Nicky’s Vietnamese Sandwich Shop

I think this place is closed again, unless it changed locations and the address on here wasn’t updated. The 150 East 2^nd street location is definitely not open, and hasn’t been for months. I keep trying to go there since it’s not listed as closed on here.
In any case, it was a pretty good bahn mi when it was available. Not spectacular, but pretty good and tasty, and inexpensive. And I loved the location. Nicky’s come back!!!

This is a better bahn mi for the price than a million and one Korean knock offs that serve bulgogi in the bahn mi for twice the price. Solid authentic flavors, always prepared fresh (it’s literally piping hot out of the oven when you get it, handle with care) and is highly satisfying for what you know you’re getting. And, their reduced use of turnip compared to many other bahn mi places means that leftovers in your fridge won’t make all of your food smell terribly. Only a little.

I have never been a huge fan of Vietnamese sandwich, but Nicky’s may have changed that for me. Came here for a quick light dinner, but left extremely satisfied and full! My boyfriend and I split the Chicken Curry over rice ($ 10) and BBQ Duck sandwich ($ 8). The chicken curry is served in a giant round plate full of thick Japanese curry with boned chicken pieces, carrots, and potatoes, and a side of white rice with cilantro on top. The curry was a bit too thick and needed some more spices, but the chicken pieces were very tender.
I definitely preferred the BBQ duck sandwich. The chunks of duck is seasoned perfectly with savory BBQ sauce, and the baguette is hot and toasty. It’s smothered in just the right amount of mayo with cilantro, pickled carrots and cucumber. Such a burst of great flavors in this sandwich!

One could argue that the baguette makes or a break a banh mi sandwich and this place definitely has great bread! Nicky’s is the best place for a cheap and delicious sandwich in an area with a lot of competition just around the corner. This place was originally a Nicky’s but transferred owners and turned into a Vicky’s. Now, Nicky’s is back all newly renovated with super nice owner and staff!

Nicky’s was the Original Bahn Mi joint when I first moved into the hood back in 05.
They always had great sandwiches and friendly service. They expanded their menu through the years. Now with all the competition I would say this place is a 3.5, but they are still reppin the OG status in this area.
Will repeat.

When this place first opened, there pork chop sandwich was delicious! Eventually they started cutting corners by using a microwave to reheat the meat. Terrible idea. The result is a non fresh tasting rubberized version of what use to be amazing.

It was hot, I was hungry looking for a cheap lunch and I stumbled into Nicky’s. Got one of the pork chop sandwiches $ 6. The bread was warm and soft and there was a mayo based spread. I liked it a lot, some places have a harder toasted bread but this was pretty good as well, you can’t beat the price, the place was well air conditioned and clean. The flavors were pretty mild but I was pretty hungry and the BBQ pork with bits of fat tasted great!

NICKY’S IS BACK!
I cried when they had closed down and leapt for joy when they came back 4 months later (must be my magical tears). I love this place. This is so close to my home and they have delicious sandwiches.
If you want to grab a quick bite this is the place for you. They have the classic sandwich, grilled chicken, ground pork, pork chop (all $ 6), and duck ($ 8) banh mis. Their crispy yet soft bread doesn’t scrape my gums like other banh mis do. Legit sriracha bottles on the tables unlike other places that mix it with water! Their chicken is also legit grilled chicken (like the ones you find in Phở restaurants in Chinatown) unlike other restaurants that give you bland boiled chicken (what?!)
The only thing I would add is to skip the bottled Asian tea drinks in their mini-​fridge. They were $ 3 for a bottle, I can get a bottle of those for $ 1 in Chinatown, rip-​off!

Okay so this place reopened recently. They had renovated the place. I heard that it was named Nicky’s and then they changed it to Vicky’s and now back to its original name to Nicky’s. I had the bahn mi’s here before when they still called it Vicky’s. I was sad because I thought they had closed this place down. After the new renovations I decided to come here. Im a little dissapointed because their prices have changed. All the sandwiches are $ 6.
They only make 6 different types of bahn mi’s ranging from the classic (pâté, vietnamese ham and ground roasted pork), grilled chicken, grilled pork, sardines, tofu, and portebello. I had tried their classic, grilled chicken, and grilled pork. All tasted great. I like how their grilled chicken is the same as the chicken from the rice plate because I had grilled chicken bahn mi’s from other places and their chicken isn’t really grilled but stir fried? When I meant grilled chicken. I meant grilled charcoal marks with a hint of sweetness. Same for the pork which is why I fell in love with their bahn mi’s. Also I always mention the bread type that each bahn mi place uses. Vicky’s, well now Nicky’s uses a french baguette which is light and airy. It is also crispy on the outside. I will come here often since it is so close to my apartment.

I’ve been waiting for them to reopen for a while now.
I finally lost hope when what did I see walking to Gracefully one night? They RE OPENED!!!
The sandwiches are AMAZING! but what I loved most was how sweet the staff was!
Cant wait to go back!

Ok got the porkchop sandwich this time and I have to say it was pretty delicious. Better than the traditional sandwich.
I still think they take a long time to make the sandwich but I guess it’s «freshly» prepared (they warm up the meat in the microwave) but whatever, it’s good and convenient. Recommend if you live on the LES or if you’re passing through!

I loved this place! Came here before my performance at UCBeast (newly opened).
I just needed a quick bite so I got the summer rolls and iced lychee drink.
I wish I could drink iced lychee drink every day! It had 3 whole lychees and colorful jellys. It was refreshing and delicious! The summer rolls were nice portion too.
I wouldn’t call this a hole in the wall because the interior’s simple modern and clean. Although it is really small. There’s about 3 small tables and for maybe 6 – 7 people to sit. I got my order really quickly too:)

A tiny hole-​in-​the-​wall that serves Vietnamese appetizers, sandwiches, rice & noodles, drinks, and desserts. The menu isn’t very long and the options are simple. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.
Besides being a tiny shop on a quiet East Village, Nicky’s little quirks are what keep me a loyal customer. It’s the American comedic movies they randomly play on their tv, and if you’re lucky, an old school Chinese Kung Fu film. Or the assortment of Asian drinks and snacks kept in stock, always fun to pick one at random and give it a taste.
It’s kind of like the Vietnamese Subway or Quiznos, BUT BETTER. Instead of your BLT made with crap, these are composed of succulent grilled pork chops with fresh vegetables, and sandwiched between a soft and airy baguette. The lemonade is fresh squeezed and topped off with real slices of lemon. Tart and yummy.
There is always a wait since it’s usually only two people working at a time. You can’t rush a place like this, or you’ll be the one missing out.

Being that I am Vietnamese, and have eaten more banh mi in my life than all of these reviewers here combined, Nicky’s is OFFICIAL!!! Even two– heavy hitter chefs from the Food Network Channel considered it «best thing I ever ate between bread». How much more proof do you need?
I get the «classic» banh mi every time I come here (a must try!)…
Perfectly toasted french baguette, with homemade aioli and chicken liver Pâté spread… different cuts of Vietnamese Ham a.k.a «cha lua», pickled carrots, daikon, and fresh cilantro… mmm mmm mmmm!!! Don’t forget to squeeze some sriracha on your plate and dip!!! Now that’s if you don’t mind it being spicy :)
The only reason why I didn’t give it 5 stars was because it’s really tiny inside… With only two tables… but I’ve been lucky every time and was able to get a seat.

So Nicky was there. He was an easy fix right off of the train. Nicky’s is like a reminder that sometimes it isn’t worth it to give into urges. You think of banh mi and you can only hope for the nine inches of greatness Deanna W describes. What you get from Nicky is the equivalent of a strung out has been with whiskey … It’s so embarrassing, I can’t even finish the sentence.
Nicky’s banh mis are limp and pale in comparison to any other banh mis in NYC. The sandwich itself is small, thin, and unsatisfying. The carrots look like string, a few here and a few there. I could actually count them like fingers. The chicken is good but it does not fill the loaf which isn’t even big. I thought banh mis are supposed to be made with baguette. I guess Nicky does not want to be associated with French Vietnamese flair. I looked at the pictures posted and there is a big difference in sandwiches from 2009 vs. 2010.
I left still hungry. I need to get over what could have been and what should have been.

Good Banh Mi. I mean, it’s pretty hard to mess up.
But JEEEZZZZZ, the best iced coffee in New York! I got a $ 5 large. Yea it was pricey but made my taste buds go nutso. And it kept me awake all day.

$ 5 Classic Vietnamese Sandwich MADE FRESH, wait a few mins, walk over to Tompkins Square Park and chill out.
One of my favorite things to do when I’m hungry, don’t feel like walking far, and wanna spend under $ 10. They’re so so good…

Nicky’s was the first banh mi I ever had. And just like the first girl I ever… shook hands with, it blew my mind; I couldn’t believe something so good could be so cheap. And the sandwich was only $ 5, too!
But given my inexperience, I had nothing to compare it to. Any banh mi was bound to be fantastic when stacked up against the barren, lonely drought of the previous 20+ years.
Now, after having an unhealthy, scandalous number of… sandwiches, the original has lost its luster. Having tasted the flexible, adventurous delights of Hanco’s, Baoguette, Henry’s, and my favorite, Saigon Sandwiches in SF… Nicky’s has paled in comparison.
Over my past few visits, the veggies have been limp, the bread stale (and occasionally with huge, inexplicable holes), and the pâté simply not up to par. When I’ve ordered the chicken, it’s been gummy and flavorless.
Nicky’s is still a cheap meal,* but no longer one I’d go out of my way for.
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*Despite the fact that the $ 5 price is pretty high for banh mi. That is, anywhere except for NYC. But it’s like $ 10 for a six-​pack of Bud Light here; we’re on a different scale.

Love it

It’s a good sign when you walk into a place and NY1 is filming a piece on it.
I love the fusion of Viet and French food married into a Vietnamese sandwich. Everything is fresh and made to order. I highly recommend the classic which is on a nicely toasted French baguette stuffed with pâté, ham, pork, carrots, cucumber, cilantro and mayo. When the guy asks, «spicy» say «yes.» It gives it a great kick. They also have an assortment of asian snacks and drink boxes such as the chamomile tea which was a staple in my childhood.
The only downside is the wait. I ordered one sandwich to go and waited about 20 min. Yes, it was great but I expected to walk in and out in 5 – 10 min.