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Categories: Vietnamese, Food Stands [Edit]
Neighborhood: 78704 (South Austin)Tue-Fri. 11:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat. 11:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
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The cat is out of the bag on this place. Don't bother going here in the middle of lunch rush unless you're prepared to wait.
I'll admit that my first impression of this place was a resounding "meh" but it has seriously grown on me. Why?
1. Their sandwiches just seem to taste better every time. I love their BBQ chicken and BBQ pork.
1a. I don't feel like crap after lunch, because their food isn't heavy and their portions aren't too large.
2. They put jalapeños in their sammiches. Fresh ones. Insert comment about incredible masculinity here.
3. In addition they provide rooster sauce (sriracha?) and some mystery red sauce with seeds.
4. Smoothies with pearls.
Note that this place has incredibly low bandwidth, so if there's a line at this place, be prepared to wait. If you order a smoothie, that'll take even longer.
Since the seating is outside only, space is a bit scarce, and be prepared to swat flies.
So how do you avoid the line? Avoid peak hours, and prefetch your order (or what mortals know as calling in).
I love Lulu's. I usually can't eat Vietnamese sandwiches or noodle bowls because often, a meatless version isn't offered.
Lulu's has terrifically seasoned lemongrass tofu for their Bahn Mi. I adore their Bun--they don't forget the basil! Everything tastes light and fresh. I add some Rooster brand garlic chili sauce and am super happy. Comfort food.
My boys love the summer rolls with shrimp.
Just go off hours if you are in a hurry people! Or call ahead. It's called "planning".
Hapa power, woot!
The tofu lemongrass sandwich is like taking a bite out of God's arm.
And ditto the suggestions on calling ahead--just not TOO far ahead.
I started eating here when it first opened. The sandwiches were wonderful ( the pork, the chicken - add an avocado yum). Oh joy no long lines. Well they are still turning out great food and though sometimes the lines are long the food is worth it besides you get to talk to a lot of nice people.
I love the trailer food here.
Tried Lulu's today. The girl taking orders was very friendly and she recommended the lemon grass pork sandwich. I also tried one of their Bubble Teas. The wait was a little long but well worth it. You know its good when all kinds of people are standing in line; old ladies, suits, hippies and college kids. The Bubble Tea wasn't what I expected, it was a little watery, but there was lots of tapioca and ice cold. Being from So Cal, I must be used to the slushed kind. The sandwich was delicious and fresh tasting. Bread was excellent, lots of pork, crunchy veggies. I forgot to top it with some sirachi before I left, but the jalapenos gave it just enough bite to so it wasn't missed. I will definitely be back to try the bowls.
I had the grilled pork with avocado. My first bite was SUPER SPICY and had me concerned... but strangely, that was the only bite like that. The rest of the sandwich was delicious. Eating lunch under that big old Texas Oak Tree was pretty nice.
the food here is so incredibly scrumptious & the ladies are so nice that it is worth having to deal with the extremeley long wait and agro males who work there. Where else can you have screen doors slammed in your face?
This was my first visit to Lulu B's. I loved it. I had the grilled pork sandwich, and it was fresh, tasty, and delightful. The bread and meat were warm and a nice contrast to the cool, crisp veggies. My only mistake was using too much rooster sauce on my first few bites. SO SPICY! But, that was my bad.
The sandwich was heavenly. I'll be back for more.
Also, I enjoyed eating under the shade of the big oak tree. Even on a smokin' hot day like today, it was pleasant under the tree, with a breeze blowing, and lots of shade.
Great prices, too. $4.50 for a good sized sandwich! Cheapest GOOD lunch I've had in a long time.
I had the lemon grass tofu sandwich and my friend had the pork vermicelli bowl. I had the iced chrysanthemum tea and my friend had the avocado shake. My sandwich was REALLY good for being vegetarian. I'm vietnamese and vegetarian and it's just sad for me to get a sad to get a sandwich with just pickled veggies, butter, and a pepper. Glad that I have a different, very filling option. My friend said hers was pretty good too but she wasn't THAT excited about it. http://www.yelp.com/us...
It was kind of a long wait (in the heat no less) but that's ok, it was worth it. A group of 6 who ordered their food after us got their food before we did! Watching them eat was not fun.
I would come here again, I've recommended it to other friends already.
Oh yah, the prices are definitely on the steep side for Viet food..especially compared to H-town prices, but I haven't found enough Viet places here in Austin to compare flavor+price.
This is a 5-star no-brainer to me.
I've always avoided Vietnamese sandwich shops because the very first one I tried didn't have a vegetarian option. Well this one does and it's DELICIOUS. The lemon grass tofu sandwich was so perfect that I got it 2 days in a row while visiting Austin. All components were mind-blowing in my opinion-- remember to ask them to hold the jalapenos if you don't care for extra spice. Price is great: they're only $4.50 (CASH ONLY) for what I would guess is about a 10" sammich that is very filling. It's right by the Office Depot on Lamar at Oltorf-- we just parked in the O.D. parking lot and walked over no problem. Their hours are a little tricky but go say, between noon and 4 and you should be safe. BTW, my sister's fave non-veggie option is the pork, for all you meat-eaters out there.
I want one. right. now.
Enjoy!
Good tasty sandwiches and noodles dishes. The coffee is excellent, but STAY AWAY from their bubble tea (Tapioca tea). It was horribly water down and disgusting. It might have just been a bad batch, but they were nice enough to refund my money.
My friend, who owns her own trailer eatery, insisted we go to Lulu B's for lunch. She'd heard such great things about their sandwiches. Well, lucky for her and my baby daddy, they got the sandwiches and loved them. Me = not so lucky.
I got the chicken vermicelli bowl and specifically asked for the vegetarian sauce since I hate fish sauce, which it comes with. I poured my presumably veggie sauce all over my dish. Whoops. It was the fish sauce. Too hungry to protest, I dove in anyway and soldiered through the fish taste. Once I got used to that I realized, Man, this dish is pretty darn blah! The chicken was seasoned okay, no complaints there. The noodles were flavorless (not even fishy tasting!) and the cilantro/carrot/lettuce garnish was nice and fresh but plain Jane all the way.
An hour later, I was starving. I went to Thundercloud Subs and satisfied my craving for something flavorful and filling. I would not go back to Lulu B's, but my sandwich-eating pals would, so there you go.
It should never, ever take 30 minutes to get your food from a trailer.
Even if the food is great, and the food at Lulu's really is very good, 30 minutes breaks some sort of street food rule. And there's really only 3 menu items!
I had Vietnamese food for the first time today. No, YOU shut up!!!
It just never even appealed to me before to try. Well that all changed today.
In fact, I'm eating my leftovers in between sentences. So I'll keep this brief.
Grilled Pork Vermicelli Bowl. Six dollars even (be sure you have cash)
Delicious.
The meat is fan-freaking-fastic. I could just eat a bowl of it by itself, and actually I should because March was to be low carbs. Oh well.
The noodles are tasty, and I finally added the sauce that I turned my nose up at while at Lulu B's. It's really good!!!
FYI, to any of the ladies who dig cute, open-toed shoes. You might want to go with enclosed for your visit because you'll be walking through a lot of sand.
In God we trust, all others pay cash!
Remember the old Miller Lite ad with the slogan "If you've got the time, we've got the beer." Well, if you do have the time, stop by Lulu B's and enjoy their tasty and fresh sandwiches. While the food is good, the wait time is ridiculously long during lunch time. Fortunately for Lulu B's, I only write reviews based on the taste and quality of food. I work a few blocks away, so I frequent this trailer eatery at least once a week. The BBQ Pork Vietnamese Sandwich is pretty darned good. The sandwiches are served on fresh French Baguette and the veggies are crisp. For a dollar more, you can add avocado and voila, you have yourself a hearty, filling sandwich. The Vermicelli bowls are pretty good too, I usually get the lemon grass. For 6 bucks, the bowls are a good deal as I get full eating half of the food and saving the rest for later. The sandwiches are 4.5 bucks and it is so worth it to add the avocado for $1 more.
Lookin' Caucasian but keepin' it Asian! That's their theme. So cute. I LOVE this little trailer of goodness. Word of mouth led me here, but I've only ever had friends pick it up for me.
I'm not giving it 5 stars only because they close at 6pm and I can't seem to get over there for dinner when I get a hankerin'! But the food is phenomenal! I want them noooow!
I've only ever had the Lemongrass Tofu Vermicelli bowl and the shrimp spring rolls...or summer rolls...whatever they're calling them, but I crave it constantly. Sigh.
One of my favorite lunch spots in town, but I advise calling in your order on the way there, and going when it's not the lunch rush, because it can get pretty busy and they're not fast food. The lemongrass chicken is phenomenal.
I'm sorry to say I had a VERY BAD experience at this establishment. It pains me to have to write a negative review, but after several instances of terrible service I have to.
While the food is good, the people serving the food are scattered, disorganized, and unprofessional.
There are plenty of other local Austin restaurants that work hard to keep their patrons happy and I would recommend supporting them - not Lulu B's.
Lulu B's is an Austin-ized version fast Vietnamese food. They located in a small trailer between office depot and some tire shop. I want to like Lulu B's but they pale in comparison to other Vietnamese sandwich places in Austin.
The selling point for Vietnamese sandwiches is a low price and a good flavor. Their price is low compared to any run of the mill sandwich joint but is kind of high for a banh mi. I'm guessing this is because they use all recyclable containers for their food and because they're one of the only Viet sandwich place in south Austin. As for taste, the sandwich is good but not any better than a Vietnamese sandwich from elsewhere. I've never had their vermicelli bowl but I've heard mixed reviews on those too. I have had their boba drink which I thought was overpriced and only ok.
Maybe it's because I'm a cheapskate that the price of Lulu B's menu items hinder my true enjoyment of their food. I'd definitely hit up Lulu B's for a quick fix but I'm willing to drive farther for a better sandwich.
DO NOT
Place a pick-up order and arrive 10 minutes late. Once back to the office, I dug into my chilled grilled pork bun and was quickly disappointed. I will come out and say it was my fault being late, but in the span of 15 minutes my noodles turned into a heap of cold mush. As I am typing this review, I am holding in a case of the runs that has quickly developed since I began eating my bun. DO NOT WANT!
i'm not sure i can offer up anything you don't already know about lulu b's. all the rave reviews… Read more »
I'd been waiting to check out this stand for a while. I'd heard really good things about vietnamese sandwiches and this seemed like the place that everyone liked!
The reason it took me so long to get there was the inconvenient hours. Closing at 4 on the weekdays?! What about the people who work and can't get there until after! The latest they stay open is until 6 on Saturdays which is barely hitting dinner time!
Otherwise, I got the lemongrass pork sandwich which was pretty good. Top it with some Sriracha sauce and it's awesome.
My friend said that there are better vietnamese sandwiches in Austin... so I guess we'll just have to wait and see!
After reading an article about Vietnamese Sandwiches in "The Chronicle" I thought they sounded good & I'd give them a shot. I tried my first at Lux Bakery on William Cannon (I work close to there) & it was so so. Then today I was driving down S. Lamar & spotted the trailer. Since these trailer eateries are now the big thing with the "Foodies" I figured it might be good (besides I was hungry).
I decided on the Lemon Grass Chicken Sandwich. After a short wait my sandwich was ready. The first thing I noticed was the sandwich was bigger than the one at Lux & it had more meat & veggies too. I dabbed a little hot sauce on it (a little goes a long way) & dug in. The ingredients were very fresh. I could taste the lemon grass marinade, the bread was soft & crunchy at the same time & the carrots & cucumber topped it off. it was the best sandwich I've had in a long time & i can't quit thinking about how good it was. The only down side is they offer no sides. Chips would be a great addition.
I haven't had there Pho but I plan on it next time. I understand it gets busy at lunch so go before 12 or after 1:30 but don't wait too long. They close at 4pm.
I highly recommend this place to others & I plan on going there when I'm in the neighborhood.
It's not bad. The sandwiches are quite good, not the best vietnamese sandwiches I've ever had but still very good, especially for the price.
The wait, on the other hand, is a pain in the ass. I called at 12:00 to place an order and they told me it would be ready at 12:20. Okay, fine. I showed up at 12:20 and it took forever to clear out the 3 people in front of me in line. At 12:50 I got my sandwiches. 50 minutes for two sandwiches is insane.
I'd like to think that was a mistake or an anomaly so I'll give them another chance, but if my experience is the same next time I probably won't be returning.
I like this place, in fact, living in S. Austin, it's tough to grab a Vietnamese sandwich and spring rolls conveniently. I don't know why most people have an issue with eating from a trailer (get over yourselves), but the location makes me like the place even more.
BBQ Pork sandwiches are good, shrimp spring rolls are better (I wonder if they can make a shrimp/pork spring roll, better ask next time!). Not a big fan of their fish sauce (mom has spoiled me) but their hoisin is tasty and spicy.
Next time you go, tell them Hau sent you.
Kidding, they'll probably just stare at you and make you wait longer.
First, unless you have time and patience, call in and place your order. It's a trailer not a fancy kitchen.
Second, this place is pretty good. I had the spring rolls and pork sandwich and I had no compliants. My friend had the lemongrass pork vermicelli bowl and she said it was delicious.
I'd frequest this place more often, if it was more conveniently located and in a real store.
Vietnamese sandwich plus trailer plus yummy fruit drink plus avocado roll = true love, even in 100 degree heat. I chomped a tangy Lemongrass pork sandwich, sampled its equally tasty-sweet Chinese BBQ cousin, nibbled a freshly made "summer" (or spring, as most call it) roll stuffed with avocado, veggies and rice noodles, then slurp-tested a pineapple smoothie. And it was all super-rad -- or awesome, as some might say. The vinegar and sugar marinated carrots on both the sandwich and in the rolls were an excellent touch.
Note: Cash only, suckas. There's a porta potty (but if you don't like it, you could probably use Office Depot's facilities next door).
OK, let's get the obvious out of the way first: This place is not indoors. It's Austin. It's summertime. It's HOT out here, people.
Lulu (or whomever parked this trailer) was pretty smart, though. It's next to some large shade trees, and I noticed minimal insect life angling for bites (of us or our food). We parked at the Office Depot next door, but there are a few spots in the dirt next to the dining area.
The less obvious:
The food is good! I know Austin is on a trailer kick lately, but that doesn't mean everything that comes out of a mobile kitchen is bound to be tasty, and often it isn't. Not the case here.
My lemongrass tofu sandwich ($4.50) was big, spicy (fresh jalapeno slices helped) and had an appreciable tang from the carrots, lemongrass and other fresh veggies.
It's hard to please me with tofu texture, but Lulu's done it. Just springy enough without being chewy or crunchy on the outside, each bite full of flavor, it works great in a sandwich.
The Vietnamese iced coffee wasn't too spectacular, and the busy guy operating the register and serving the drinks didn't remember to make it for a good while after the guy who ordered after me had his more complicated drink (an avocado smoothie, which looked pretty cool).
All in all, it was a fun experience eating and chatting with half a dozen sweaty Yelpers over cool drinks and spicy dishes (the others were split between beef and pork preparations, as I was the only vegetarian) as an occasional breeze blew off South Lamar.
If I'm down south-ways in good weather, I'll definitely stop by again.
Here's the thing: these sandwiches are AMAZING.... if you can get them. Never before have I felt like I was in a tumultuous relationship with a sandwich that, for the most part, is playing hard to get. I have been to Lulu B's several times and have a 50/50 chance of getting what I ordered 1. at all (sometimes they're out) or 2. within the hour (it's a cart for crying out loud... cart = quick, right? no). I've tried calling ahead to avoid the wait but they don't answer the phone. I've tried going to the window, hint to Lulu B's: you can have ONE person help your customer while the other puts lids on the to go ramekins, you don't need two people for that job while customers are waiting in the window... just a thought. But it always ends up the same, me really really just wanting a sandwich and probably not getting it.
I REALLY REALLY do love the food here and would like to see the place succeed, I think that they could go the way of Torchy's Tacos and have several stands as well as a brick and mortar as long as they can figure out how to become more efficient.
go here! it's soo good.
i've been coming here since they first opened. i take my out of town visitors here and often recommend this place to anyone i make lunch dates with.
everything is fresh and made to order- there's often a wait, but it's well worth it.
my basic order:
lemon grass pork sandwich
avocado smoothie w/ pearls - sounds yuck, but do try! trust me!
my bf prefers the bbq pork, and my kiddies always order the noodle bowls.
i have never been disappointed and wish that they stayed open later, and were open everyday.
also, i appreciate that they use eco-friendly food containers and use ingredients like fair trade sugar.
Third trip and its time to give these guys a review!
Ok, so I've had two of the sandwiches and I gotta say that they are one hell of a tasty sandwich. I had the pork lemongrass and the chicken and everything was really fresh tasting and had just the right amount of spice to it. The Vermicelli bowl was good, but I think there are some places that do it better (Kim Phung, Hai Ky). But , all in all this place is gonna keep me coming back for some sweet sweet sandwiches.
Just remember to bring some $ cause they don't take plastic.
Their avocado Summer roll is awesome. It's perfect for a summer lunch. Also, I really dig on their chinese barbecue sandwich. Everytime that I have been there, the produce and the bread has been fresh and this place is cheap. $4.50 for a sandwich that for some people could be two meals. Yes, really. And, they are a cash business so, bring it.
Lulu. Lulu, Lulu, Lulu. Lulu B.'s, where you been all my life? Will I ever be the same now that I know of your luscious banh mis, your summer rolls, your bubble tea?
Well, to be fair, the bubble tea wasn't all that. It was warm and sort of blah. Not enough ice. Not a bargain at $3.50.
But that's okay, because I know better now. Next time I go (and there will be a next time, oh yes) I'll focus on the:
Avocado summer roll. You can feel the good health fairly burble out of this concoction of avocado, cucumber, vermicelli, lettuce, mint, basil, and cilantro. It's a dish I feel like my doctor would approve of.
Lemongrass pork banh mi. Served on a light and satisfyingly crispy baguette, the pork itself was very well-flavored and it was _real_ - there was even some pork fat attached to some of the chunks. In addition to the meat, vegetables, and peppers, there was a suggestion of a wee bit of mayonnaise across the top. Sent a good sandwich into Wowsville.
Yep, it's hot. It's cash-only. The tables are rickety. The passing busses are loud. And it's worth it.
Super cute, chill little lunch spot! I can easily see becoming a regular here, especially as it's just down the street. My fiance and I showed up a little after 1pm, so I think we missed the lunch rush, meaning it was a very short wait for our food, but also that they were out of smoothies.
I had the lemongrass chicken banh mi, and it was awesome. I forced my fiance to have a bite early on, because I knew I would destroy it in no time, and I did. Within five minutes all that remained of that poor sandwich were a few sad assorted crumbs. He had the grilled pork vermicelli bowl, which was also very good, with lots of noodles and fresh veggies, and fish sauce served on the side. The leftovers weren't bad either.
I also had the green bubble tea, and it was refreshing and slightly sweet. I just love chewing the hell out of the bubbles. The next time I go I plan on adding them to the smoothie (if I don't get there too late).
Lulu B's is like a Vietnamese version of P Terry': the menu is limited but it's local, fresh, affordable and simply delicious. And although seating is limited to the great outdoors the tables are spread along a large grassy patch under the shading of a humongous tree so that you hardly realize your basically eating at a busy bus stop...that is until the bus pulls up and the transferring riders get off and stare at you while you munch your sandwich.
I tried the Lemongrass Pork Vietnamese Sandwich and enjoyed every bite of it. I had no idea it was going to be spicy, but the surprise was a welcome one. I'll definitely be back to work my way through the menu.
p.s. How have the developers not gobbled up this tasty little bit of land on such a busy intersection?! Knock on wood.
What can I not like about cheap Banh Mi served out of a trailer under a huge Live Oak Tree that allows my butt sniffer?
I would have never tried a Vietnamese Tofu sandwich on my own. But, my friend made me do it. And it was so good I don't know who/what I wanted to make out with more - her or my sandwich... The sandwich includes lemongrass and avocado two of my favorite ingredients.
Today I stopped in for a summer roll and a Vietnamese iced coffee to refuel after a hike. The strong coffee with sweetened condensed milk was excellent and the summer roll was pretty darn good - just not as make-out worthy as the Vietnamese Tofu Sandwich or my Friend for recommending this place.
Oh, and the sisters that run this place are adorable.
Standing outside the trailer at Lulu B's one Saturday afternoon and staring at their menu hung on the side of a tree, I began to ponder one of life's greatest mysteries:
What is the difference between a Summer Roll and a Spring Roll? Are Vietnamese rolls seasonal and should I look out for a Fall and Winter roll, too?
Who cares! The food here is damn tasty. I ventured outside the Bun box and ordered up a Vietnamese Sammie replete with Chinese BBQ pork. $4.50 for a sandwich bigger and tastier than your standard American sub, I fell in love. The shredded carrot and sliced cucumber on the inside gave the sandwich a nice crunch. And the thin slices of jalapeño added an unexpected but sexy kick. Sssshh, don't tell Rezrie L, but Anna's Lemongrass Pork was best sandwich of all, mine was a close second.
I recommend the Chrysanthemum tea, it was cool and sweet on this hot summer day. But come bearing cash, folks, or else you'll have to perform round two of "watch me mooch off my friends".
Cute Vietnamese sandwiches served from my favorite form of transportation. These ladies serve up some tasty sandwiches including a tofu Lemongrass sandwich - good & cheap - plus, plus.
And... avocado smoothie.. hmm.. it was good - tasted like avocado all smoothed up. Interesting.. Not sure if I'd order it again - I love avocados but this may be too thick for me. Suggest you try though if you like avo. I'm anxious to try more of their fresh smoothies cuz a sanwich, fresh refreshin' smoothie, cozy tree = good times.
All in all - its fresh food out of super clean trailer. The lady - I'm assuming an owner came out to have a long convo with me & chubs about her place - and offered us some spring rolls. She was super cute and that is a quality I give high praise for. Like a good Austinite I love the locals .. will be back.
Love the concept, the food and the nice girls working in the trailer. I'm limited in my experience with Vietnamese food, but after having a few things at Luly B's I'm motivated to start exploring the cuisine.
The chicken sandwich was my favorite, followed closely by the BBQ pork. Yum and yum.
Minus one star for the loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong wait. Adding that one star back in because they are a great addition to the 'hood and deliciousness takes time to create.
Know what to expect --
*Closes at 6:00pm: Shhh... I had to leave work a little early to get there in time. When I arrived, a little sign said...
*Cash Only: Aww, hell (I should have known better. Trailer, duh)... Let's see, I have 15 minutes left on the clock, and more people just pulled up... what do I do? I ran into the Office Depot, bought a Coke, swiped my ATM card, pressed "cash back". Ohh yay, now back to the mission...
*Sandwiches: chicken or pork (grilled, chinese bbq, lemongrass) vegetarian options (tofu or avocado). My fav - pork lemongrass did not disappoint. very yummy.
*Rest of Menu: vermicelli bowls, summer rolls w/ 2 sauces (fish & peanut), bubble teas, shakes.
Bonus: The styrofoam looking containers are actually made out of paper. Friendly family run business - mother and her 2 daughters all working together in a cute trailer. Made to order summer rolls! (It's fresh, soft, and not rubbery.) When I placed my order, they were out of the pork lemongrass. But then after seeing my disappointment, suggested that they'd make more if I'm willing to wait. Yes. Such excellent service!
Minus star for not having Vietnamese Ham & Pate sandwich (which is what I automatically assume when someone says Banh Mi.)
i use to live write across the street from these guys and i was addicted. Their sandwich's and the best. So are the Spring rolls. My favorite was the BBQ pork sandwich with the tofu spring rolls. they have really good ice coffee too... the only problem is that they only take cash but you can just stop off at office depot and get cash back. If i still lived in Texas i would still be going there. i miss you lulu B's
Austin, TX
Category: Delis
Austin, TX
Category: Vietnamese
Austin, TX
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: 78704 (South Austin)
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: 78704 (South Austin)
Category: Burgers
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