Love love LOVE this place. My boyfriend introduced me to it and now I literally think about these sandwiches on the daily. My favorite is the Indonesian BBQ w/ Pork but you can't go wrong with anything you get. Honestly incredible. You have to go. read more

I have no idea how this place could be rated so high. We elected to eat here based on the positive reviews but left unsatisfied. I am GUESSING that this place is owned by the couple running the place. The man at the register had ZERO personality and acted as if we should know what we wanted. There weren't a lot of people at this small place but being summer, I'm guessing fewer people are around. We had to bus our own table (and even clean up a little from the previous people). Since tipping is done before getting the food or service, my generous $11 tip for 4 sandwiches was way too high. Small flies were all over the place and the food was average at best. The lady who served us the food was VERY kind, hence the extra star. read more

What a gem!! I was visiting my friend who lives in Evanston and she took me here. We got the coconut curry one and the Indonesian ginger bbq one with chicken in each. They were both delicious. The buns were clearly good bread. The shredded carrots were the perfect size. Fresh cilantro! We got the slaw which was also delicious. No mayo and heavy garlic. Yummmmm!! My friend also said the paneer fig one is delicious too! Another thing I really liked about this place was the flavors were unexpected. A lot of Asian fusion places start to taste the same but this place was totally unexpected! Loved it!! read more

Extremely poor service. Ordered two different sandwiches from the menu and they were both same. There was only carrots and some cucumber and mayo in both. Whereas the menu had no mention of that. The chips are not burmese or anything. Just some salt and spices sprinkled on top of standard potato chips. None this is worth the price charged. An obvious rip off read more

Soulwich - Just carrots and nothing else. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I had the chicken coconut sandwich, and it's more bun than anything. I have to say that it seems most places in Evanston are overrated as if the people who live and eat there haven't been out much. This definitely isn't a 4 or 5 star place read more

First and foremost, I've always been very picky about fusion food. Also if you choose to have SE Asain influences, you should probably get it right or I get real upset. I was tempted to try Singapore Tikka though I'm fairly sure it is not a thing back in Singapore. So I opted for the Burmese coconut curry instead. The closest thing to compare these to would be banhmi but not quite. The bread was toasted to nice and crispy which i liked. The chicken was not dried out but it was also a tad too wet. I could taste the coconut although the spices weren't very strong for me at least. This though would be perfect for someone from the Midwest. The sandwich was filling but the service here is implacable and the lady (boss?) made sure everyone was happy before they left. read more

I never crave sandwiches, but when I do, it's for a Soulwich. I've been coming here for a while now & it's amazing! The flavors are uniquely Southeast Asian & vegan-friendly. I've never had a bad sandwich. Prices are affordable ($8 incl. coleslaw or house made Burmese chips; go for the chips!) & you pay at the register, so no need to tip unless you want to. The owner is nice & sometimes the only one working (at most, there'll be one more person on staff). The restaurant is small (seats ~20), always clean & rarely packed, which is a perk in my book. They do take card, though cash is preferred. read more

With an Asian and I can touch these awesome sandwiches are delectable versions of their origins and the sauces and spices very authentic. Great vegan and vegetarian options and local sodas. Service is friendly and home style- brilliant! read more

Soulwich - Paneer fig and Singapore seitan - wow! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I was very iffy about this place in college, but I tried it again recently and loved it! The flavors are so unique. Paneer fig and Singapore Tikka are my favorites. I do wish there was less of the carrot mix in the sandwich, but I usually don't like raw carrots so I struggle with a lot of banh mi style sandwiches unless the carrots are more pickled. It does seem a little bit on the pricey side for a sandwich place, but since the sandwiches seem relatively healthy and are unique I understand the premium. I also like the bottled sodas they have here. read more

Their sandwiches are always great and the couple that run Soulwich are friendly and helpful! And they have re-opened!

I tried Soulwich when it first opened. The initial experience was okay (long wait, good meal), but I assumed that it would take time for them to find their stride. The location is poor in that the block is nearly abandoned and there's little business activity. It's easy to forget that they're there. I returned today after seeing a large number of positive Yelp reviews and a desire to try something outside of my usual sandwich options. I ordered a Wasabi Teriyaki with Steak and a side of Burmese chips. There only appeared to be two beverage options. Water and unfiltered Ginger Ale (floating chunks of ginger in the bottle). $13... Expecting a long prep time, I prepared to sit and wait after paying. To my surprise, my meal was ready within 2 minutes. It was a nice day, so I opted for take-away and found a nice park to eat in. One bite into my sandwich, and it simply disintegrated... The bread is all wrong for these sandwiches. It's a soft, thick and porous Ciabatta loaf that absorbs all of the (potentially) tasty sauces. The loaf separated immediately and the contents of my sandwich dropped to the ground. I was left with sticky teriyaki sauce all over my hands and soggy bread. I managed to pick some of the meat out and scoop up some of the veggie toppings. 4-5 more bites and I gave up... I think the issue here is a poor bread choice. The consistency is all wrong and it's not compatible with the sauces. Or maybe the toppings aren't loaded well. But the other sandwich shops in the area have this balance worked out. read more

Soulwich - Soulwich Wasabi Teriyaki with Steak... Soggy bread and the sandwich quickly fell apart. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

The food here is DELICIOUS. Especially for vegans (usually), it's a rare gem of a sandwich place. That said, under no circumstances would I recommend ordering this food for delivery. 1. When I tried to order online, I got all the way through customizing my order before the form gave me an error message and refused to let me submit. So... 2. I called. The guy on the phone growled about the web site and said he was really done with "that guy." No idea who he was talking about. I tried to give him my order and... 3. He didn't like the speed with which I was telling him my phone number, so I slowed down. He laughed and called me cute. Twice. I still REALLY wanted the sandwiches (it's my birthday!! For real!), so I kept trying to order... 4. He said he'd get these sandwiches to me "right away." Then we waited. FOR AN HOUR AND THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES. 5. When the sandwiches arrived, he barely stopped at the door. We opened them and one of them -- for my vegetarian daughter -- was chicken instead of seitan. 6. We called. They agreed to refund us. 7. They called us back 5 minutes later, saying they couldn't refund us easily without refunding the whole order and then charging us for one fewer sandwich. We discussed it back and forth until he finally figured out how to do it. He did also make a creepy offer to come to our house and drop off cash, maybe tomorrow. Eeeyew. We love these sandwiches. LOVE THEM. But they will be a dine-in-only experience for us from now on. read more

Attention to detail and fresh ingredients. I had the Indonesian ginger BBQ pork sandwich. Complex flavor and textures. Delicious!!! Friendly staff as well. read more

Although the customer service was excellent, the food was just okay for me. I have the barbecue chicken sandwich in the Indonesian chips with slaw. I did not personally enjoy the slaw or chips. The sandwich was flavorful but just okay. I didn't taste the barbecue flavor in my sandwich at all. I would definitely visit this place again though. read more

Absolutely love Soulwich! It's my favorite lunch spot in Evanston. My go-to sandwich is usually the Wasabi Teriyaki with chicken, although I have tried pretty much every other sandwich on the menu and they're all good. The fresh bread takes the sandwiches to a whole new level. The Burmese chips are also great. I'm a baby when it comes to spicy food and these are perfect. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a quick bite! read more

I've never been disappointed. My favorite is the fig and cheese sandwich. My colleagues had a salad and a curry sandwich and they were both delighted with the choices. The staff is are good people. I think English is their second language so when you are ordering or asking for anything remember to be polite and patient! read more

Well, I may have raved about this place 5 years ago, but, sadly, the allure did not return when I returned for dinner yesterday night. My sandwich was OK. I wish I had read my old review to remember to request no carrots. They were regular, not pickled, but there were so many of them that they overpowered everything else, so I had to take them off. Once I took them off, I was able to see that there was actually very little OF anything else (I got the fig and goat cheese sandwich - I think there were 2 figs on the entire sandwich...) And the goat cheese was so thin - it was like it had been watered down. The bread quality has also gone downhill. Finally, the service. Atrocious. The man (owner?) was rude to other customers and dismissive to us. We were grateful that the weather allowed us to eat outside and away from the scowling employees. Not worth another return trip. read more

I have not been to Soulwich for a while and I had forgotten how delicious it was! If I had remembered earlier, I would have visited many more times. This time, I ordered the Indonesian Ginger BBQ sandwich and it was fantastic. The sandwich was practically exploding with flavor and the juicy ingredients contrasted well with the perfectly crispy and flaky bread. That being said, eating the sandwich was a bit of a messy endeavor. Soulwich is now my new go-to place whenever I am craving banh mi. Delicious food for a great price, what more could you ask for? read more

Some of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten! The bread is heavenly, the service is always friendly and usually fast (except maybe when the restaurant is packed during the busy lunch hour), and the place is immaculately clean! I love the paneer fig sandwich and the Asian slaw which is light and mayo-free. I only wish they had a better hot tea selection. read more

Soulwich - Paneer fig sandwich - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I'll say this much, Soulwich provides a breath of fresh air for sandwiches in Evanston(especially because I eat Subway two days every week). I've been here twice, and while the Indonesian Ginger BBQ was amazing in itself, I blown away by their Paneer Fig sandwich. I'm a big meat eater, so I was questioning my decision in getting a vegetarian sandwich. Would it have enough flavor? Would it be filling enough? I just wasn't sure. It turned out for the best in the end. The sandwich was light and refreshing, yet jam-packed with flavors. The paneer was mildly salty, while the fig complemented it perfectly with its sweetness. If you've seen Pixar's Ratatouille, I basically had the scene where the rat combines the flavor of strawberry and cheese and fireworks pop up. It was that good. Furthermore, it was quite filling. The only qualm I had is the fact that the slaw was a little bit disappointing, or at least not what I was expecting. It definitely wasn't on the same level of their sandwiches, and didn't have a special kick or freshness about it. It just simply tasted like a gingery asian slaw, which is okay as a complement to their sandwich. As a result, I'd recommend chips over the slaw personally. Don't get me wrong though, for a $9-10 meal, Soulwich definitely serves as a pick-me-up when you're looking for something out of the ordinary to eat. read more

There are few culinary experiences in Evanston, Illinois, that top Soulwich. It is the rare restaurant that lives up to its name: Each visit to this eatery truly rejuvenates my soul. If you can, spend some time in Soulwich's physical space. The walls, adorned with minimal line drawings, and the music, the quiet hum of trip hop or Radiohead, prepare you for the spiritual nourishment that your visit will provide you. The Paneer Fig is delicious, although so is everything on the menu. The bread is always perfect, its crunchy outer shell protecting the soft inner layers of fig, goat cheese, cilantro and carrot. Sandwiches are served with slaw or chips, and fear not, you cannot go wrong with either. Last, the kindly folks who work behind the counter are some of the most pleasant restauranteurs I've ever had the pleasure to patronize. And, importantly, the food is consistently exemplary. So, what are you waiting for? Head on down to Soulwich. And bring a friend; these 'wiches are best enjoyed with your pals. read more

Love their vegan sandwich! It's so delicious and reasonably priced. One of my favorite lunch places in Evanston

Not bad. Came here because I was in the area and looking for something light. It was perfect! I had some wrap with goat cheese and it was devine. Lost a star for the price though. read more

Clean shop Friendly workers Yummy food with vegetarian and vegan options Good prices Will be back here soon !! read more

Great option for unique and healthy sandwiches. I had the Indonesian ginger bbq sandwich with seitan and thought it was really delicious. Great mix of flavors and I loved the cilantro and sauce. Great vegetarian/vegan option. Highly recommend. read more

They have their counter at Kellogg on Tuesdays where they serve Malaysian Tacos. I have tried all three varieties and love their chicken and veggie one. Tofu doesn't taste like tofu, in a good way! (Not that I dislike tofu... Just that the marination is superb.) Chicken is super delicious and juicy. But the best part is the tortillas. it is not the corn one ... It is more like the bhatura bread you get in India. this just adds on to the feel. Overall a very simple dish, but very flavorful! Unfortunately, they don't serve that in their restaurant. However, the sandwiches they have in restaurant is equally juicy, flavorful and filing. The owners are from India - a couple. They are very friendly. Also, the menu is pretty straightforward. It makes it super quick and at the same time hassle free. read more

I was in Evanston for a business trip and saw that this restaurant had very high reviews and decided to check it out. I got a Burmese Coconut Curry with pork. It was delicious. The owner and staff were helpful and understanding when I asked for an itemized receipt. I didn't get the strong flavors I was expecting but I still found the sandwich to be delicious. I loved the bread that was used for the sandwich. The one thing I didn't like was that they were cash only. read more

Never had a disappointing experience here! Food is always tasty and the staff is always very friendly. Pro tip: the Burmese chips are VERY hot! I'm from Texas, and they're even a little spicy for me! You've been warned... read more

Soulwich - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Soulwich has the most interesting sandwiches featuring many Asian flavors and have vegan and vegetarian options as well. What was most enjoyable was the fresh and crisp bread that housed the tasty Indonesian Ginger Chicken filling with its amazing sauce. My boyfriend and I shared a sandwich and a side of Burmese chips and we loved it and both agreed we would absolutely come back to try their other flavors. The owner was friendly and I have no complaints on their service. It was a great experience and I highly recommend this downtown Evanston sandwich shop! read more

Soulwich - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Mannnn let me tell you I walked in the place not knowing what to think let alone what to order. My god sister was in town and doesn't eat meat so we had to go to a place that would accommodate her eating diet style. I ordered this chicken sandwich it was amazing, they come with these spicy chips on the side. I'm ready to go back and try it again. read more

1st time here. The attendant very friendly, good service. She recommended the ginger bbq with Burmese fries and I followed her suggestion. She got confused and instead of pork she served me chicken. She apologized and offered to prepare the Pork sandwich, but I kept the chicken sandwich. Flavor: delish! It reminded me a bah mi sandwich. The chicken with the spices was excellent! Their soft drinks are cane sugar, not corn syrup which I prefer in that way. I tried due the 1st time almond cola and it was good. I will recommend this place and will come back again when being around. read more

Soulwich - Ginger chicken bbq with Burmese fries, almond & cane sugar cola - Asian Fusion Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Here is my flow chart for deciding whether you should go to Soulwich on a given day or not: Do you live in Evanston? Yes No | | | | | | V V Get your your ass Get your ass to Evanston, then go to out of Chipotle, and go to Soulwich Soulwich This place is probably one the most exciting, enjoyable, affordable restaurants to open in Evanston in years. Every sandwich I have had there is great (Indonesian with pork is my favorite) the owner is awesome, and the chips have a good kick. Please do us both a favor and go - you won't regret it. (Seriously, it's right around the corner from Chipotle and is about 10^10 times better. And Chipotle isn't bad.) read more

After seeing some reviews, we decided to check this joint out. It wasn't very busy when we walked in so we sat at the counter and enjoyed a very nice view of outside. The sweet woman behind the counter was very fast and brought them out quickly. We ordered the Indonesian ginger barbecue sandwich with steak as well as the wasabi teriyaki sandwich with chicken. The wasabi teriyaki was really good but the superstar of the meal was the bbq sandwich. I highly recommend that if you dine here. The bread is toasted absolutely perfectly reminiscent of a nicely toasted potbellys sub, but with a little Asian fusion. This is a must try for a lunch place if you are in e-town! read more

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FOOD: I can safely say that the #4 Indonesian Ginger BBQ sandwich is REALLY FRIGGUN GOOD (if you're not much of a cilantro person, ask them to leave it out or just pick them out yourself because it's not that hard to do so). The homemade seasoned chips aren't anything out of this world, but still great since it comes with the sandwich (you can get a homemade slaw instead!). Finally, the Sriracha bottles comes in handy if you need some spice in your life. I have only two problems with this place. 1) When it comes to food eaten with your hands instead of utensils (especially sandwiches and burgers), I really appreciate it if the food I'm eating remains intact throughout the whole time. As for soulwich sandwiches (maybe it was just #4 who knows), this was not the case. Right from my first bite, the chili aioli, although extremely derrrrricious, started dripping like crazy from the bottom of my sandwich. 2) Me: "May I have a small cup for water?" Worker: "No, but you may buy one of our bottled waters" Me: "Oh okay" (pulls out a dollar) Worker: "It's $3" ............................. wat..... the...... ball........ sax ******** TIP: There's a CVS nearby (1711 Sherman Ave). Buy water from there beforehand and drink away. read more

I'm a true sandwich artist in both creation and especially consumption. There is a Goldilocks zone for all sandwiches, and the key factor IMO is moistness. Too dry and you suffer lock jaw from chewing, most likely a lack of flavor and a constant need for your beverage in order to consume. Too wet, and you experience what I did at Soulwich. It was like Vietnamese sandwich ingredients but overloaded onto an Italian bread (not good for absorption) and a TON of sauces and juices!!!! It was, suffice to say, "a recipe for disaster". I went with the Indonesian Ginger BBQ with chicken. The chicken was SUPER moist, almost too much so. The taste reminded me of Thanksgiving dark turkey meat. Normally that wouldn't be a bad thing, but I just didn't see it working with the rest of the ingredients. Bottom line though, on bite number two, this thing basically exploded on me like a military issued sandwich grenade. I LOVE overstuffed sandwiches, but you have GOT to have a bread vessel that can hold up to a juicy sandwich!!! Had the Burmese flavored chips too that weren't very memorable. I'll probably shop around sandwich shops next time I'm in Evanston. Al's deli is the winner in town so far. read more

Yea, Soulwich is a nice addition to Evanston. There aren't many sandwich shops in Evanston, and not a one with this originality, nor such an affable owner's husband occupying the behind-the-counter space equipped with questions, info and a palpable confidence in Soulwich's product. At first the menu had me scratching my dome - it would help to explain, for instance, what a Singapore Tikka is to the Average Joe. Or what exactly is an Indonesian Spice Grill. Luckily, the above-mentioned proprietor's husband was there to escort me through my options. I settled for something tiltled, "Indonesian Ginger BBQ, homemade bbq, red cabbage and infused caramelized onion." You have the option of chicken, pork, steak or veggie. I chose chicken. The bread, from the same place as Xoco - which seems to have become a selling point for Soulwich - was nearly perfect. It held up almost intact, but the sandwich had a bit too much sauce and lost its foundation. This may also be due to the fact that the sandwich is just plain massive. Mad chicken, mad cucumbers, mad cabbage, etc.... The flavor is definitely present in this sandwich, although the sauce was a bit too sweet and plentiful for my tastes. Overall, l I have to give the owners big-ups for originality, use of as natural and organic ingredients as available and just straight pleasantness! I'll go back to try another sandwich, for sure read more

I was here today for the first time, and I can't believe I've never been here before! We ordered three of the Indonesian Ginger BBQ (with pork) and one of the Wasabi Teriyaki sandwiches (with steak) to share. We had two orders of chips, one spicy and one original, as well as two orders of the housemade slaw. They were incredibly generous with the meat and the vegetables (thin slices of cucumber, a heaping handful of carrot, cilantro, and possibly some other things that I didn't see. The Indonesian Ginger BBQ is as good as everyone says it is - stuffed with succulent meat, dripping flavorful sauce, with freshly toasted bread and, like I said before, a huge pile of vegetables. The Wasabi Teriyaki was also very good, not as spicy and with a hint of smokiness. I found the chips to be nothing special (not on the level of Rollin' to Go, for instance, in terms of housemade chips in Evanston), but the housemade slaw was actually very good. I typically don't eat mayo, and their slaw was pretty low on the mayo, slightly vinegary, and a little garlicky. Delicious! I'll definitely be back here soon. read more

This is another local shop in Evanston that is unique in its own way. For me, it's a fun take on a Vietnamese banh mi and Indonesian food? Regardless, it is refreshing to have a different option in the area. The sandwiches are good and filled to the brim with vegetables and your choice of meat, and everything comes with a side of homemade chips. I would personally say the food is OK, not great especially when factoring in the price. It comes to about $8.50 for a sandwich that leaves me wanting.. a little more for the price. I can't really put my tongue on it, but maybe a stronger spice, flavor, or something to really penetrate through the vegetables would make it taste better. Overall, it's a decent place for something different. read more

I'm giving it 5 stars because the menu is straightforward and I feel like I am getting exactly what I read, but it tastes so much better. Also the owner and staff were so friendly and genuinely nice, like they really want to make sure you return. Really enjoyed the banter and exchange even though we were taking it to go. I live in Jeff Park, but I'll return eventually to try more of the sandwiches and love that they will work with vegetarian options as well. I'm not vegetarian, but I like to go sans meat sometimes, so I appreciate that flexibility. Husband had the Indonesian BBQ with chicken and the sesame chili tuna. I had the paneer fig sandwich. He said both were really good. My sandwich, I really liked - if you like the way it sounds, you'll like it. All sandwiches are topped heavily with shredded carrots and I really like the texture it provides in the sandwich. We had both original and burmese chips. Both were good, will try the slaw next time. read more

I've tried the Burmese Coconut Curry, Singapore Tikka, and Indonesian Ginger BBQ sandwiches, as well as the slaw and chips (the sides). Every time I've ate here I've ordered something different than the previous time, in hopes that I'm going to get a sandwich bursting with flavor, but every time I've gotten mildly flavored meat with a side of either mildly flavored potato chips or bland, non-creamy coleslaw. I don't know whose palate Soulwich is trying to appeal to, but it sure isn't mine. Eat your sandwich quickly, or else the bread will get soggy. read more