Our story
About Lu's
A warm blend of culture, comfort, and community.
Our first home · 2 Lawrence St · 2020
Humble beginnings
It started in 2020.
A tiny aqua storefront on Lawrence Street. Red lanterns strung across the window, a pick-up sign taped to the door, two yellow bistro chairs on the sidewalk for whoever wanted to sit and stay a while.
Coffee. Sandwiches. Soups. Salads. Cakes. Pastries. Vietnamese specials. We painted it on the awning because that's exactly what we wanted to feed the neighborhood — and we opened during a year the neighborhood really needed a warm cup and a warm meal.
Same family, same crew, same recipes. Just a little more room now.
New chapter
New location · 2025
Ribbon cutting at our new home — 384 Essex Street, downtown Lawrence. Bigger kitchen, indoor dining, room for the whole crew and the whole neighborhood.
384 Essex St · Lawrence, MA · Grand opening 2025
Lu's Café & Bakery is a family neighborhood cafe in the heart of downtown Lawrence — open seven days a week and run by the Lu's crew. Founded by co-owners Lorienne Lu and Lyanh Nguyen, Lu's grew out of a blended family kitchen where American comfort food, Vietnamese cooking, and Dominican flavor all sat at the same table.
We're rooted in Vietnamese food — banh mi, vermicelli bowls, spring rolls, Vietnamese iced coffee — but we grew up with pancakes, pernil, and egg-and-cheese on a croissant too. So we cook it all: American classics, Vietnamese specialties, Dominican-inspired plates, creative weekly specials, classic desserts, and custom cakes. The Lu's way.
In 2025 we moved into a bigger home at 384 Essex Street with indoor dining and room for community events. Same family, same crew, more seats at the table.
Come hang out. Come hungry. There's something here for everyone.