This was, as I recall, my first time eating a Bánh mì. This place, located in a Vietnamese immigrant community, has many local customers and is quite famous in Philadelphia. Đặc biệt: The pork belly and ham were reasonable, but the Bologna sausage was shocking...it must be a intergrated product. I felt the smoky flavor was too strong, masking the aroma of the other meats. The truly delicious part was those authentic Vietnamese: the pickled vegetables, including white radish, carrot, and cucumber, were sweet, sour, crisp, and refreshing; the cilantro also made the overall taste even fresher, and I hadn't had cilantro in a long time since coming to the US! Satisfying! read more

Ba Le Bakery - Đặc biệt - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Very disappointed. Zero stars if possible. I bought 5 special Bánh mì for my family this morning, expecting a nice breakfast. Instead, the sandwiches were cold and the vegetables were frozen. Spending $50.43 on food like this was a complete waste. Very poor quality and a terrible experience. read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ba Le Bakery in Philadelphia is an extremely popular one-stop shop for authentic Vietnamese food from bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwiches), chả giò (spring rolls), chả lụa (Vietnamese sausages), gỏi cuốn (summer rolls), bánh bao (Steam Pork Buns), bánh cuốn (Vietnamese Crepes) to Vietnamese deserts and drinks. I stock up on food and keep it frozen whenever I'm passing through. When ordering chả giò, which comes i bags of ten, ask for nước mắm otherwise you'll not have the authentic dipping sauce. This shop has a modern POS (Point of Sale) system so you can pay with practically anything. The days of cash-only are long gone. Also parking is extremely challenging. Tip: Don't go alone. You may have to make your own parking spot and having someone wait in the car while you shop will avoid tickets. read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

So so amazing! I am from SoCal and have had plenty of banh mis in OC, fountain valley, Westminster... aka little Saigon in Cali... I've lived in Vietnam for a year as well, and let me tell you... this banh mi tops any banh mi I've had in the US. First off, this place is located in a strip mall, and you know it's good when you open the door of the shop and see lots of aunties and uncles and hear only the native language... There was no visibly organized line... just a lot of people waiting.. so I hope I didn't cut anyone in line... but Ordering and service was super quick. They have so many traditional goodies there that you'd fine on Vietnamese street carts as well as drinks and desserts. As we had plans to eat soon after with friends.... My husband and I opted for one sandwich each and split spring rolls. I did not expect the size of the sandwich to be so large. Not only is it large but they pack it with meat! I got the bbq pork and my husband got the ba le combination with roasted pork....the bread is pillowy soft with the perfect chew! The veggies were fresh! The whole sandwich comes warm...'it was amazing... and... The spring rolls?? Oh my gosh... the lemon grass pork and fish sauce were to die for. They have like 7 kinds of spring rolls and I look forward to going back to have more. read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Customer service is not great. Those girls behind the counter have a lot to learn about serving their customers. Do not recommend this place. read more

Tried the vegan meatball banh mi. Texture and taste are really authentic and bread is nicely crispy and fluffy at the same time. Really enjoyed! read more

Ba Le Bakery - #19 Vegan Tomato Meatball - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

After trying some disappointing banh mis in Philly, Ba Le is a gold mine in comparison. The ratio of the sandwich is solid, and despite it looking thin, this serving will absolutely fill you up. I was extremely impressed by the menu's expansiveness and hot food variety too. I came early in the morning while everything was still warm/fresh. I would've gotten so much more but unfortunately wasn't too hungry yet. Love knowing the Viet community has this local spot. read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Quick grab and go ready to go variety of viet goodies. Pricier end compared to the ba le in Boston! read more

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When in Philly, I usually stop by the historic downtown Chinatown neighborhood centered around Arch and Race streets. There are lots of good eateries here, but parking and traffic are tricky since the area is adjacent to the perpetually busy Reading Terminal market and the convention center. The past few times I've been in Philly, I've been venturing further out to to explore the burgeoning "Little Saigon" neighborhood concentrated at the intersection of S. Eighth Street and Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia. While the traffic is still heavy, I find the parking to be a bit easier, and there are still a BUNCH of good options. Seemingly, there is a "Ba Le" in many larger metropolitan areas with a sizable Vietnamese population. The "Ba Le" in Northern Virginia (https://www.yelp.com/biz/ba-le-friends-bakery-falls-church?osq=Ba+Le+Friends+Bakery) is okay, but I find the prices to be on the high side, relative to the portion size and food quality. So I was curious to check out the Philly Ba Le bakery off of Washington Street. In operation since 1998, Ba Le is located in a bustling shopping mall with a variety of other Asian businesses. I popped into the tiny store, but was immediately impressed by the extensive variety of prepared Viet cuisine, as well as other groceries. I picked up a five pack of the house baked bread, a few rolls of the Viet style ham (Cha lua), some of the BEST Chuối Chiên (aka Fried banana), and of course, some of the special combo Banh mi. DC area shops, please take a field trip to Philly so you can learn how to make a proper Viet sando. As soon as I picked up the bag, I could tell the banh mi was at least one pound (or heavier); it was hefty. I requested that the sandwich be cut in 1/2 (do it before ordering) so while I was sitting in my car, I could see that it was STUFFED with meats, a shmear of pate, and loads of pickled veggies. The plan was to eat half now, and the other half back home; but it was sooo tasty, I devoured it before driving back to VA. I spent a little over $50 on my items, and I'm know I got a good bargain for the quantity and quality of food. Ba Le bakery is truly what a Vietnamese bakery/deli should be. An incredible variety of items at reasonable prices. read more

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Vietnamese bakery place with some savory items. Staff is friendly. I like the translated signs. Looks like the chicken buns which were sold out before the end of the day are popular, good banh mi probably, and the wrapped rolls with sauce seem to be respectable here. I don't believe there is seating here. Much of the building is for staff only or closed off and needs renovations. I confirmed with a Filipino foodie that the food here is similar to Filipino food- especially the rolls apparently. This was my general sense without the spring rolls part. read more

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Always a place that I have to stop by before I leave Philly. Their banh mi and ice coffee always meets my cravings. Service is quick however it feel a bit cramped if it's crowded but since it's only take out, it moves quickly. read more

I was so excited and looking forward to this place when planning our Philly trip. I'm not sure if this is the same owner as the Boston location but it's definitely packed with authentic Vietnamese goodies that you can't find in places. We missed out on the banh mi as we overstuffed ourselves with Philly cheesesteak. We picked up a few of their hot items including fried banana which is a must get, fried sausage to snack on, and two different kinds of pork rolls. The black sesame macchiato drink is to die for. A mix of black sesame dessert with coffee - who knew it would blend so well together ? read more

Ba Le Bakery - Sesame coffee - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We have a Banh Mi Ba Le in Mass too so we came here for some good banh mi. I've never seen 4 registers all in a small business before so they must be super busy everyday. It was packed even when we went in! I got the Dac Biet which is essentially the combo. The bread is perfect. Not too wide, the perfect crisp, and nice and fluffy. I could definitely taste the pate, but the butter didn't add much to the overall taste. The meat was thinly sliced, so it was melting in my mouth with every bite. I love the flavor of the pickled veggies, sour and sweet, but I wished they spread it out a bit more evenly so I could enjoy it the whole way. Aside from that it's pretty good. read more

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A solid spot to grab a bite to eat. I ordered a Bahn mi and some coffee. The bahn me was solid, but i felt the pate flavor was lacking just a little bit for my taste. The coffee was delicious, but definitely heavy on the ice. read more

Ba Le Bakery - ##1 Special Combination Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Huge place, but only the front section is open to customers. The setup is kind of chaotic in the best way possible -- every corner has something going on. Despite the small space, the food here absolutely slaps. I got the chicken feet with mango and kumquat salad, the small Vietnamese pork roll sausage, and the Vietnamese sausage burger on a chewy mochi-style bun. The chicken feet salad was tangy, citrusy, and full of texture, with a nice spicy kick. The pork roll sausage was savory with a classic Vietnamese flavor. The sausage burger was super fun to eat -- salty, chewy, and totally different from anything I've had before. They also sell bánh mì, which looked amazing, but I skipped it this time because the line was way too long. Definitely trying it next visit. It's tight inside, but they make the most of it: hot food at the counter, sausages in a little heated display, cold salads in the fridge, and even someone tucked behind the door selling jade bracelets and trinkets. It feels like organized chaos, but in a charming way. Checkout was quick, even though the line looked long. Heads up, there's a 2.5% surcharge for credit cards, which is pretty standard. Overall, Ba Le is a total vibe -- busy, packed, and full of flavor. A must-try if you're into authentic Vietnamese bites and don't mind a little crowd. read more

So many Vietnamese desserts! This is like a grocery store so bring a bag to take the items to-go. Also, bring cash if you don't want to pay an extra fee on your card transaction. My favorites were the baked casava cake and the mungbean pyramid dumplings. The steamed banana dumplings, though delicious, were a mess to eat because they are sticky and the banana leaf refused to let go. read more

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FOOD We had their banh mi, and it was great--savory and flavorful and overall everything you'd want! It is on the pricier end for banh mis than I'm used to, but Ba Le is an iconic staple in the Philly area, so definitely check it out! They also have an assortment of other Vietnamese goods like banh da lon and banh bo that are pre-packaged for easier takeout. DRINKS Their Vietnamese iced coffee has a nutty undertone, which I am usually a fan of but wasn't for this particular drink. SERVICE/AMBIANCE The place is grab-and-go. The staff are really efficient in pumping out orders so that the line doesn't accumulating inside or outside the store. No bathrooms are available inside the store. PARKING Ample parking is available in the plaza lot but still fills up quickly. read more

Ba Le Bakery is a small storefront bakery which has been serving authentic Vietnamese street food since 1998. I've had some of the best banh mis that I've ever had in my life from Ba Le. It has a huge variety of food options and I've found almost any of its prepared foods to be a winner! -- I cannot speak highly enough of Ba Le Bakery. Although parking is a little difficult, and the bakery itself barely allows room for 2 people to stand side-by-side, the inconveniences are definitely worth it. The small storefront bakery prefers cash (with an ATM out front) and charges 2.5% for non-cash transactions. It is always busy inside Ba Le, for good reason. I ordered the # 2- Ba Le Combo (Crispy Roast Pork Belly Combo) and # 13 - Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi. I also grabbed some Banh Tieu (Vietnamese Beignets with Sesame Seeds) and Cha Gio (Pork Spring Rolls). The baguette/bread of the banh mis are some of the only sandwich breads which I can say I would just eat it plain on its own. It is so soft while still maintaining a crispy shell and it complemented the toppings of the sandwich so well. The banh mis had a good balance of fresh vegetable fillings to those of the meat and weren't overstuffed. My banh mi was large enough that I ate the banh mi over two meals. The beignets were an absolute hit with me (and my favorite part of my meal), and I actually went back later that day to buy more. They were so full of the sesame flavor and soft while maintaining the perfect crispy exterior (even when cold). The pork spring rolls were a perfect crispy bite and my only complaint would be that they could have been bigger! Overall, the food for me was all such a hit. My recommendation - get your order, bring it home, and microwave/toast the banh mi and pork rolls. Wrap the pork rolls in some fresh lettuce, and dip in the accompanying fish sauce (which was tangy with a tiny spicy kick). There are typically 2-3 cashiers, but since the bakery is usually very crowded/cramped, the line can be disorganized/muddled with those who are browsing at the food. I also wish there was better labeling on some of the food items (particularly the drinks and desserts), which are either missing labels on what the food is or ingredients. The wait can be relatively long depending on the crowd in the bakery, but overall, I am very very happy with my experience. I highly recommend anyone who has a craving for banh mis to experience those of Ba Le and have their minds blown at just how near perfect of a sandwich it is! read more

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This place definitely hits the spot if you're craving banh mi, without hurting your wallet! The price is great for the size of the banh mi, which is big enough to share between two people. I also love their Vietnamese coffee, strong, refreshing, and just the right taste for me. Parking is easy since it's in a plaza, but there aren't any dine-in tables, so you'll probably end up enjoying your banh mi in the car. read more

Always a good day when I'm picking up a big (or small) order of Vietnamese hoagies. And always grab the extras like a bag of fresh baguettes for making your own Bahn Mi read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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10/30/24 UPDATE Gave Ba Le another try and I went for the BBQ Pork this time and it was much better. Flavor was good and balanced with the veggies. I'm glad to see they took time to make improvements. It feels like there was care put into making the Banh mi. read more

Every time I'm in Philly, you can find us here. Amazing viet banh mi spot, great for coffee and avocado smoothies, and grab and go items. Everything I have tried so far is solid! read more

What a wonderful spot on Washington Ave. Went in as part 2 of a mini South Philly food tour looking for the sesame balls and they did not disappoint. They were much bigger than I expected and filled with that mung bean filling. Tried a roast pork banh mi too. Very flavorful. Could have used some more jalapenos though. heh. When did banh mi get so expensive? They use their own rolls so you know it's fresh. read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Ba Le Bakery is a one stop shop for Vietnamese snacks and drinks! It is located in a Vietnamese plaza, so there is a lot of other places to check out if you are still hungry. It is really small inside, so it is definitely a grab and go kinda of place. There are a lot of options to choose from, but I would say that the pricing is definitely a bit pricey. I got the Special Combination Banh Mi and Iced Coffee with Hazelnut Milk. I thought the Special Combination was alright; there is a lot of meat inside, but I would have preferred more pate and more toppings (pickled carrots) to balance out the meat. But I thought the baguette was very yummy and crispy. The Iced Coffee with Hazelnut Milk was good, but really sweet. My friend wanted to try it as opposed to the typical Vietnamese iced coffee drink, but we definitely wished that we opted for the original drink to get the stronger taste of coffee. I would probably give this place a 3.5/5 if I could. Overall, if you are looking for a quick Vietnamese bite, this place has it all: whether it is savory or sweet! read more

Ba Le Bakery - Special Combination - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Got my hoagie tray for a last min party and it was a hit. Love the box that it comes in, so cute. read more

Ba Le Bakery - Hoagie tray - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Well regarded bakery and Vietnamese cafe. All counter and no place to sit inside, so order and go. Many selections on grab and go items, or can order banh mi and drinks (tea, smoothies). Order process pretty quick. Got the crispy pork belly banh mi. Have had the bread before elsewhere so the roll is very good. The rest of the sandwich was okay. Pork belly and banh mi overall was a bit on the dry side, but still fine. Thanks read more

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I've been here several times for their grab and go foods. Some of their foods are a hit or miss. I like the beignets, che, and rolls dipped with sauce. The misses: the pickled green mustard was bland.. banh mi was standard, not the best I've had but it does the job. Today was a bit disappointing because of 1) the service I received and 2) the banh mi Ba Le was underwhelming. 1) they have several young guys at the register. When I asked one about some products, one didn't seem to know what I was talking about. He didn't seem like he wanted to be there and kept joking around with the other staff in the front. A customer paid and left, yet he was still waving that man's receipt in the air while looking elsewhere, unaware that the customer had left. 2) the #2 banh mi ba le highlighted the crispy roasted pork (costs more than the other types) but the pork slices were pretty thick, tough, and chewy. There was no element of crispiness. It tasted more like boiled than roasted. The pickled vegetables are pretty scant and not evenly spread.. the sandwich itself was very dry. For $9.50 it costs more than other banh mi sandwiches in the area and not worth the price. I ate less than half and couldn't eat anymore. They are very busy so be prepared to wait for that banh mi. With other competition opening in the area, I will give the other ones a try. read more

Ba Le Bakery - #2 Crispy Pork Belly Combination Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A friend/local recommended Ba Le to us and it did not disappoint. Prices are reasonable and food / drinks are made to order. This bakery is placed inside a shopping center with plenty of parking but there's no seating inside so you take your food to go. We ordered: * Ba Le Combination #2 ($9.50) * Cafe Sua Da ($5.95) * Goi Cuon Tom Thit ($6.95) total came out to $22.40 The Banh mi was delicious, the bread was really good. My boyfriend's only note is that he wished the pork was sliced into smaller portions so you don't end up pulling out the single piece of pork out of the sandwich. Otherwise it was super fresh and warm when we got it. The shrimp and pork summer roll was very refreshing and had great texture. I loved the tamarind sauce with fresh peanuts. But I also had the same issue with pulling out the single piece of pork in one go but it wasn't a deal breaker. The coffee was much needed for the drive back to NY. I just wish we were able to bring more stuff back home lol. Ba Le Bakery is a must visit if you're in the area!! read more

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I stopped by Ba Le this past weekend when I was in South Philly on a bit of a crawl. I loved it. It's been open since 1988, and it's easy to see why. They're a bakery and a full service Vietnamese shop. I thoroughly enjoyed my grilled pork bánh mì - great bread, great pork (sweet, tender), fresh toppings. I'd eat this or other of their many bánh mì weekly if I lived nearby! (Vegans and vegetarians, they have a lot of options for you, too!) But they make and sell so much more - summer rolls, sesame balls, multiple varieties of dumplings, sticky rice, rice cakes, buns, Vietnamese deli meats, desserts, and more. It's clear that the community/neighborhood loves this business. As we were inside, tons of people came through, grabbing lunch, shopping for later. It's a tiny space, with so much to recommend it: great food, an incredible variety of Vietnamese foods, and great customer service. I can't wait to go back for another bánh mì. read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ba le is a solid stop for a good bahn mi. I recommend the BBQ pork sandwich and the spring rolls. It is take out. Service is quick and efficient and a solid amount of food for the price point! read more

The bread here is everything. My entire family is addicted to their bread and we get two four packs a week. The bahn mi are among the best in the city. It's a bit chaotic in there sometimes but if you're lucky, it's not too busy. I never noticed a seating area in the pickup section. They have other baked goods that I look forward to trying. read more

Hard to believe but I've been coming here for over 20 years since I was a teenager, throughout my college years up until now. This is still my favorite spot for Vietnamese snacks & stuff. They have so many variety of things, from banh bi sandwiches, summer/ spring rolls, banh tet (sticky rice) to fried goodies, rice platters and dishes as well as deli meats, drinks and desserts. What's not to love?! My brother loves their banh mi (they offer 16 different types- I like the special combo & grilled pork), cha lua, & banh da lon. And I love their banh giay, pandan cakes, & mung bean pork banh tet. Every time we go, we (he) always end up getting everything. Prices had definitely gone up, but thankfully, the quality is still there. Must visit Ba Le when you're in South Philly. You won't be disappointed! read more

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Our food tour guide brought us here to this unassuming spot, but wow did it impress. The Banh Mi was super tasty. She also told us all about the legacy of the place passed down from generations and now expanding! read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Feels a bit over priced but the variety, freshness of ingredients, and speed of service keeps me coming back. My favorite things by far are the varieties of spring rolls here, with the crunchy wonton to give it a fun texture in every bite. A little weird that the food seems to sit out all day at room temp? but I feel like the turnover is really fast and it's never been a problem. They also have a variety of random snacks to pick through, like sour sausage and chicken feet and clear shrimp dumplings. I always walk out with an impulse purchase snack. The banh mi get made very quickly, even on busy Saturdays, and always has really fresh ingredients. And consistent flavors. The drinks are a little sweet. And also, I can't help but feel that it just feels too expensive even in this day and age when all food costs too much. But they have that mom and pop feel and are very reliable, so I'm sure I'll continue coming here before and after grocery shopping near by. read more

I have been going to Ba Le for years and not once did I think to do a review. But here it is. My go to's: the Vietnamese iced coffee, salmon summer rolls and the pork and shrimp wrapped in tapioca (I think) in those banana leaves. I also buy the traditional banh mi. My not so favorites: the Thai iced tea, the lemongrass sandwiches bc they don't have enough lemongrass flavor, and the Bao bun. I can't speak enough on the salmon rolls which comes with a lime, cilantro, kumquat dipping sauce! read more

Ba Le Bakery - Salmon Summer Rolls - Goi Cuon Ca Hoi - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I love the variety you can get at Ba Le for a quick meal. Lots of snacks and their sandwiches are large. The menu has 16+ base sandwiches to choose from and you can add on or change it up. In the past several months to a year though, I feel like my sandwiches have less toppings and things like pickled veggies and coriander leaves. The price is medium tier but a fair quality/size for the cost! The interior of the shop is very small and best for ordering ahead to pickup or quickly browse and grab your snacks. I met a large variety of different staff members there but it is always friendly and quick service! read more

Love they're sandwiches? I've been back there time and time again fast fresh and delicious!

This has always been the banh mi spot for ages but I've never been so disappointed after all the years going here. I know the economy is harsh but there are people who are willing to pay good money for their food. I order two banh mi asking for extra pate and by the size of the hoagie it a lot smaller then it use to be and the meats a lot less and where is my pate needless my extra pate like where? And I paid extra for this?! The disappointment! read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Pretty solid banh mis! This place is such a legit vietnamese bakery. Super cute and very busy. I wasn't even hungry but I still enjoyed this banh mi! read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I was a die-hard Ba Le fan until tonight. This store is extremely busy and has gained a lot of popularity, but after my experience, I caution you to reconsider spending your money here due to their lack of integrity and apparent greed. I'm sharing my experience tonight through Too Good To Go (TGTG). When Ba Le started offering TGTG, I was excited to try it, as I've been a longtime customer. Unfortunately, I was appalled by the behavior of the owner or manager. I recognized him because I've seen him there many times--he regularly gives directions and trains staff. He is in his mid 40's, has black wavy hair and thick black-framed glasses. When I approached him as a TGTG customer tonight, he initially grabbed two boxes of fresh shrimp summer rolls. He then walked away briefly and began chatting with another woman--presumably a family member or co-owner--while they both stared at me as if I were begging for food. It was incredibly rude and made me feel extremely uncomfortable. When he finally returned, he swapped one box of shrimp summer rolls for vegetarian ones. That part was fine--I don't mind variety. However, he then walked away again, pretending to look for a bag. When he came back, he quietly switched the remaining shrimp summer rolls for another box of vegetarian rolls. In the end, I received two boxes of vegetarian summer rolls and a sad bag of stale fried dough balls. The irony is that the bags he pretended to search for were clearly visible right in front of him the entire time--something he obviously knew as an employee. This store seems to completely misunderstand the mission of TGTG, which is to reduce food waste and offer decent leftovers that encourage customers to return. Instead, they appear to look down on TGTG customers and intentionally give them the worst possible items or with duplicates. If that's the attitude, why even sign up for the platform? This business is already extremely profitable, yet the behavior displayed tonight was disgraceful. Their low rating on TGTG speaks for itself. Because they deliberately swapped items in front of me, offered clearly inferior replacements, and created such an uncomfortable experience, I will be taking my business elsewhere--and I encourage others to do the same. It's eye-opening to see a successful establishment act so petty toward a loyal customer. Bottom line: they do not care about loyalty or community--only profit. They should remember they are not the only Vietnamese bakery in town, and there are plenty of newer places offering better options and better service. To the owners of Ba Le: thank you for showing your true colors. read more