Location: 4520 N Tryon St #41, Charlotte, NC 28213
A second reason to wade through the pot holes of the Asian Mall parking lot, (the first being Dragon Court), Le’s Sandwich & cafe delivers some of the best sandwiches in Charlotte. It’s definitely the best banh mi sandwich I have tried, although admittedly my experiences with Vietnamese sandwiches are limited. Le’s is one of those places that would greatly increase my waistline if it were closer to my home.
The Good: Let face it, no one is going to a place like Le’s Sandwich shop for any other reason than the sandwiches. These Sandwiches deliver with some unique and delicious flavors that you won’t find in other area restaurants. The pickled vegetables and the pork of the banh mi are an excellent combination. The food is always fresh, which I think has as much to do with the high turnover as anything else. I have never gone into this shop where there hasn’t been a line. Having tried most of the Sandwiches (haven’t worked up the courage to eat a Sardine banh mi) I haven’t been disappointed. You can’t beat the prices as well, with the average cost around $4. I have yet to try their bubble tea, but many rave about it. On a personal note, the staff of Le’s is extremely honest, having accidentally dropped my credit card (which I can’t use there anyway), they kept it for me and returned it to me the next day.
The Bad: There are a few things that might annoy some people about Le’s. First, it is cash only, so if you find yourself just window shopping in the Asian Mall (you won’t be) you’re out of luck if you only have a card. Secondly, they only have a small amount of tables….I would say Le’s sandwich shop is more of a “to go” place than anything. This makes it a bit difficult to visit at times due to the distant location and the struggles of the parking lot. It would be nice if they had a more central location.
The Ugly: See Dragon court. Given this place is directly across from dragon court, the same unclean atmosphere applies. This is actual compounded by the fact that the windows are clear, you aren’t walking into a separate restaurant inside of the mall, you feel as if you are still in the dirty mall when ordering. This may be too much for the squeamish to handle.
The Verdict 8 out of 10 Eat it!: Le’s Sandwich Shop is a good break from the standard, boring fare that is all too common in the Charlotte restaurant scene. Unique, inexpensive, and delicious everyone should try these sandwiches at least once.
Recommended: Any Pork Banh Mi Sandwich