Love going to Ba Le in Dorchester, for a quick bite! They don't have dine-in, just take-out. Love the variety they offer here. They're popular for their banh mi sandwiches & drinks. I enjoy getting their cold cut banh mi with extra butter and pate! I like that their baguettes are not too thick and are quite flaky. The bread to filling ratio is perfect each bite. Every time I visit, I always get a cold cut banh mi, nem, and sugarcane juice or an iced coffee. Super quick service. The line can seem daunting at times, especially in the early morning or lunch time but I promise it does move fast! read more

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I really don't see any complaints anytime I'm here. Since my grandma to my parents to me as an adult. Ba Le is my only go to for banh mi, snacks and the occasional hot food. Two cups of fresh sugarcane and I'm good to go! Prices go up, as cost of goods go up. Still a bargain compared to other sandwiches you get for more money! Filling is always generous, you want extra butter pate? Just say so yes it cost a little more but they don't just give u a tiny bit, they smack it on your sub. The tall handsome guy at the register is always cool as hell! We also get jerky and nem with the pepper pretty frequently. Nice snack when you got class or work. I've gone out and tried so many other people's favorites because they wanted to hate on BaLe, and honest opinion lol, those other places don't even come close. They have long lines here during lunch rush or morning rush, but it moves. The bread is fresh every day. I'll just stick to my day 1. Thanks. But ayyyeee bring in more nem nuong for my custom sub haha jk. read more

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We're regulars here. About 2x a month on average. Love the banh mi sandwiches. Also, must say that we have never encountered them marking up prices based on whatever they feel like (presumably based on them perceiving whether we would figure out that we'd been scammed or not--haven't encountered that here. BUT, definitely encountered this unethical deceptive practice at Ba Le in Quincy (inside the Kan Man Market). Any event, this Ba Le Dorchester is quite solid. Here are things they should really improve on to make it even better: - put expiration dates or packed dates on certain items, such as the desserts in the fridge. That's the norm practice elsewhere. Thus, the absence of these dates strongly suggests deception, i.e., bad faith attempts to sell older produce when they should already have been trashed. - do put the prices of the items rather than letting customers wondering or just blindly let the cashier ring it up without being informed of the price first. Why not place the price there? And yes, this is probably more desirable because of the aforementioned practice of marking up prices at the Ba Le Quincy Branch (this is documented all over Google and Yelp reviews for Ba Le Quincy), which may be why we have good reasons to be hyperly cautious when making purchases from these personnel. read more

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I wished I lived closer to Ba Le so I could come here more often. I usually get the chicken banh mi, and it's packed with everything you'd want. The pickled daikon and carrots add a bright acidity and crunch and the jalapenos give a subtle heat. The chicken is flavorful and the bread has a light crispy exterior while still being soft enough to bite through easily. One time I left it sitting in the fridge for a couple days, but it was still delicious after reheating. read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Let me start my saying I grew up in San jose, Ca. I've had my share of bang mi. I Was not expecting a line. Inside is a little cluttered. They have a lot of snacks and baked goods for sale, however no pricing on anything. Really bad set up. Stood in line for about 25min before I could place my order. I always get the cold cut combo and decided to include a grilled beef banh mi. Paid for my food and left. The grilled beef banh mi was flavorful but was really chewy, and had lots inedible fat, could not chew through it. The cold cut was ok. Nothing really stood out other than the bread having a nice crisp and airiness. I forgot mention that I ordered a penny wort drink. It was very watered down and tasted like nothing. read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This is the best place to get Bahn mi, it really hits different than all other Bahn mis I have had. I will say, this place can be very overwhelming if you don't know Vietnamese but not impossible to order. They have lots of other packaged food in store but some do not have ingredients/labels. So if you're adventurous, we typically see what locals get and do the same. Bahn mi is fairly easy to order. We typically just tell the person the number on the menu and never had issues. This recent trip we got the special combo (#1) and bbq beef (#2), they were both amazing! Bbq beef had a nice Smokey flavor, highly recommend. We also got their iced coffee and it was the best! Very rich. The only downside is that ordering is confusing. The drink people told us to pay at the food counter so we had to wait in line again but then we saw other people paying at the drinks counter without doing what we did. During rush hour this can be a little frustrating. read more

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Had great anticipation after seeing the Guy Fieri piece on the company. I was sadly, underwhelmed. Was looking forward to a soft, fresh baked roll, but it was crunchy and wasn't so aft inside. I don't think it was all that fresh. To me, the bread used in a Bahn Mi is the second most important item. The bread was crunchy and pieces of the roll crumbled and fell all over the table. The Vietnamese coffee was very sweet, I would say, overly sweetened. The pork and other sandwich ingredients were very well done. Small seating area of about 10 chars and 4 small round tables. It's -not really a restaurant, there's no table service, it's a take out joint. read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Bahn Mi sandwiches - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This is my FAVORITE food spot in Boston hands down! The Bahn mi is out of this world no matter which one you try It can get busy on weekends (worth the wait though) If you can go during a weekday it's great to look around while it's less busy Their Vietnamese coffee is a Must try It's very vegetarian friendly- tons of delicious tofu and veggie options to try Huge banner that for those in military uniforms or with an active military ID get a free coffee & sandwich read more

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The best Banh Mi I ever had! I really love and enjoy their grilled pork/grilled beef Banh Mi. The pickled vegetables are delicious and the bread is very crunchy. I don't usually give 5 stars reviews but this place is a must if you are visiting the Boston area! We originally ordered one Banh Mi to share because we went after having lunch, but because it was so good we ended up buying 1 more! Service is very efficient like most asian owned bakeries. read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Pork banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Ba Le never disappoints. Grateful to live 5 mins away. Always a great choice after a good work out. Banh mi hits differently when you're tired and hungry after a work out lol My go to is the beef and add shredded pork. (Will cost a little extra but worth it). Rice box is the way to go too. They give you a nice portion. So much that they use a rubber man to close the box. Highly recommend getting these two options! read more

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Very casual lunch spot. There's a variety of Vietnamese snacks, take-home ingredients, hot entrees like noodle and rice dishes, and of course the star of the show - the banh mi. I came around 11 AM on a weekday, and there was an only a short line but I had my order within 5 minutes. There's extremely limited seating (maybe 8 people can fit in the back corner), so don't plan for a quiet café type of setting here. I went with the fish patty banh mi, which I've never had before. Everything was extremely fresh. I was especially impressed by the baguette, which was had a crunch but wasn't so hard as to cut the roof of your mouth! There was enough bo (Vietnamese mayonnaise) to ensure it wasn't too dry. The banh mi was also packed with a lot of veggies (daikon, carrots, and peppers), and the fish patty was really tasty. I'll definitely come back and try another soon! Another huge plus: only $8 after tax! read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Fish patty banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Had the Chicken Bahn Mi, Quite a bit of juicy flavored chicken with typical Bahn Mi toppings, Well Spiced and flavored. Not great for eating on the go (had mine in my car) Seating is very limited so it presents a bit of a problem, hopefully next time seating might open for me to eat this sandwich in a better setting under better circumstances. read more

As a big fan of Vietnamese cuisine, a visit to Ba Le was highly anticipated, especially after reading numerous rave reviews and watching the Guy Fieri segment on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I even convinced my GF and son to come along with me, and I somewhat regret it. My 3-star rating was generous and it could have easily been a 2-star. It was good, but disappointing and just not memorable. Noted: There were more Asians than non-Asians in line (which moved quickly), a good sign. One of the big initial draws were the overwhelming rave reviews of its Bánh Mì, the restaurant's signature dish, and a Vietnamese staple. Bánh Mì is basically a junior-sized hero sandwich (aka, submarine in Boston lingo). It can also be served on a smaller, round bun. I was really looking forward to Ba Le's Bánh Mì bread, given it's made fresh daily in their bakery, operated just across the street. Like sushi rice, one of the most important qualities of a great Bánh Mì sandwich is the bread - the first thing the mouth encounters - and the glue that holds everything together. In my view, there's nothing better than a warm, soft fresh Bánh Mì roll. But in this case, on this day, the roll JUST WASN'T GREAT, didn't live up to the hype, and certainly wasn't worth an hour (round trip) in the car. It was too crunchy on the outside (Guy Fieri apparently likes crunchy), with decent sized pieces of crust falling onto the floor. On the inside, it was fairly soft but not fresh out of the oven. The rest of the sandwich was somewhat more inspired. Of the numerous offerings (pork, beef, chicken, vegetarian, tofu) I decided on the barbecue pork Bánh Mì. The pork was tasty, not chewy, although the barbecue sauce was a bit too dominant. The other ingredients married each other well; a healthy dollop of home-made mayo was first applied, then the meat, followed by the fish sauce, scallion oil, cucumber, pickled daikon and carrots, and cilantro. All-in-all, a 3 out of 5. Also tried the tofu and pork skin Bánh Mì, which each suffered from a NOT FRESH roll. As to the Vietnamese iced coffee. Not too bad, although somewhat over-sweetened. Ba Le is MOSTLY a bakery and Vietnamese grocery, selling a wide variety of pre-made baked goods, sandwiches, pigs-in-a-blanket, and sauces. It's more of a grocery store and take out sandwich shop, than a restaurant, as there is limited seating and no servers, but for those preferring to eat-in, there's a small seating area (with 4 small round tables and 10 chars), and a bathroom that was "occupied" - but since I never saw anyone coming in or out, I assume it was inoperable. The family has successfully expanded their business to 2 other locations, in Quincy and Melrose (convenient for North Shore residents). Next time, I will try some other dishes like the noodles, soups, sticky rice, and desserts. read more

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Banh mi Ba Le in Dorchester still holding strong. Every time we swing in, the place is packed--and with good reason. Their banh mi here are still delicious. To my knowledge they're the only banh mi shop around that bakes their bread in-house. But if there are others around MA that do the same, let me know! I haven't swung in here in a while--not sure if I was under a rock but I did notice they have a bit of seating now towards the back of their store. Overall banh mi here is the best around in the MA area overall. read more

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Bustling store with extensive Vietnamese fare. Both the Special Combination and the BBQ Beef Banh Mi's I got were addicting--the butter and pate was so flavorful. Prices are quite affordable at $6-7 for a decently sized sandwich packed with ingredients. It's a market so they also have many other food and drink options not shown in the menus below read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Menu (1/2) as of 10/6/25 - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This grab & go spot is always packed on the weekends The bahn mi is a 10/10, they don't skimp on ANYTHING! I got sugar cane as a bev, can't mess that up. They also have food and ingredients aside from the hot food that's readily available. This spot is a classic glad to see different demographics inside while in line (took us 30 mins to get our sandwiches and pay. The line was long but moved at a slow pace. Went in on a Saturday at 2pm) read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Bbq beef bahn mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Always a go to when I'm in Boston. Their banh mis and beef spring rolls are my favorite. I usually get the bbq beef, but I hear the cold cut banh mi is also very good. There's usually a line because it's so popular, but it is definitely worth the wait since the service is pretty fast. I got 4 banh mis, 4 orders for the beef spring rolls, and a viet iced coffee for $63! There isn't any seating inside, so be prepared to do take out. read more

My sister recommended this spot to me, and I realized my workplace occasionally caters banh mi sandwiches here and they've been pretty good, so I was excited to try the food here. We went on a Sunday around noon, and it was packed! It took over 30 minutes to get to the check out counter because someone ordered 3 large bags worth of sandwiches on the spot which took time to make. The staff seemed very efficient though, and the wait was reasonable for what was delicious food. I was impressed by the variety of foods and drinks available, with plenty of vegan options and a whole section of imitation meats such as fish and pork! Most products are labeled with the ingredients, although some aren't, and unfortunately almost nothing has prices shown. I got several different sticky rice items, a vegan crispy sesame fish dish, and a sweet coconut and black eyed pea dessert porridge (total of $20 for 4 things). The porridge was quite sweet and best enjoyed chilled, while the sticky rice was my favorite (not as sweet) but does not store well at all in the fridge overnight. The rice tasted better and less dry when I added some coconut milk for moisture and additional flavor. The sesame "fish" was crispy, flavorful, and versatile, and went well with rice and as a topping over noodles. Overall there's so much to try here and can't be encompassed in a single visit. I'm looking forward to going back and trying the pandan, drinks, and other authentic Vietnamese foods! read more

Ba Le is the best! Authentic Vietnamese food that is worth the drive over. The BBQ beef or pork banh mi is always my go-to and so cheap. The iced Vietnamese coffee is always perfect and they use the superior crushed ice. They also have so many other options like spring rolls, packaged vermicelli noodles, egg tarts, pork buns, etc. No seating but Carson Beach is a short drive over and there are also a few parks nearby to eat at. read more

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the vietnamese coffee is always a banger............................yelp need to stop with the 85 characters just for a review.

Such value!!!! And everything is named in Vietnamese so you know it's authentic Food shop with really good and cheap banh mi! It's casual small shop that gets pretty crowded but the wait is worth it. The banh mi had great flavor and nice crunchy bread, the only thing is that the bread is so big it's hard to bite. But still rly tasty I just wish I could understand the rest of the menu so that I could try more things :) read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Want amazing, authentic Vietnamese food? Ba Le is the place! I got food from here a few times and each time I am blown away. Their iced coffee is addicting. One of my friends got it for me to try and I have been hooked ever since. I also tried their passionfruit juice and sugarcane juice and they're both tasty and refreshing! This is an authentic Vietnamese bakery and shop; they have various types of prepared foods and baked goods but their sandwiches are the talk of the town. I ordered the beef Bahn mi and it was delicious! The bread, veggies and beef were perfect. I will be back to try more things off their menu! read more

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It has been ages since I ate their food. It is the best Vietnamese fast-food shop. The banh mi is still the best. I ordered steamed rice flour rolls (Bánh Cuốn Đặc Biệt), special pork (Bánh Mì Đặc Biệt), tapioca dumplings (Bánh Bột Lọc), and braised pork belly (Bánh Mì Xá Xíu). The rice flour rolls were not the best, but banh mi is a must-order. Their banh mi was flavorful and crunchy bread with lots of fillings, no matter which protein you get. read more

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Bustling and efficiently fast Vietnamese eatery with such amazing selection of food! And of course, some of the best banh mi I've had in the Boston area! We have been here multiple times when we crave banh mi, for the simple reason that they consistently make it so savory, sweet, and delectable every time! Along with banh mi, they have a wide variety of other foods and Asian pastries; you could easily buy a week's worth of premade meals in this tiny shop! There is usually a long line wrapping around the store, but it moves relatively fast and the staff are very efficient with their service. They also have a drink stand near checkout with some delicious flavors (like avocado smoothie). This place is a staple for me and I am constantly finding myself back here for their food! read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Cheap and so tasty. I always go to Ba Le when in Dorchester. I leave with a heavy bag stuffed with goodies for the next few days for $27-35. The line doesn't take too long. Tons of options to explore. The reasons I don't do much are 1) I love my go-tos. 2) lack of English signs (or any signage; though they've recently added some which is helpful. I wish they'd label everything). I always get a Banh mi sandwich. I've tried several meats and most like the chicken and bbq pork. My other go-tos are: - (dark colored) bbq pork (fresh vermicelli wrap) spring rolls, though I've also enjoyed the mixed with 1 pork, 1 shrimp, and 1 with a spam-like slice - pork floss buns: I've seen as many as 4 types. I just discovered the one with shredded seaweed as mochi inside! It's a bigger, flatter version of the pair of rounds that I always get at Taiwan Bakery - all the other baked goods I've had were delicious; they seem to rotate the offerings There are a variety of other goodies in front of the glass along the whole line. These are not very well organized and very few are labeled. I would definitely try more of these if I knew what was in it. They give free banh muffins sandwiches and Vietnamese iced coffee to military service members. Rare and nice to see this. read more

Delicious Banh Mi sandwiches with beef, pork, chicken, tofu and a number of other options. Service is fast and friendly and prices are more than reasonable. They also have egg rolls, meat patties, buns, noodle dishes and an array of Vietnamese snacks and desserts. A fantastic local to-go eatery that has gained well-deserved recognition in the broader Boston culinary scene. read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Carry-out banh mi sandwiches - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The line may be long here but this place is a well oiled machine, popping out banh mi after banh mi! And oh my goodness is the line worth it. When I went table had chairs stacked on them so couldn't use them to eat there, so we ate in the car. The staff behind the counter moves you right along to get your order, get paid and get you out. Their prepared foods at the beginning were so fresh, we had the Thai green papaya salad, and whatever the sauce is on that is amazing. Now the banh mi, the showstopper sandwich. It doesn't matter what meat you get, even though my favorite was the bbq pork. The fresh slightly toasted soft rolls paired with the meat and fresh vegetables are just heaven. The sandwich is big for me, but it's so refreshing especially with the buttery mayo and oil they put on it added a nice bit of flavor and the one to two slices of jalapeño are just enough if it spice for the sandwich to balance out. Anytime I am in the area I will stop it for sure. read more

Finally got a chance to drive out of the city to this spot! It's more than just a Banh Mi shop, they have tons of other food and treats! We came at 10AM on a Wednesday, they had everything made hot and fresh. I originally wanted to try their banh mi but ended up buying tons of other food! Banh Mi- Chicken and Dac Biet: 5/5! Fresh ingredients made to order. You can ask them to add or remove any ingredients to your order also. Banh Cuon: 5/5, this is a must for anyone who's never tried. Difficult to find a place that has this fresh. It was made perfect, comes with crispy cha gio (roll), cha lua (ham), veggies, nuoc cham, and you can ask to make it spicy with garlic chili! Xoi man- savory sticky rice 5/5: this was already prepackaged and ready to go. It was still warm! Some of the best I've had in a long time! I got extra and even had some next day, and it was still so good. They also honor military deals and discounts! Just show ID! If you can make it out here it is well worth!! Very cheap, so fresh, amazing for lunches! This is set up more like a deli. You just grab and go, nowhere to sit and dine. You'll need to street park but plenty of free parking on the street immediately to the right of the store. read more

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The best banh mi i have ever had. The store itself is packed with really great vietnamese foods. Super tasty freshly made drinks too. Everything here is good you can't go wrong. Not a ton of seating inside so be prepared to take your food to go. Go at an off hour to avoid the line. read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Prepackaged food and snacks - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The best place in MA for banh mi, hands down. Fast service, always consistent quality and freshness. Also love their drinks - especially Vietnamese coffee and avocado smoothie. One of the rare places to get fresh sugarcane juice! Must visit in boston read more

Hit the spot! Loved the special pork banh mi (~$8). Plenty of fillings including lots of cilantro etc. Can customize with extra pate or jalapeños etc. Tightly wrapped too to minimize spillage. Excited to find a place with a solid, filling banh mi! read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Special pork - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

After my fantastic experience at Banh Mi Cafe, I had to try what has recently been crowned as the best Banh Mi sandwich in Boston. That title currently belongs to Ba Le, positioned along the Vietnamese enclave some people call Dorchester Avenue. With a name that literally means "bread," it is a sandwich after my own heart. What I have learned in my relatively brief experience with these sandwiches is that its variety of flavors tends to evoke an intensely personal experience. I have not been to Vietnam yet but for me entering this market was like stepping into what I might expect a mini-Ben Thanh Market to be. You are surrounded by shelves of Vietnamese delicacies as you weave your way through the takeout line. They offer an array of hot food options as you work your way in -- if you aren't feeling particularly banh-mi-ish. The sandwich-making operation (although slightly impersonal) is an impressive assembly line of workers. I tried both the bbq beef and bbq chicken varieties, both were served on slightly crunchy baguettes and loaded with pickled vegetables that gave me a good amount of savory and heat on the back-end. The mayo underneath added another silky textural layer. Was it good? Yeah -- both were fantastic -well balanced and the bbq lent a slightly smoky note. The best in Boston? I think I slightly preferred Banh Mi Cafe - but now I know that i need to try both side by side. My only question now is when are Boston's Banh Mi competitions starting? It's on. read more

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Many selections here ! They're very face with their services. The atmosphere here is very fast paced. Nice decoration on the wall. The food is delicious especially the sandwiches, a little far drive but it's so worth it. Also this is the main location. There is also another location in Malden inside the 99 Asian store. read more

Had to come back for my favorite bahn mi spot in Boston so far. Got the bbq pork, some rice rolls, sticky desserts, egg tarts, etc. Love getting things from here, it's always super fresh and food is 5/5!! read more

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This use to be the go to place whenever we are Boston and no doubt since they not only have sandwiches but other food and drink items. Unfortunately, this time for me- the quality went down. My banh mi dac biet had very little meat and an overload of veggies and over sauced where we haven't had a chance to eat yet and it was soggy already. Very strange, we've been here multiple times in the last decade and this is unusual. Love that it stays busy though. read more

Ba Le Dorchester - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This is probably one of the best and most authentic banh mi shops in Boston. They have a large variety of other goodies that they sell including pandan. I appreciate their generous helpings of mayo and pate, and if you want to keep your banh mi fresh and not soggy, they can separate the bread from the toppings for you to assemble at home. I really enjoy the bbq pork banh mi, but the cold cut is another classic favorite. There's always a line when I go, but it moves relatively quickly. The inside feels very mom and pop grocery store like. There's street parking outside although I've had to drive into the neighborhoods to park before because it's quite popular. read more

THE BEST BANH ME IN THE ENTIRE CITY. they have been consistently serving affordably next level delicious food for years and years. Everything is sooooooo good. The vibes are immaculate, a neighborhood staple that is worth whatever line is there. Try the baked goods, get a smoothie, and go back again and again for new hot foods. It is always worth it read more

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I LOVE this place!! But I do want to mention that they have a "vegetarian" sandwich that contains fish oil. Fish oil is not vegetarian! I wish they would make this clear for their vegetarian customers. None the less, I frequent Ba-Le and make sure to order my bahn mi with no fish oil. It is amazing every time! read more

There was a long line and so worth the wait. We ordered the traditional cold cut banh mi, grilled pork banh mi, to go pork vermicelli and coffee. Everything was delicious. The only challenge was finding parking. read more

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Ba le used to be the place to go for a good banh mi and sugarcane juice. I grew up coming here with family. I remember when one banh mi used to be $3 and now it's over $10 I think the quality has certainly gotten worse over the years with their gaining of popularity amongst westerners. Cutting corners on quality to keep up with cost and demand was not the way to go. Now that banh mi is trending in the food world, there are plenty of other places to grab a good banh mi - some places have even better quality with a cheaper price tag. (Ie: banh mi Boston in quincy and downtown, banh mi le in quincy, lumi in braintree, chau's in Dorchester and randolph) It's not that I don't like the banh mi here, it's just not worth the price tag in my humble opinion. It is, however, a great one stop shop for viet snacks when you're in a pinch. They actually get packaged foods shipped in from Vietnam and California directly. The desserts, baked goods, and drinks are decent. Although, again - some of it is still ridiculously overpriced though because you can go down the street to truong thinh and get it cheaper. read more