off Buford Hwy so parking is shared with the other shops. But I haven’t had any issues finding a spot, no matter when I go.
This place is, like another reviewer noted, no frills. They focus on the food, and it sure shows. I’ve had the bbq pork banh mi, shrimp phở, avocado shake, and Vietnamese iced coffee. I haven’t been disappointed yet. Oh my gosh… I need to stop typing and go to Lee’s…
Anyway… The prices are great, but that’s not out of the ordinary for these authentic Vietnamese places. The service can be lacking, depending on how busy they are… But if you wave your hand, they’ll come to you.
Be advised that cards are only accepted for orders over $ 10… But I doubt you’ll spend over $ 10 by yourself unless you are just starving… Or you are smart and get lunches for the next few days… (I believe there’s some sort of deal if you buy 5 banh mi to go).
All in all, awesome place to grab an affordable, DELICIOUS meal. It’s just so good…

Popular and busy for good reason. I’m in Atlanta on a business trip and stopped in for lunch after hearing great things from numerous people. I was told to get the phở, but I rebelled and tried something else.
When me and my friend walked in at noon, we were seated at the last table and there was a line to the door to order food to go. I ordered the chicken vermicelli and my friend ordered the tofu version. It was quickly and beautifully served and all the ingredients fresh and tasty. Prices are cheap (it was about 7 dollars) and there was no shortage of noodles. My friend could not stop raving about the tofu and asked if she could just order a bowl of that.
I plan on going back and trying the banh mi sandwiches on their fresh bread using their phở/​half sandwich combo.

Great vietnamese place for a great price. It has a simple straight forward menu, containing phở, banh mi, other noodle soups, vermicelli noodles, and rice dishes. You can also do a combo of a half banh mi with phở.
I ordered the bun thit nuong. Which contains vermicelli noodles, veggies, and grilled pork. The portion was very generous and I also had a Vietnamese Iced coffee with this, which made this meal perfect. Service was good and overall quick. I would definitely come back here for a quick bite whenever I’m in the area.

I am a big fan of Lee’s. I have tried probably 10 different places on Buford Highway, and this one is my favorite. It definitely isn’t fancy inside, but the food is delicious.
I always get the Lee’s Combo — a small bowl of phở and a half sandwich (I have tried the chicken and pork sandwiches, both good!). The baguettes are great, and you can even buy some near the door on your way out!
Another great plus is that they have a vegan phở! My best friend is vegan, so this is one of the only phở options on Buford Highway for her, and she says it’s great!
I have also tried the beef chunks with rice dish. It was good, but I can’t resist ordering the phở.
Also, if you are looking for something sweet when you are done, they have some good shakes. I tried the Honey Dew one: very sweet, but very good!

I’ve always been a fan of Quoc Huong for their banh mi and I’ve been eating their sandwiches ever since high school when my parents had to shuttle my sister and me from math tutoring, Chinese school, etc. So there’s this expectation of what flavors I expect from any banh mi.
This week was the first time I stepped into Lee’s Bakery. Note: I’ve had their sandwich before when my boyfriend picked these up, but it’s not as fresh in my mind as it is now. We do the same buy 5, get 1 free sandwich but with the Lee’s special (combination of everything). So here’s the verdict:
The bread tastes fresher as in it’s springy and the bread’s exterior doesn’t crumble. I mean, you could even say there’s this fresh taste to the pickled carrots. Ordinarily, I’d just eat the sandwich without even slicing it in half. Since we brought it home, we sliced it ourselves and I was surprised at how pretty it looked with the layering — like the layers of meat were like a Publix sub (which are also awesome, but hey, we’re talking about Asian sandwiches here). I’d also say there’s less butter or grease. However, I’m also convinced that banh mi tastes better the next day after marinating in the fridge.
I like Lee’s Bakery, but I’m just too loyal to Quoc Huong. I don’t care if the bread’s a little older or that it’s greasier. To me, banh mi should be a dirty sandwich that tastes even better after a few days in the fridge and I’ll still eat it cold. Plus, I like how Quoc Huong is much closer to the 285 exit. Call me impatient, but I just don’t have the extra time to drive down miles further. But sure, if you want to pick up some Lee’s banh mi, I’ll still eat it.

Today I set a new personal record, and it consisted of eating four banh mis within a six hour timespan. Am I proud of my self? Yes. Were they delicious? Yes. Would I do it again? Maybe, because that means extra minutes on the treadmill. Wait… I’m changing my answer to another YES. OK.
*****
I. FOOD & DRINK
Word on the ( Unilocal) streetz is that Lee’s has the best Vietnamese baguettes (Viet’s use rice flour) in the city and they supply them to other restaurants in the area. Thus, I visited and ordered two days worth of this deliciousness because I don’t want to cook this week. My banh mi harvest comprised of three thit nuong (Vietnamese grilled pork) and three gio thu (Vietnamese head cheese). I also had their café sua da (Vietnamese coffee) and sipped on it while I waited. Note: If you’re reading this review and can tell me how many times I dropped the word «Vietnamese,» I may give you a prize.
Note #2: All of their to-​go banh mis have the pickled carrot and daikon, cilantro, cucumber, and jalapeños in separate bags. One must order a minimum of three banh mis, too. (Maybe because of a credit card minimum of $ 10?)
*Banh Mi Thit Nuong: Good God! That is some ridiculously tasty marinade they got, and the mayo and pâté were perfect. However, I think their pickled and julienned daikon and carrot slices could’ve been a bit more tangy, and the bread — although pillow-​y — could have been more crunchy. That’s right, I roll with #teamcrunchy. Ugh. But hey, I’m being super picky. This was excellent.
*Banh Mi Gio Thu: When I was nine, I had my first banh mi gio thu in South Vietnam. And no joke, my first bite of this brought me back to me sitting in some hot-​as-​hell living/​dining room with a noisy AC trying to blow out some weak-​ass cold air while eating with the extended fam. I devoured an entire one in about two minutes, and it was like very sloppy make-​out sesh. (Not pretty.) Moral of the story? I highly recommend this.
**Café Sua Da: Hulk strong, which overpowers the sweetness from the condensed milk. I like.
II. SERVICE
I went during lunch hour, so I did expect a wait; however, I didn’t expect a 15+ minute wait. Even people that put in orders ahead of time and got there late had to wait, but it was definitely worth it. I wouldn’t come here if you’re in a rush.
III. ATMOSPHERE/​DÉCOR
Well, it’s definitely not like a first-​date kind of place. It’s more like if-you’ve-been-dating-for-a-hot-minute-come-here-to-see-if-she’s-down kind of place. That’s coded for «it needs a few updates.» But hey, it doesn’t really matter all too much to me. This isn’t a high-​end steakhouse, there’s no putrid smell, and it looks clean enough. Personally I’m more than willing to sit on a plastic chair in some dank alley, for a good meal. I’ve done it many times, too.
IV. PRICES
$ 3 for a banh mi. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s of considerably higher quality than others I’ve had. Worthy of the price, PHO SHO.
V. OVERALL
I’m not sure how their non-​banh mi foods taste, but if I ate them they would not factor into my overall rating. A person eats at or gets takeout from Lee’s for banh mi. It’s like if you checked out El Farolito in San Francisco — one of the most famous burrito places in the US — and ordered tamales. WHY?! Ya just don’t do it.
And for me, I don’t factor in service all too much. Did I get my food within a reasonable time? Yes… With that being said, both types of banh mis I had slayed, and that’s all I need to know.

Hands down one of my favorite spots off Buford Highway. Don’t be fooled by the way the place looks. It may appear «run-​down» or old, but this place is legit.
There is plenty of parking around the restaurant. However, it can be packed during lunch hours every day of the week. So be prepared to wait. I will say the seating is pretty limited. Not ideal to come with a large group during peak hours. If you come with a group of 6+, I say come after the rush.
Been here multiple times and never disappointed. Came in on a week day right around 12PM and in the middle of the day Sunday around 3PM and the food and service was the same.
The bahn mis are are legit and fairly cheap. My favorite = grilled pork. If it wasn’t frowned upon, I’d eat 40 of them. The rice dishes are a decent serving of fried rice, meat, and veggies. My favorite = fried rice with beef chunks (also comes with soup, which I believe is the phở broth). If you’re a fatass like myself go with both the grilled pork banh mi (full sandwich, yes) and beef chunks dish. Best day ever.
Service is great esp. relative to other Vietnamese restaurants that have larger seating capacities and a handful of servers. However, during busier times, you may find your cup sitting there empty for a while, but it’s never a real issue because it’s easy to get someone’s attention in that small restaurant.
Great food, cheap, oh and hella fast. Like Jimmy John’s fast without the Jimmy John’s disappointment (not a fan).
If I had to pick one Vietnamese restaurant as my go to, as of right now, this place is it because of the price, speed, and options.

Gonna keep this simple.
Absolutely the best bowl of Phở I have EVER had!
Wow the flavors were so absolutely incredible and rich!