Best banh mi in town! I ordered the traditional pork loaf roll. The roll was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The vegetables are pickled to perfection and the pate and butter is super tasty and elevates the rest of the ingredients. Do not let the lines outside the shop deter you from going in, it moves relatively fast, and it is completely worth it. It is reasonably priced too, but note that there is a minimum $10 spend if you use eftpos.
Always have to pay a premium for a decent banh mi in the Melbourne CBD compared to places like Springvale, Richmond or Footscray.
N Lee is probably easily the best Banh Mi you'll get in the cbd. Usually quite busy so will have to queue but you can't go wrong if you are craving a Vietnamese Roll.
Their meat ball rolls are so nice here. It has increased in price to $7.00 from $6.50 in the past. There's always a huge queue here during lunch time.
The meat balls are so juicy and tender that it just melts in your mouth. I have yet to find another place to beat these! Their bread are baked in house and daily, but it is still too hard for my liking, not the crunchy hard but just rock hard to bite into. Please see how amies bakery does their bread, it's the best! Crunchy and soft on the inside.
Hands down THE best bacon & egg roll I've ever had. Fresh-baked roll, crispy on the outside and unbelievably soft and warm inside.
Pair this with a coffee for $7.60 (talk about a breakfast special!) and you really can't go wrong. Beautiful coffee and a welcoming atmosphere.
Always a long queue at lunch time. $8 for a roll, I think this is the best bargain you can find around this area. Service is pretty quick despite the long queue but it is just too hard to get a seat at peak time. Overall, food is good but an easy lunch bite.
Ordered: Pork crackling Bahn Mi and a small custard tart.
Line of workers weekday lunchtimes is well justified but moves quickly. Baguettes are super fresh and yum and I’ll definitely be back. Reasonable prices too.
Hands down best Bahn Mi in town!! Absolutely delicious every time. Super fresh, authentic flavours made on the spot in no time at all. Gets busy at lunch time but worth braving the crowd!
Surprisingly unimpressed with this place, considering the one on Clarendon St is pretty reliable.
Seemed a bit small and light on for fillings, especially the meat.
Banh mi's are like sex though, even when it's bad, it's good. (not that these are bad).
Don't deny your urges
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Impressed on the layout of this place, I guess I'm too used to your family run bakeries in Springvale. There's always a line for this place as it's tough to get a good Vietnamese roll anywhere in the CBD, not that I have many in the CBD but confident enough to make that statement. Prices (and I'm just talking about their Vietnamese bread roll section here) are around twice that of the suburban bread shop. That being said, it's the CBD and is still a decent price for lunch.
Putting the price aside, I got their crackling pork roll with all the furnishings (minus chilli), it was a hefty roll indeed. I was a bit saddened to see that the roast pork had already been cut and placed in a tray which means that the meat would easily dry out. The meat was a tad dry and I didn't feel any crunch from the crackling, sad days. Plenty of sauce, maybe a tad too much. Bread had a nice chewy texture and pate creamy and rich.
They've got a lot of other enticing baked goods, the custard tart looked awesome, maybe next time.
My go to for coffee in the morning before work. By far the best tasting coffee in the area and at a very reasonable price. Great customer service with a smile to kick start my work day. Keep up the great work guys!
Very friendly staff, great fresh food and reasonably priced. Coffee was really good (we’ve had mixed experiences in Melbourne CBD!) Highly recommended.
These are the best banh mi rolls in Melbourne you will ever taste. The have plenty of options from bbq pork, crispy roast pork, pork loaf, chicken breast etc all made fresh to order. Question at lunchtime move quickly so don’t be put off by this. The pies are pretty good here too but it’s the rolls that make me keep returning!
Wow, amazing place. Hard to believe it’s a franchise. I noticed this place because it always has a line out the door. Now I know why. I lined up and shortly thereafter had my pork and Vietnamese salad roll with chilli. Bahn mi. Made in front of my eyes, it was hands down the best roll I’ve tasted for a long long time. It was bursting with freshness and flavour. Great bread, great meat and terrific salad. Just a superb lunch roll. Don’t worry about the line. There’s plenty of servers and the line moves at a rapid clip. You can eat in or take away. Service is brisk and snappy. Best quick lunch I’ve had in quite a while. This place knocks all other nearby roll and sandwich places, including Subway, out of the park. Bravo.
Lines out the door from 7am for good reason. Can't go wrong with these rolls, all the porkie goodness and add a spring roll, your mad if you don't.
One of the best Bahn Mi's I have had in town. The place is always packed, but the service is quick and friendly. The quality of ingredients used appear good, and this reflects in the flavor. A really good place for a quick lunch.
George David Michaelides
+4.5
Came here and tried the chicken kebab and cold pork bun. I was pleasantly surprised at the horizontally and thinner cut cucumber and lack of huge spring onion that bun bun is renowned for, the margarine and pate is of far better quality and chilli wasn't over powering aswell
Craziest roll that has ever entered my mouth...
5 stars says it all.
The freshness of the bread is something unexplainable
Go and eat one of these bad boys if you haven't already
I know I will be returning very soon
$8 for a Vietnamese style roll (banh mi) with BBQ chicken filling is a tad ridiculous, even for a Collins Street joint. The baguette here has a great crunchy texture, although I much prefer the taste of the sandwich filling from other places. N.Lee is quite generous with their pâté as well. If you're looking for a quick and easy banh mi fix then N.Lee works, but save a trip to suburbs like Springvale or Footscray if you're after a good one!
This bakery is always spot on first things you notice when you walk in there is the good smell.
Always fresh just enough sauces with fresh ingredients.
What a gem! The cold pork roll is to die for.
Food is always fresh and pumping quick. Definitely one of the best cheap eats arround the fitzroy area.
Service could improve a little bit
Featured on Zomato as a bakery with a Vietnamese influence, I was hoping to get a cà phê dá (Vietnamese iced coffee) but alas, this was not on the menu. The espresso machine was also temporarily out of service when I visited so I had a cold drink from the fridge instead.
Not as good as the OG N.Lee but nothing usually is. Nothing to really add further to prior reviews-it's good, cheap, quick, and you get what you pay for. Nice crunchy tofu without that weird piecey texture it sometimes gets.
Tip if you're vego though, they'll still include the patè on the tofu bahn mi unless specified. Also, if you're white as hell like i am, skip the chilli.
Good food . I've eaten here a couple of times .
Crowded during lunch times.
Good variety of options.
Would be nice if staff are more polite.
In Pic: Chicken Kebab Salad Roll
My favourite CBD spot for a pork meatball banh mi. Price has gone up slightly to $7, but still a nice lunchtime fix. The actual bread roll baked provides the best crunch and texture out of any banh mi place i've been to in Melbourne. But eat slowly, as one banh mi is often never enough!
One of the better cheap eats for lunch in Melbourne. A few thoughts:
- go a salad roll if you want heaps of fillers
- the selection of different breads/rolls is appreciated and you can mix and match quite a few things here
- expect a line, expect it to move quickly
- don't expect the best lunch in your life while only paying $7. You know why you're here.
N. Lee makes a really premium Vietnamese sub. What makes their sub stand out is the freshly baked bread, a perfectly crispy outer bun with a soft texture inside. I've had a few varieties of the Vietnamese sub and all were delicious. On the other hand, the spring roll was rather average.
Best Banh Mi in the city.. a meatball banh mi for $6.50 and has all the good. Fairly generous with the veg that goes in there and they use fresh chilli too. Much better then all your chains (Roll'd and so on)
Best CBD banh mi! It's good to be back at the Paris end of Melbourne, not least for the great N. Lee bakery banh mi. They're now $7 (up from $5.50 the last time l was here years ago) but every bit as good - as demonstrated by the long queues of hungry lunchtime locals.
I always get the meatball one with chilli, and its fresh salad ingredients of vinegared julienne carrots, coriander, cucumber and then butter and pate - leave out the last two for a lighter lunch. Service is friendly and whip fast. You can also order more traditional fare like sandwiches with a range of fillings or bakery items like meat pies & doughnuts.
Very happy to be back - see you in the line.
Fresh, tasty and healthy are a few of the words that decribe their banh mi! We came back for more the next day. We had the crackling pork and roast pork. Definitely recommended!
Although they don't advertise their salad Viet roll, they happily make one for me every time I go. Their bread is always soft and fresh yet authentic. They also have delicious veggie pasties and cakes. The lunch time rush says a lot about this place.
I've been going here for years and they've always hit the mark for a nice quick cheap lunch bite. Morning coffee special prices are some of the cheapest this side of the city. Stand out lunch items for me have to be the chicken schnitzel on vietnamese salad or the meat ball on vietnamese salad. Don't skip the chilli. Have to mention their bread, it's spectacularly crisp outside yet deliciously soft inside. I can't go back to the bread from other vietnamese roll places.
Good Banh Mi! Quite filling. It was a good try to add the caramelized onion but I was not a fan with the Banh Mi. Pretty crowded during weekdays. Staff was nice.
A nice lil vietnamese bakery in the city on collins. Very accessible, lots of staff so service is very efficient. Perhaps a lil less intense - id rather a more friendly environment with "hello, how ya going" then a quick "what would you like?" "$6.50 thanks"...
Got myself the bbq beef baguette which was delicious! They do load on the fillings which is great for the price you pay. Lots of pate/mayo and veggies and meat. Great display of the fresh ingredients with simple fit outs and few chairs & tables.
Very busy during lunch hours but not to worry heaps of staff as mentioned!
I can't really distinguish N. Lee's banh mi from every other banh mi I've had, but the chicken schnitzel was very tender and juicy. Good if you want banh mi in the city but there are cheaper banh mis elsewhere that taste just as good.
Great little place that serves delicious bread rolls. I got the vietnamese style banh mi here and it was delicious. Their bread is super soft and crusty. The spring rolls are awesome really delicious.
The ultimate sandwich go to during the busy lunch rush hour in Melbourne CBD. This would have to be the best bread roll I have had by far in the CBD. You cant go wrong with a meatball roll on either their white or wholemeal roll. Super fresh and crunchy freshly baked bread roll with an assortment of salad and meat options at a very reasonable price of approx $8. Be prepared to queue if you arrive after midday on a weekday but its definitely well worth the wait. You will not be disappointed if you love your Banh Mi or Vietnamese roll.
This place has such fresh food! Even watched the bread bake!!
Ordered a roll and a focaccia for lunch. Not too flash for the focaccia however the rolls are fantastic.
Puts subway to shame so the least :)
Not bad，but not as amazing as everyone seems to make out. Quality is alright，ingredients pretty fresh，but not enough to justify the long queue eah day. The price for a banh mi is ok for the cbd location，but they couldnt get away with this if it were Springvale.
Pretty delicious Vietnamese roll.
My meatball roll was scrumptious and the baguette was perfectly soft on the inside and chrispy on the outside.
Prices are okay, $7 for meatball roll.
Love this place for a quick tasty lunch time meal. Traditional style Vietnamese rolls filled with any of your favorites - pork belly, chicken breast, roast beef - all accompanied with fresh salads and a bit of zing with some chilies. The spring rolls are addictive too!
When it comes to baget I believe n lee are on on the top end they are my favourite always taste good with variety of options available to choose go for super veggie my personal fav
Not a bad place for Vietnamese roll in the city, almost a long queue outside but it doesn't take very long to get to the counter and order some of that roast pork!
Not the best price for money for Vietnamese roll in Melbourne- but in the city, not a bad choice :)
Sometimes, it's the simple things which can be the most satisfying. N. Lee Bakery Cafe is at the knee end of Collins Street City and is a bit of secret gem. With an aray of pastries and wholesome eats it was the pork and salad Vientnamese baguettes that took the Swine's fancy today. With Hot Chilli included, the Swine got the obligatory sweat n wipe treatment which was a quality endorsement. The Swine loved this crusty and crunchy baguette - this was a picture perfect mix of divine meat, salad, saucey gravy and mix of yumbo flavours. At $6.50 what's not to like. Recommended.
Hands down the best banh mi in town! The bread is quality - crunchy and fresh. I always get the Vietnamese pork rolls and they never disappoint! The ingredients are fresh and delicious. There is often a line outside during the lunch rush but I never have to wait long. Their rolls are a bit on the pricier side compared to what you can get in Richmond or Footscray but you can definitely Taste the quality. Highly recommended.
Third branch of the popular Vietnamese rolls, this one in the city has changed slightly to accommodate more of the Western office workers and why wouldn't you? A roll starts as cheap as $6.50 and goes up from there depending on what you want to order. For me, the traditional rolls is what I come here for. Even though these were literally 2 buck rolls back in the day, you can't fault these guys for what they price now.
I love N. Lee Bakery and the Little Collins location is where I first experienced it. It's usually the place with a line out the door since it's a small place, but with many hungry customers. The first time I bit into their pork loaf, I realized that that was the best I've ever had. I prefer classic banh mi with the mystery deli meat combinations, but my husband prefers the grilled pork. We've also tried the pork meatball and pork belly banh mi from this location. This location was about $2 more expensive per sandwich than the Collingwood location, although it's still a decent price for a meal in Melbourne.
Always got the Bahn Mi from Collingwood store and expected that this place will give me the same quality bread roll but it was NOT as the baguette itself was cold and chewy. It tasted like an overnight bread, but the flavour still there.... will give this a go next time if they gives me a better bread next time, I will give them a better rating. Simple 😊
💜 the grilled pork rolls. Everything on them? Yes please! 💜 the pork belly rolls too but the grilled pork is my go to fav. Bread is always fresh. Crusty on the outside. Soft inside. Coffee is pretty good too.
Beautiful Banh Mi. This N Lee Bakery Cafe is easy to walk past. It's next to Priceline on Collins St, half-way between William and Queen streets. It's set back slightly from the footpath so look out for the sign (photographs uploaded!).
They really do an excellent banh mi. The bread! So crispy on the outside. So soft on the inside. Care is taken with making the roll. They move fast, but they don't slap it together. There is a difference.
I love the pork meatball banh mi. A very substantive lunch for around $6.50. Walk past the nearby Subway and head straight here. Delicious.
BUT, at N Lee Bakery, you can proverbially have your cake and eat it too. First, you can customise your bread roll. There are multi grain and wholemeal options. Then, if you are feeling virtuous, you can opt for chicken breast instead of pork or meatballs. The salad options are traditional Vietnamese (cucumber, carrot, coriander, chilli and liver pate instead of butter) or you can customise your own with the standard salad items such as avocado, lettuce, tomato, etc. Let me tell you, it has got to be one of the yummiest rolls I have eaten. The crunch of the fresh baguette, the mellowness of the pate, the hint of coriander and hoi sin sauce, the freshness of the salad.
...I finally, finally got around to trying the Vietnamese pork meatball baguettes that N.Lee Bakery does near my work, and it was just as good as everyone says. And that, if you are asked whether you want chilli, and say yes, it is your own fault later on when you spend the next half an hour barely coping at your desk. Good amount of salad and herbs. Mm-mm! And only $5.50 which is eminently reasonable when you look at the ridiculous prices being charged for sandwiches around the CBD. I’d like to get out and try some of the other banh mi around town. Particularly I want to revisit one Mr B and I ate in Vietnam which had pork crackling in it as well… mmmm *trails off into Homer Simpsonesque drool*. This blog entry rating a bunch of banh mi around Melbourne by Penny from Addictive & Consuming might just be the right place to start…
The World Loves Melbourne
+4.5
N Lee Bakery is a solid performer for simple dining options in the CBD. It's never going to win 3 hats but it offers excellent value tasty choices for city workers. N Lee Bakery is the tipping point between bringing your lunch to work or getting a really cheap but sensational lunch at this place for probably less than you could make it yourself. N Lee Bakery has been on the scene for some time and has built up a good number of regulars.To get such a consistently high rating on Urbanspoon is quite a feat. There's a lot of love going around for N Lee Bakery.
The Vietnamese rolls had me smiling like an idiot in public. First time here today and I must say, the Vietnamese rolls from N.Lee's are the best I've eaten from the CBD.
There was a line as expected in peak lunch hours however it moved along very quickly as the workers are very fast and efficient.
It's $1-2 more from your standard rolls, but the quality of the bread and ingredients are so fresh.
The fillings isn't stuff to the max like the ones you'll find in Springy but it is well balance so you wont find any spilling out at the end of your roll. After reading a previous review, I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask for extra carrots next time :D
Well well well. I come here every Friday for the same thing serve by the same lady for over a year now lol. Owner is super nice cuz he gives freebies haha. Their rolls are a couple of $ more expensive than others BUT their bread is not airy & the stuffing is really generous! You won't left half empty stomach. Don't be shamed to aske more carrot pickles n chilli like I always do :)
**** yeah. This place shines like a beacon of hope amongst the mess of incompetent overpriced food venues in the CBD.
They make the average Australian sandwich maker look like they've been dropped on their heads, I've never once seen them lapse correct hygiene standards keeping a clean gloved hand at all times separate from their other and anything non food. Fresh baked rolls + fresh ingredients and the taste is predictably amazing. 10/10 for a sandwich shop.
Banh mi!. Great cheap little bakery with excellent banh mi. Perfect for lunch
If you are after a Vietnamese Roll - Look no further!. Having just moved to Melbourne, I had seen the lineup to N.Lee Bakery on my lunch breaks walking around, and I thought it was an impressive lineup - but it would just be another Vietnamese Bakery. Today I discovered how wrong I was. My order was the Grilled Pork roll, and I can tell you the flavours are fantastic. Fresh crunchy roll, yet soft inside; Coriander, Carrot, Homemade Butter, Pate, Chilli's (Optional) and their sauce (A delicious think Hoisin taste) and then the Warm Grilled Pork. Beautiful Lunch, and I will be back shortly!
Miguel Sanchez Robertson
+4.5
Attention - NLEE Staff / Owner (Collins Street Branch). Hi GUYS
I love the pork rolls there but recently you've changed your pork loaf supplier and it's negatively affecting my pork roll eating experience. The Pork loaf you are using now has a tough gelatinousedge on it that really ruins my mouth experience when eating a roll at your bakery...
Please - can you guys cut the pink edge off, or change back to your old supplier so order can be restored.
Apart from that - keep up the good work!
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N.Joyable. I've been noticing N. Lee bakeries around town because I ride the 112 tram a lot, and two of their shops are along that line. I've been curious what their zeitgeist is. An article in The Age said it's run by a local family which specialises in banh mi and also pastries. The paper said a bonus point is that they're inexpensive.
I popped into this one (via the 112, naturally) one morning before dawn to get a few sweet things to have with coffee from my home espresso machine. I can't say N. Lee offers anything spectacular in the pastry department, mostly the basic brekky items such as croissants, Danishes, biscuits and slices. The peach Danish I ate was good for what it was, though. It had not one, but two small peach halves in the centre, so it looked like a pair of sunny-side-up eggs. The dough tasted like it was made with butter, not margarine. And it's definitely low-cost: only $5.70 total for the Danish and a chocolate croissant. That's a dollar or two less than most other bakeries would charge.
I'm developing a positive prejudice toward eateries run by Vietnamese people, because so many of them turn out flavourful cuisine at bargain prices. Another way that immigration enriches Australia. Too bad that it mainly happened that way because my native land destroyed their country (with some assistance from the Aussies, who at least had the decency to feel guilty about it and allow refugees in as compensation.)
The best!!!. The best pork roll in melbourne! bread are very crispy, and i always add more and much more liver pate, taste so good. quick service too
Worth to mention the Coffee is just as good
Meatball roll is very good, always busy, bread is always super fresh.
Best Banh Mi in the Cbd. Fresh, crunchy bread and quality fillings. Spring rolls are worth trying too.
Had the pork banh mi ($6). Was quite tasty but service was terrible. The girl seemed to be pissed off to be serving me and rolled her eyes when I asked if I could have it toasted. Maybe it was just her, and the other ladies were nicer but it ruined the experience.
Think of your very best memory of eating a subway meatball sub, and multiply it by 1000. This is similar except with much better flavours, delicious crusty bread and with a fresh lightness to it. Pork meatball banh mi was THAT good, I ordered another to take away for afternoon tea. It didn't make it back to the office
Best banh mi in Melbourne. Line Is long so make sure you get 2! Cause you'll be wanting more!
Easy lunch option. Food always fresh, not heaps cheaper than other nearby cafes, but decently priced enough. There's always a queue that strings around the corner at lunch time (not so much when it's wet), but it moves quickly enough. All their menu items taste good, but go next door or somewhere else if it's coffee that you're after!
Fresh fresh fresh. Cheap cheap!
Best bread I've ever tasted. If you go at the right time (11:30 - 12:30), the bread is so fresh it's still steaming when they cut it open. It gets busy. There is always without fail the lunch rush where you have to line up out side - but it's definitely worth the wait! And not to mention so cheap. Ps the spring rolls are yummo. Give it a try when you're in the area!
If you don't mind a queue. If it is a cheap, tasty and fragrant banh mi you are after then N Lee is THE place to be. Generous with their fillings and for a city lunch time price that is only beaten by the okonomiyaki at Tower Sushi around the corner. Great value, great lunch. Be prepared to queue, down the street, at peak lunch time but for the price and what you get.. well worth it.
Yum. I've been here twice as it's not far from work. I love the pork meatball roll with chilli. It's only $5.50!
There is sometimes a line out the door but they are quick on their feet and I'm going back again next week.
Great little bakery. What a great little bakery! Fresh bread is baked throughout the day and often the bread you get is still warm from the oven. It doesn't get much fresher than that.
Their Vietnamese salad rolls are really good. Such an interesting flavour profile compared to the usual western salads. My preferred option is a multigrain roll with Vietnamese salad with chilly and chicken breast. Really tasty and healthy (especially if you leave out the home-made butter).
If you want something more conventional, try their roast beef toasted focaccia. I had it today and enjoyed it.
Bit more expensive than footscray and Springvale banh mi but hey it's the CBD! Nice service and tastes awesome!! They even toasted it for me... Mmm nice and warm. Watching bread being baked, the smell of fresh bread... Can't get any better than that :D
A dollar or two more than the suburban Bahn Mi joints but a really tasty roll, especially when weighed up against other cheap CBD options. The pork meatball roll is superb.
Bánh mi. Good but fairly standard city bakery/cafe at the Paris end of town. Everything looked fresh and sparkling. But I went there to try the bánh mì, which I found a little bland and not quite as good as you get from their Smith St shop. Lovely fresh roll but. That seems to be the only Vietnamese speciality; the rest is standard skip gobble 'n' go.
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