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Zenwich
Categories: Restaurants Sandwiches Restaurants Asian Fusion Sandwiches, Asian Fusion [Edit]
416 N York StSte B
Elmhurst, IL 60126
(630) 359-5234
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 8 pm
Sat 12 pm - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
127 reviews for Zenwich
Review Highlights
"Crab Cake Sandwich is absolutely divine."
(in 38 reviews)
"The caramelized pork sandwich is the BOMB."
(in 13 reviews)
"I was adventurous and tried the Mu Ping and loved it."
(in 45 reviews)
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127 reviews in English
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Review from Andrew C.
12/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I am of the opinion that "fusion food" often means they do each genre half-right. Zenwich is making me eat my words and opinions about that matter.
Finding this place amongst a sea of suburban high salt, carnival food was a miracle. The lone search result on Yelp with 5 stars that wasn't a friggan TGI Fridays.
What you need to know about Zenwich is that it's horribly mis-located, or maybe it's wonderfully mis-located. This is the kind of sandwich shop that you typically find in neighborhoods where it's hard to find parking. Instead, it's in Elmhurst. Plenty of parking and plenty of crappy food options that make this place shine even brighter than it already does.
This is a real owner-in-the-kitchen kind of place. They mix up some kind of Asian cuisine with sandwiches and they do this with the perfection of a thousand beautiful nude women. I'm really just grasping at descriptions by now, can't you tell?
I recommend the crab cake sandwich for your first visit. If you're not into shellfish, try the Chicken Katsu or perhaps the Mu Ping. Bring a friend, order two different sandwiches and split the halves. Then come back and do it again. Get a Stewart's root beer, too. And when it comes to sides, I think they serve the best house made potato chips I've ever had in my life. The wasabi slaw is also very good, as is the ginger slaw.
As you can see, I made my way through the menu over a few different days. Come here if you're out here in the burbs and crave something that doesn't taste as processed as your normal burb options. The food in here would stand up even in the more populated cool areas of town. Perhaps come here at 11am or 1pm, though. It gets packed at noon.Listed in: Chicagoland
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Review from Phillip C.
Schaumburg, IL
So I always end up buying a bunch of Groupons and other online deals, then end up using them right before they expire. Well thanks to my handy Google Calendar, I never forget... after a few missed deals.
Zenwich was next up and I'm glad I gave this place a try. I picked a winner of a sandwich, the Mu Ping. The place is small, with minimal seating, so I was sitting there staring at a picture of the Crab Cake (aka Crabby Yo!a) and was wishing I got that instead. But once I bit into my Mu Ping, I was happy. So they do asian fusion, which works pretty well for this Thai sandwich. You got a soft toasty ciabatta roll, two slabs of caramelized pork, a pickly daikon & carrot slaw, cucumbers, red onions, jalapenos, and sweet & sour mayo. Add lots of cilantro and you have one tasty sandwich.
All their sandwiches come with a side and I highly recommend the homemade seasoned chips. The chips are crisp and generously dusted in a sweet and slightly spicy seasoning. If they sold them by the bag, I'd definitely buy some.
I'll definitely be back to try their other sandwiches. -
Review from Dave P.
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love this place. I love when restaurants put a spin on food, and Zenwich does just that. Some people may say a sandwich shop with some asian-inspired ingredients sounds a bit weird, but i'm convinced this place would change their minds.
Best sandwich on the menu hands-down is the crab cake sandwich! Panko crusted crab cakes, baby greens topped with garlic sauce? Yum. I think the bread they use is just perfect, toasted ciabatta. Don't pass up the chips either! -
Review from Sarah S.
I went here for lunch with a friend yesterday and Zenwich is a great little fusion sandwich spot. It's a small location with not many tables. Staff is very friendly and food is good.
Their chips are amazing! They are seasoned really well and can be the side for any of the sandwiches. I'm glad I went with the chips as they are real winners! They have good seasoning on them which some may find spicy (my poor weak taste buds!). I got the buffalo chicken sandwich which was very good. The chicken in the sandwich was moist and tasty, all in all good flavor but I wasn't blown away. I always thought the prices were a bit high as I paid $10 for a drink, sandwich and chips.
Next time (and there will be a next time!), I'm going to venture out in the world of Zenwiches and be a bit more daring! -
Review from Victoria H.
Lombard, IL
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've never been so excited about a sandwich reward card in my life! I'll say no more.
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Review from Ken N.
Glendale Heights, IL
2/8/2012
What a great little place with awesome food !!!! I had the daily special which was delicious and the wife had the crabby cake sandwich. We ended up eating half of each others because they were that good. It is great to see a small business put in the work to be a great place. Even the young girl behind the counter took the time to explain the menu. Something you don't see in some large restaurants. I wish them the best of luck in business but I don't think they will need it, they seem to get it. If you plan on dinning in be prepared to rub elbows, it is a cozy (small) little dining area. We will be back !!!
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Review from Gana R.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2012
Definitely the most interesting sandwich I've had in a while. As someone who frequents sandwich spots for lunch (Which Wich, Jimmy Johns, and even the occasional Subway), it's safe to say that I was getting bored of sandwiches. Each one is slightly different but nothing revolutionary. That is until I tried Zenwich. I ordered the Tofu Satay sandwich and was pleasantly surprised. Everything was cooked fresh, it was loaded with veggies, and it tasted great! Finally a change to the boring sandwich! Its entirely unique menu is a very refreshing change. Also - give the home made toffee a try. It was delicious.
I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Katie L.
Glendale Heights, IL
12/8/2011
Tasty! I've only been there like twice, but I really liked it both times. I had the Mu Ping sandwich and it was really good. They did a really nice job of grilling the meat and the roll was soft enough to bite through, but not too soft as to fall apart easily. I had the cucumber salad as my side, which was good but not my favorite. It had a sweet dressing, and I'm just not a fan of sweet dressings. Also had the soup of the day, which was a pork miso soup. Delicious!
The restaurant itself is very cute. Love the lime green walls! It is very small, so if you dine in be prepared to bump elbows. -
Review from Kedar D.
10/29/2011
A restaurant like this would have been unimaginable in the Chicago suburbs as recently as three or four years ago, and I applaud Zenwich for bucking Chicago proper and heading into new terrain.
As an unusual sandwich shop serving Asian standards put to buns and rolls, I also appreciate that they serve unusual food.
A few sandwiches on the menu can be made vegan (the staff is knowledgeable about what's what) and so I ordered a "tofu satay" sandwich ($8) which came with a side of home-made kettle chips.
The sandwich was fairly tasty, but a tad on the sweet side (satay is tricky to do well). I also wish they'd had a vegan wholewheat bread option, as their white flour bread was both un-tasty and unhealthy.
The kettle chips sounded good in theory, but they were way too soft and almost chewy. I don't know if they'd gotten soft after sitting out too long, or if they just needed to be fried longer, but a chewy, soft potato chip is not appealing in any way.
All in all, Zenwich is an interesting concept sandwich shop in the west suburbs; if it had more vegan options (how about something with seitan or tempeh?) and wholewheat bread (or even spelt or teff or any wholegrain) I'd be back often. -
Review from Nick A.
Columbia, MO
10/3/2011
I don't know what it is, but every time I come here, it gets better.
Let me break down Zenwich into two parts, as well as some optional third and forth parts.
1.) The Sandwich,
Unless anaphylactic shock occurs when you are in the presence of crab, you are getting the crab cake. I'm making it easy for you, just order it. If you don't like crab cakes, that is perfectly fine, you are still ordering the crab cake. If for some reason you don't want to take give into my headstrong advice, go for the Mu Ping.
2.) The Chips
This is the side you are getting. I'm not trying to control you, but you can't get chips like this anywhere else. All the other sides are a dime a dozen, but the homemade chips are a special experience. The thin sliced chips are sweet and spicy and have a great crunch.
Optional 3.) Cucumber Salad
It's pretty great. Sweet, refreshing and spicy. Hearty pieces of cucumber with thin onions and chucks of fresh jalapenos make this a good compliment to your crab cake sandwich and chips
Optional 4.) Dining In
Not necessary, but it's nice to have everything hot and fresh. The seating is limited but its a nice little place. The dude that is always there, probably the owner is super nice. The green walls are cool. Use your resources and look at the user posted photos on this site to see what the inside looks like for yourself. Or better yet, visit Zenwich right now! Also they also have Chicago Magazine which my girlfriend likes to read and I like to look at the photography. -
Review from Tim P.
Chicago, IL
10/20/2011
Typically when it comes to fusion you get two sub par cultural offerings combining to make something that hopes to be more than the sum of its parts.
Zenwich does it right though. All the Asian dishes that are in the sandwiches would stand on their own without the fusion. The curry beef/chicken, bulgogi, crab cakes, satay, and katsu are all legit delicious.
The bread they use is Ciabatta, which does its job very well in maintaining the structural integrity of the sandwich. This is a very important and often overlooked aspect of a good sandwich. If you order the curry sandwich, you will be impressed by how well the bread holds up to a dish that is saucy by nature (not cause I hate 'cha!). The bread also has enough give so that if you were to bite into it, it won't squeeze all the ingredients out the back. Also very important. I hate it when I bite into a delicious sandwich/burger only to have my meats and cheeses blow a raspberry out the backside.
Through the successful combination of stand alone quality ingredients, and sandwich ergonomics, Zenwich has indeed created an offering that is greater than the sum of its parts. Just remember to order ahead of time, or be prepared to wait a bit. The sandwiches are all made fresh to order so it takes a bit (approx 10min) to cook it all. This is the only knock I can think of against this delightful restaurant.
TL;DR Zenwich = Gotenks. -
Review from Ross O.
Chicago, IL
9/27/2011
They make the sort of sandwiches you only wish you could make.
Think of a really great tasting sandwich in your head. Got it? Ok, that's what they serve here. -
Review from Aimee M.
Updated - 8/17/2011
Upgrade to 5 stars!
They deliver! I called to confirm whether or not they could deliver to the next town over and the woman who answered the phone checked with their manager and lo and behold, they said they could do it--Yeah!!! PERFECT!
And the meal was perfect. Despite delivery, the soup was HOT, sandwich in great condition (not soggy) and everything was in place, no errors in my order. AND, they were able to add my beverage--Thai Iced Tea. I cannot praise them any higher--little do they know that I had some major cravings for Zenwich during the last month of my pregnancy and was in no condition to do any driving. Zenwich delivery to the rescue!
My favorite is still the Pork Katsu--nice crispy coated pork, crunchy slaw, topped with a tangy sauce on soft/chewy ciabatta bread. My second favorite would have to be the Bulgogi sandwich--tender marinated beef YUM! I love how each sammie gets a small side order of salad (cucumber for me!). The flavors of these Asian-inspired sandwiches really stand out and Zenwich has easily become a favorite.Listed in: Asian Flair, Elmhurst-ing
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/15/2010
Wanted to find a new spot for lunch that would have some interesting items on the menu to… Read more »
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Review from Ryan G.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2011
Searched for lunch places near my work and Zenwich was at the top of the list (probably because of all the good reviews); so I decided to give it a shot.
As recommended by the masses I ordered a crab-cake sandwich. Fearing that the portion wouldn't be big enough to suit my big self I ordered the soba noodle salad too.
The crab cake sandwich was amazing. Flipping delicious. The salad was tasty, but not my bag of potato chips. The homemade chips by the way were also good.
Will come back for more. -
Review from Mary T.
Chicago, IL
10/4/2011
I visited Zenwich a couple weeks ago with some friends. From what I had heard, the sandwiches were delicious. This was helpful, because looking at the menu, it was... I'd say... a little intimidating.
While I had heard rave reviews on the "Mu Ping" (Porky Pete) and the Crab Cake Sandwich, I went for the Wasabi Roast Beef. The sandwich included roast beed, lettuce, red onion, tomato, and giardiniera with wasabi sauce served on a french roll. It also came with Japanese Mayo, which I opted out of... (Im just not a mayo fan) As you can imagine, my mouth was on fire, but this was one of the most delicious sandwiches I have ever enjoyed!!
I would definitely recommend this place to the sandwich lover as well as the non-sandwich lover because this is not your typical sandwich place!
It's not a real big place, maybe room for 15-20 people max at like 4 or 5 tables.
I can't wait for my next Zenwich! -
Review from Tina T.
7/19/2011
I'm not normally much of a sandwich eater, which probably explains why it has taken so long for me to try Zenwich, even though I live in Elmhurst. With all the raves I've heard, I decided it was high time to stop there.
I highly recommend Zenwich - they are an interesting and delicious alternative to the boring sandwich. No blah-ness here - their sandwiches blend unique Asian ingredients, spicy tastes, and bread together.
What's cool is that a vegetarian is happily at home here as well as the carnivore. They've got plenty of tofu entrees, a crab cake sandwich for fish eaters, salads, and a daily soup. I had the veggie tempura teriyaki - since I'm not much of a bread person I simply ate the veggies off the bread for a delicious meal.
They also have a tofu ping (special) and a mu ping on the menu and these were absolutely delish, with a burst of flavors.
Their prices are great. Not much ambience as it's in a strip mall. Great for takeout as well. -
Review from Victoria H.
Arlington Heights, IL
9/20/2011
I love me some Zenwich!
Bored of your everyday sandwich? Twist it up with a lil Asian influenced sandwich, or should I say zenwich? I usually go with the crabcake or spicy garlic shrimp (on weekends), but I've tried others and they are all good. You can't go wrong with what you order here. Tons of flavor & the staff is super friendly. Also, to top it off, there's flavored homemade toffee (lavender, ginger, espresso, wasabi, etc.) to purchase! Zenwich is zenlicious! :) -
Review from Jason B.
Villa Park, IL
12/6/2011
These guys catered a lunch event at my work a few weeks back and it was delicious so I decided to stop in on my own for lunch. The shop is in a crummy strip mall with a tutoring center, dance studio, pizza place, etc... which isn't the most inviting spot. There was plenty of parking, since a lot of the other businesses don't seem highly trafficed, especially during the day.
The place was busy (which was a good start) but my sandwich was still served to me promptly. Less than 10 minutes from when I ordered until it made it out to me. I had the crab cake which was FANTASTIC and the seasoned chips were very good as well. I had the Wasabi Roast Beef during our work lunch which was also very good.
For less than $10 including a drink, which is what I would expect to spend at the Panera Bread a couple blocks away or at something similar, Zenwich really delivered. The flavor is excellent and everything balances itself out in the sandwich so that you don't have one particular flavor overpowering everything else. Definately a step above what you'll get a chain place or even a diner-type place in the same price range.
It looked like I wasn't the only person dining in the restaurant for the first time as a lot of people had that disoriented look that people get when they don't know the menu or what comes with what, while we were waiting in line. With some of the non-traditional stuff on the menu some more basic descriptions of the sandwiches might be in order so that new diners aren't intimidated into getting something ordinary instead of one of their more creative options. Also, Zenwich could do a bit of a better job on letting people know what items come with sides vs. what ones don't.
All in all, great spot for an inexpensive lunch and the quality is off the charts. -
Review from Rick C.
Prospect Heights, IL
8/22/2011
what can i say....
Star,Star,Star,Star,Star
please, open more locations!!! -
Review from Phil S.
8/20/2011
A friend took us here for lunch today and I was very pleasantly surprised! I had been hoping for a casual trendy Asian fusion type of lunch place in my area and I have finally found it.
We started out with the Zen salad which was fresh and all the ingredients complimented each other well. We ordered the Mu Ping, Crab Cake and Garlic Shrimp (a weekly special not on the regular menu) sandwiches with Watercresss Salad, Wasabi Slaw and the homemade chips as our sides. All the sandwiches had both obvious as well as subtle Asian fusion flavors and they complimented each other very well, a trait that was a constant and surprisingly well done character of all the dishes we tried.
Out of the the three sandwiches we tried I really like the Mu Ping sandwich as I am a huge fan of Viet banh mi sandwiches and the Mu Ping was a delightful twist on an all time favorite treat. The crab cake contains half imitation crab meat and real crab meat. At just under $8 for the crab cake sandwich it was delicious and the portion size was generous. The shrimp sandwich was good but predictable in taste so it didn't stand out so much.
The watercress salad we tried was extremely bitter and I was told by my friend that it wasn't usually so strong. I don't really care for bitter flavors especially when they are overpowering so I passed on the salad for the rest of the meal. The homemade chips were pretty standard as far as homemade chips go but again the Asian twist with the seasoning are really what brought an other wise done-to-death dish alive. The star of the sides we tried was the wasabi slaw because the flavor so beautifully complimented the fried ingredients in the sandwiches we ordered by freshening the palate in a perfectly Asian way. I highly suggest the wasabi slaw as a side.
For dessert we tried the lavender toffee and chili chocolate toffee. The hint of chili in the chocolate toffee was a perfect twist and brought our meal to a grin filled end.
Although the place is tiny and seating is compact and limited I had to give this place the full 5 stars. It's about time someone brought another creative Asian eatery to Chicagoland. Any other city such as Atlanta, New York or L.A. has so many different exquisite Asian places to choose from but Chicago has been quite the snooze fest for a long while. Sushi restaurants infused with French influences then calling themselves "bistro" have been copied and then copied again. I would highly recommend this joint if you are looking for fresh new flavors coming surprisingly familiar ingredients. -
Review from Drew T.
Roselle, IL
6/5/2011
*How I Tried It * Coupons are always best when they include some restaurants, but a local sandwich shop was even more enticing. One of them featured Zenwich, whose prices and premium-ingredient quality are in line with Panera's.
*Sandwiches* So exotic and delicious! (That's the best summary I could develop.) I had a barbeque tofu on my first visit and a spicy shrimp on my second; the first made me believe that tofu really can be a substitute for meat while the second, shrimp-filled sandwich was mind-blowing. I honestly didn't know shrimp could be IN a sandwich, which included a spicy, thousand-island-ish sauce... I'll definitely have it again.
*Sides* They reportedly have great home-made chips, but I got the very good coleslaw instead. It's not machine-made and uniform; instead, the pieces vary ever-so-slightly in size for a very genuine cole slaw you would make at home. They have a few flavors too (how cool!), so I got the ginger both times only because it was so tasty.
*Soups* To use my entire Groupon, I added soups to both my visits. I can't remember the names at all, but they were as homemade as you can get and pretty good. Salt is on the low side, but that's refreshing since most places saturate their goods with sodium.
*Final Thoughts* I go here around 4:00PM since that's the time of day I pass by, so my orders where ready on-time and nobody was in their shop sitting/waiting. I read some reviews that aren't happy with the small size of Zenwich or the wait times. This isn't Subway; plan ahead and order by telephone... Go just for the food and you'll wonder why more of these places don't exist. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Schaumburg, IL
8/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I totally love this place. I love how they give you a free choice of side with your sandwich and l adore all the fresh, yummy flavors. When I am in the area I always have to stop in here for a sandwich, get the Mu Ping you will not regret it. I have always had the chips as my side and they are quite yummy.
The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because the last time I was there I wanted to try one of the coleslaws and they were out of both and usually the pork in my sandwich is slightly overcooked.
I will definitely be back. -
Review from Adoley J.
10/14/2011
After hearing nothing but rave reviews about Zenwich I decided to head over today. I got the crab cake and it was as delicious as everyone said it would be. The crab cake was crunchy and fresh. I loved the mayo that they add. It adds so much flavor to the crab without distracting from the meat. Now that I am volunteering in Elmhurst I cannot wait to come back here and try other sandwiches. Trust all the rave reviews and head to Zenwich!
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Review from Jelena Z.
4/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Please don't think I'm a b*tch for not being at zen with the 'wich.
To be fair, I ordered not with my tastes in mind, but with portability being the first and foremost factor. Why? I needed to make my sandwich hostage to an anxiously awaiting Saab with hopes of beating rush hour traffic.
As others mention, the menu certainly boasts a flair for the dramatic. Far East proteins and veggies (think pork, crab, tofu, pickled carrot and daikon) meet American's need for slather-worthy accoutrements (homemade peanut sauce, wasabi-infused teriyaki and Japanese curry gravy to name a few). Where does this all happen? On a layover between Japan and the US of A in Italy: The insides of the sandwich sit squarely on a toasted Ciabatta roll of all things. Okay Zenwich, I haven't seen this much creativity since I heard of Gaztro-Wagon's dirty Indian-New England lovechild (that would be a lobster roll on naan bread).
After careful consideration, I decided on a cold sandwich. The Wasabi Roast Beef, stacked with beef, lettuce, red onion, tomato, giardiniera with wasabi sauce and Japanese mayo traveled well and pleased the palate. It may sound strange, but the excessive amount of roast beef (I actually removed some meat) and the "big" bread detracted from the subtle Asian flavors. While I wasn't as impressed as I hoped, I think that the Mu Ping with its grilled caramelized pork, pickled veggies, cucumber, red onion, jalapeno and cilantro with homemade sweet mayonnaise will be more... me!
This Confucianism saying sums it up quite nicely: Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Truth! -
Review from Grace L.
Glenview, IL
4/27/2011
After being here a couple of times (might I mention I can NEVER check in here, there is something area 51 going on with the mapping here), we've been able to try a few of the sammies here. By far the Mu-Ping is the best, most flavorful of them all...so if you need a gateway sammie, that would be it. It's a embodies a great blend of sweet meat and tangy veggies, without being extreme on either end.
The chicken satay was also good, but a less ka-pow of the flavors and more just...pow. You will definitely get the peanutty taste and the good ole tangy veggies that make their appearances on each sandwich, but the flavors are a little muted. (If you don't like jalapenos, don't worry, they aren't too spicy.)
The most muted sandwich would be the wasabi roast beef, and the flavors are so muted, the sandwich was almost bland with a hit of wasabi. But, if you like the wasabi...hey, go for it.
No matter what sandwich we have ordered, the best thing is that each sandwich is made to order, and they taste extremely fresh.
We love this place though, being in a strip mall, small and comfy. There are seats for about 10-12 people total. There are vegetarian options, a daily soup, and bottled drink options available. (canned Thai coffee!) Free wi-fi. The owner is very friendly, helpful, and is always there to help with your order. He gave us a bit of toffee that we found to be amazing and said it will be on the menu soon. We are waiting..... -
Review from Jennifer R.
Franklin Park, IL
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love their pumpkin soup! Their spicy shrimp sandwiches are awesome. The chips are not that great when you order your food to go. Other then that this place rocks my socks!
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Review from Jay N.
Lombard, IL
7/8/2011
The sandwiches and sides are very good. I liked the variety of meats as well as the complementary veggies and dressings for the sandwiches. I had the pork katsu curry sandwich, which is one of my favorite food combinations. There was a good crunch from the panko and mild curry sauce added a nice flavor. The ciabatta bread helped soak up the extra sauce so it didn't spill over. I chose the wasabi slaw which added a nice kick. My sister ordered the chicken satay which was very reminiscent of a Thai appetizer.
My main issue with the place is the place. For sitdown meals, it's a little tight and not exactly comfortable. Although there is a wait for the sandwiches, I would rather take it to go and eat elsewhere. -
Review from Dennis J.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2011
Less than 10 bucks, and just a wonderful selection of varied flavors. No pretense, not much seating, but it feels like the staff is passionate about putting out great sandwiches. We both ended up getting the crab cake sandwich and every part of it was awesome (crab cakes - moist, bread - tasty and not too dense, vegetables - fresh, sauce - perfectly seasoned, chips - celery/ramen flavored and light).
The only flaw is that it's located in Elmhurst. =) But, definitely my go-to place when I'm in that area now.Listed in: Cheap & Wonderful
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Review from Lindsey C.
Chicago, IL
10/15/2011
Absolutely delicious. I think the better sandwiches on the menu are the Korean themed ones. You simply cannot go wrong with a meal from this pace. I always try to order the specials. The Korean BBQ or the shrimp are fantastic. Today I tried the pumpkin soup and it did not disappoint. Different than any other squash soup I've ever had...I *think there was coconut milk in it.
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Review from Dee C.
4/27/2011
I was very pleasantly surprised with this place. Their sandwiches are flavorful and all we paid is the $5 for groupon! My fiance and I both had a groupon each worth $10. We each ordered a sandwich, I had the special which was the tofu ping and he had the tofu satay. I had the cucumber salad for my side and he had the wasabi slaw. We both got thai tea each.
The tofu ping was great! All the vegetables were fresh, the bread was perfect (not to hard or soft), and crispy tofu strip which was a big piece of tofu in the middle and a finish with the homemade sweet mayonnaise. Perfection at its best. The cucumber salad was sweet and fresh and oh so good. Only disappointing this was that I didn't know the thai tea was a can and was not comparable to thai tea we get else where.
The tofu satay had the crispy tofu with fresh vegetables with the homemade peanut sauce. I thought this sandwich was a little two sweet because of the peanut sauce. I didn't try the wasabi slaw since I don't like wasabi.
Overall We just payed for the groupon and nothing on top. What a great meal for total of $10. I would go again even if I didn't have a groupon.
They have free Internet for those who want to work there. The owner was very nice. This place is nice and small and close to home! -
Review from Soyoung P.
Bartlett, IL
4/17/2011
My boyfriend and I LOVE Zenwich!
The owners truly enjoy what they do and it comes across in their food.
All of the sandwiches are awesome, but the mu ping and the crab cake are beyond great. The seasoned chips are the perfect match to these
tasty sandwiches.
My only wish.....I wish it was closer to home. -
Review from Joanne W.
Glen Ellyn, IL
2/9/2011 ROTD 2/20/2011
Yay! I am a fan indeed! I had been itching to try Zenwich for quite some time now so when I received notification that Zenwich was this week's Groupon...I took that as a sign that I needed to get off my booty & high tail it on over to Elmhurst for some sandwich nirvana!
This cute & small (very small) shop is located in a strip mall that you probably have passed a dozen times. While the location might be a bit lackluster, I assure you the food is not. I had the Mu Ping which is grilled caramelized pork, pickled carrot & daikon, cilantro, cucumbers, jalapeno, onion and house made mayo served on a toasty ciabatta roll. Homemade seasoned chips, ginger slaw and a pickle accompanied my porky little number. The chips were quite nice - they were a little sweet and a little spicy and I was glad I ordered an extra bag to snack on later.
The cost for all this deliciousness? $7.50 !!! (minus the extra bag of chips...which are a whopping 2 bucks!) As I said, the place is small...there are a handful of tables at best which wasn't a problem for me as I was ordering to-go. I imagine dining during the week during the lunch time rush would be a bit risky...fair warning.
You might have to wait a little bit for your order which is very clearly stated for you at the counter. Zenwich is NOT fast food, so expect a bit of a wait...it's totally worth it and you will not be disappointed. If you are looking for something new & fresh...look no further!Listed in: Sandwiches
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Review from Derrick T.
Woodridge, IL
5/18/2011
Hidden away in a small strip mall, Zenwich is like a shiny gem in the rough... And without the help of Yelper's, I'm fairly confident this gym would have stayed buried far away from my eyes (or my stomach).
A mid sized menu of Asian influenced sandwiches, I decided my first trip should be focused on what many members have raved about: The Mu Ping (grilled caramelized pork).
Sweet, soft, and tasty, well balanced with the sweet mayo and a small kick of spice from the jalapeno... it was quite a tasty sandwich!
Very friendly service, with the only drawback being just how small the place is making it tough to get a seat during prime hours of the lunch crowd during the week.
Verdict: If you're in the neighborhood, make your way over for a reasonable cost well made sandwich! Worth going back to for me while I still work in the burbs.... once we move to the city, I don't know that the distance is worth it as much. -
Review from Hilary C.
Elmhurst, IL
4/8/2011
This place is great. A surprising find in a strip mall- more like something you'd find in a cool Chicago neighborhood. The caramelized pork sandwich is the BOMB.
And they have free wi-fi :) -
Review from Anna C.
Villa Park, IL
10/6/2011
This place is where you should go for lunch if you are tired of the same old sandwich. Everything on the menu has an Asian flare, cooked in a new and exciting way. I have tried the chicken teriyaki, crab cake, chicken basil (a special not on the regular menu), and the pork katsu. Every sandwich was delicious, but my favorite is the chicken teriyaki. I always get the ginger slaw as my side...crisp and refreshing. They have a soup of the day too. The food is prepared relatively fast if you remember they are making your sandwich fresh and to order.
The only reason that I did not give this place a 5 star rating is because this place is small and located in a strip mall on York Road. I have dined here when all of the seats were taken. You must order, pay, and they will bring out your food to the table. Don't forget to clean up your mess for the next patron. Maybe they will move to a larger location since business is doing so well. The prices are reasonable, and it is an exciting alternative to the regular run of the mill sandwich. -
Review from stacy d.
Elmhurst, IL
3/3/2011
I absolutely love this place. It's my go-to sandwich joint...Don't let the funky strip-mall it's located in turn you off...they have some of the most delicious sandwiches around.
I always get the tofu satay sandwich...and sometimes order extra chips {the best chips on the planet...salty sweet and spicy little chips of joy.}
The owners are always super friendly too... -
Review from Natalia S.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2011
MUST I JUMP ON THE FIVE STAR BANDWAGON FOR THIS PLACE?
i must.
so fresh. so delicious. ahhh everything was wonderful. seriously had the crab cake sandwich with a side of chips and this cucumber salad and it was so perfect. so so so perfect.
nicely priced truly a gourmet sandwich experience. -
Review from Kimberly M.
Oak Lawn, IL
5/10/2011
Funny thing, I use to pass by this place all the time when I would take the side streets to try to avoid some traffic on 290 but I never stopped by. Then, I stumbled on it while looking up some reviews on Yelp! and was amazed that it had some good reviews.
On my way home from a business trip, I stopped by and ordered the Mu Ping, the crabcake and the chicken satay.
My bf and I halved the Mu Ping and Chicken Satay. Mu Ping was delish. It was sweet and tangy in a good way. I also liked the Satay, loved the peanut sauce that came on it. Both were good, but I liked the Mu Ping more. I got an order of cucumber salad and an order of their house chips. The chips were ok. I didn't really like it that much. I loved the cucumber salad, the jalepenos were a nice touch. -
Review from Beth M.
9/8/2011
Don't get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with my sandwhich, three stars means A-Ok. I just thought it was a bit expensive for what you get. I liked it though, and I'll most likely be back to try it again because there's many options. Maybe it's just a little too trendy for my dive-y tastes...
-
Review from Rose D.
11/4/2010 ROTD 7/15/2011
What a unique little sandwich shop! I love sandwiches and I love Asian food so Zenwich is a food marriage made in heaven.
I tried the Chicken Satay sandwich and hubby had the Pork Katsu sandwich. OMG- amazing. I didlike the Katsu a bit more than mine but both were yummy. And get the house made chips- double crunch yum, indeed. Both our sammy's also came with an Asian slaw & a pickle; a nice touch.
The friendly owner was behind the counter and took the time to explain the menu and/or concept to new folks. We were there at lunch time on a Saturday and they were doing quite a brisk amount of business.
The place is small, just a few tables, so you might want to consider getting your order to go if you come at a peak time.
I'm only sad they aren't in our neighborhood so we can't frequent Zenwich more often.Listed in: Sammiches & Dogs
