I wished we had one of these Vietnamese bakeries in NYC. Came for some banhmi's and they were good. The Banh Mi Dac Biet and the one with pork belly was tasty. Service was fast. read more

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Wow! This place makes an amazing banh mi and iced coffee! I shared the #1 Special Combination and the Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi. My favorite between the two was of course their signature #1. I loved the baguette and the filling in the #1 Special Combo especially several slices of cha lua. The banh mi is well balanced. Lemongrass Chicken was refreshing and tasty. I must comment that the jalapeño slices in both banh mi actually have heat! Everything is better with the Vietnamese Iced Coffee! :) When in town, Ba Le is a must! I definitely would love to try some of their entrees and side dishes next time! read more

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The savory items were not that good. Lacking flavor. However, the creme brulee in the dessert case was great. I'd like to try again.

Not a Bahn mi connoisseur but thes Bahn mid here are tasty. I ordered the special combo which has a little of everything. The bread is the main ingredient- and the baguette is crunchy and light. The second main ingredient is the page- yummy yummy . So much lighter and less salty than an Italian hoagie. Perfect on a hot summer day hitting 90 degrees. I had to do a Vietnamese food haul since I don't make down to south Philly often. So I got the Sesame balls , spring rolls and summer rolls for later. I wish we had a Bake on the Main Line ! There a lot of grab go deliciousness from deserts to spring tools and rice dishes. So convenient. My bahn mi came out in about 5 min. Plus there is a parking lot . Been to the one in DC and Maui. All are awesome. Love read more

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I grew up going to Ba Le locations in MD and Northern VA. Although those locations have closed; I am glad the location in Philly is still thriving. This bakery is a Vietnamese food and snack haven. There are over 16 types of banh mis, many different Vietnamese specialty drinks and tons of pre packaged foods and snacks. Service is fast and efficient. There is no seating so the only option is to take it to go. Parking can be a mess if you go during rush hours. I ordered the thit nuong and dac biet banh mis and asked for the pickled veggies on the side. I also ordered Vietnamese iced coffee and sugarcane drinks and also a bunch of snacks like banh gio and banh bo. All totaling over $60. Prices have definitely gone up and inflation is real. The banh mi alone were $8.95 each. It's insane. Another note is that although the thit nuong has good flavor; the bread itself was mediocre. No crunchy crust and fluffy on the inside. Overall, it was a decent and nostalgic experience for me. But I wouldn't go out of my way to revisit. read more

tl;dr their incredible baguette overshadows an otherwise inconsistent banh mi at this unassuming Vietnamese bakery Ba Le Bakery is a Vietnamese bakery and cafe known best for their baguettes. Their bread serves as the perfect conduit for their ample selection of banh mi sandwiches, and they wholesale it to other restaurants around the city. Beyond that, Ba Le hosts a menu of other baked goods, beverages, snacks, and sweets. Ba Le pokes out from the northeast corner of the industrial New World Plaza, otherwise occupied by spas, cafes, and bubble tea shops. The Paris-themed neon sign flashes dimly in the daylight. Indoors, the whitewashed walls are mostly bare, and harsh fluorescent lighting and exposed HVAC hang down from the dilapidated ceilings. Fully stocked shelves and refrigerators line the left, filled with a bevy of Ba Le's signature baguettes, savory cakes, condiments, and more. The long, stainless steel checkout counter to the right, separated by plexiglass, is no less abundant -- outfitted with a heat-lamped display case of grab-and-go eats. Many ceiling-mounted flatscreens list out Ba Le's extensive food and drink menu. Vietnamese pop music blends with the hum of the ventilation unit, only occasionally interrupted by a staff member shouting out an order. I arrived for late weekday lunch after placing my order 15 minutes in advance. Entering the bakery, I was surprised to find so many customers standing around, presumably each waiting for their orders. I quickly browsed the bakery's bounty before a cashier handed me my reusable takeout bag. I opted for the #2 Ba Le Combination Banh Mi, decked with crispy pork belly, pork ham, pork bologna, and pork pate among the other standard accouterments. Immediately, I was impressed by the show-stopping baguette, which had a perfectly crispy crust and fluffy crumb. The roll was unsliced; however, this turned out to be the tale of two sandwiches. The jalapenos and pork belly were not spread evenly across the roll -- only the second half had both in appropriate quantities. Further, with such a long sandwich, the meat felt stretched too thin, although the overall portion size was moderately large. Nonetheless, the flavors were tasty and authentic. My sandwich cost just under $10, as does the entire lineup of Ba Le's banh mis. While bigger and better than Chinatown offerings, my Ba Le banh mi was inconsistently crafted, and it misses the mark of being my favorite banh mi in the city. Nonetheless, for an affordable and filling sandwich -- or even for a bag of their fabulous baguettes -- Ba Le is worth a visit if in the area. read more

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

Vietnese hoagies are great places. Clean, nice quick service.Polite people will be going again very good hoagies. Fresh baked bread every day. read more

Some of the best Bahn Mi's we've ever had. Excellent ingredients--and OMG that bread. Just perfect. Easy ordering off the giant video menu and friendly staff. read more

The Ba Le Bakery is making some of the best Banh Mi sandwiches this side of Ho Chi Minh City. First and foremost is the bread they are baking. I'm going to give kudos to whoever in this place is making these rolls with an amazing French touch to them. Their bread is so good, I would be fine just coming in for these rolls; but their sandwiches are damn good also! I had their Special Combination Pork bologna, pork belly, ham, soy sauce, pate, and mayo served on our mini baguette roll. Garnished with pickled daikon, carrots, jalapenos, cilantro, and cucumber. It was big and beautiful and constructed so well not one crumb fell off or out of the sandwich. I love any kind of Asian food, but Vietnamese cuisine is slowly taking over my #1 spot and this Banh Mi's are a large contributing factor. This place is GREAT! read more

Not sure why people rave about this place (particularly for their banh mis) - yes it's a hole in the wall and located near a ton of great asian places, but this one is not it. The banh mi soooo mediocre. Their bread is subpar and the flavor of the meat is not what i associate w traditional viet flavors. There are so many better places to go. read more

I usually go to Ba Le Bakery if I want a quick and tasty Vietnamese hoagie. I like how they have different variations of their hoagie, depending on dietary restrictions and customization. Personally, I always recommend ordering online and going in the store to pick-up because on their website, it has a picture of the food, along with the general description of ingredients used since the names of the dishes are in Vietnamese. Usually, if you go on the weekday, the hoagies don't tastes as great as they do on the weekend. Today was the first time I ordered on a Saturday, and the French baguette used was so fresh. In general though, their food, snacks and drinks overall are pretty good (ex. Flan, summer spring roll, crispy pork spring rolls, drinks, etc) but there are some snacks that aren't worth it (some of the more traditional desserts). I ordered the #5 Steak hoagie, cut in half, separate veggies, added extra veggies (pickled daikon and carrots) , label sandwiches, and no chili (cause I have low-spice tolerance); #13 lemongrass chicken, seperate veggies (pickled daikon and carrots), added extra veggies, cut in half, label sandwiches, and no chili; flower cookie, and penny wort and mung bean drink. Both hoagies were great, due to the fresh bread and quality ingredients. The flower cookie was a nice dessert. Even though it's fried, the flavor is mild and subtle (due to the sesame seeds inside the cookie). Personally, I like the penny wort and mung bean drink because I think it's refreshing and the flavors balance each other out, but the drink may not be for everyone. Luckily, they have plenty of other drink options to choose from! read more

Ba Le Bakery - Zoom up of the Vietnamese hoagies - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The banh mi was pretty good. Bread was soft. The jalapeños were extremely spicy. I felt there could've been more pickled veggies added onto the sandwich. The grilled lemongrass pork spring rolls were to die for. Not many places add the crispy fried egg roll skin into the spring rolls but these had it included and makes it 10x more enjoyable. Fair priced and quick. Plenty of different food and drink items to purchase made to order or set out in the heat lamp areas or fridges to grab and go. There is nowhere to sit and eat so you'll want to plan to take this to go at the park or home. They do take card but will add a fee for electronic transactions so bring cash if you can. This will remain my go to stop for quick take out viet snacks. And parking is always a plus. read more

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A must when I visit philly! I love their assortment of snacks, sandwiches, spring rolls and refrigerated items. When you first walk in, you immediately get hit with the scent of freshly made bread. My usual grabs are their spring rolls - there's a crisp layer that adds an extra crunch. My two usual grabs are the shrimp or lap cheong! I tried their bahn mi for the first time recently. Parking available! read more

Still a solid option for grabbing snacks and banh mi with a huge menu and good variety. Prices are on par with others in the area. It's not the best banh mi but it will satisfy a craving and the bread has a great chew and crunch. Worth a visit to pick up some of the desserts as well! It's the only spot to get the Casablanca coconut strips nowadays. read more

Came here for a snack. Many quick options but there is a wait for the freshly made sandwiches. We came here to get some Vietnamese cafe style ready to eat food and some banh mi. There is quite a selection of bao, baguettes, fried egg rolls, meat with rice dishes and desserts. We got the mini rice dumplings with pork and a pork belly combo banh mi. The dumplings were filling and delicious. Came with some crispy onion and fish sauce type dish. We really mean they are filling. The combo banh mi (#2) contains pork belly, bologna and pate. The pickled veggies make it refreshing and the meat makes it savory. The bread has a good satisfying crunch with the mayo to moisten. However the meat could add a little more seasoning. Good thing we had some leftover fish sauce from the dumplings. Parking can be a hassle. The lot is almost always full due to the plethora of shops. People park in the center median of Washington sometimes. We parked in the neighborhood. Pay attention to signs, district permit required or 2 hr parking. There was a wait for the sandwiches...be aware. Some food delivery drivers were getting upset for waiting a while. These are fresh to order! read more

Ba Le Bakery - Mini rice dumplings - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I ordered the banh cuon and the nem nuong cuon. They were both delicious. The cashiers were friendly and helpful. This place has a ton of Vietnamese deli staples. My only complaint about Ba Le was the price seems a bit a high for Vietnamese food, but I'm not from here so it may be normal for the area. The banh cuon was good and came with all of the mix-ins lettuce, cucumbers, fried onion and fish sauce. The meat inside was really lean or really dry, but it was a bit harder than what I was used to. The new nuong cuon was also good. I think it was also really lean meat. I wish it came with the orange sauce that it usually comes with but it came with spicy nuoc mam which was also good. Cant wait to come back and buy more! read more

Ba Le Bakery - Banh cuon - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This place deserves zero star for dishonesty, we came here on Easter Day and it's very busy, we tried to buy stuffs and checked out. We did not double check the price since we thought all the price tags are fixed. In the receipt they charge some items 2 times, moreover they sticked other price labels on the top of the other and it showed extra $0.20 to extra $0.50 each item. Such a scam! Since this place has been there on market for such a long time, the quality is going down and the staffs as well as the owner are not honest to customers. You guys should not make extra money by swallowing money from customers this way! read more

One of the best banh mi sandwiches in the city. The bread is perfection! Just look at the little bubbles on it. If you like spicy I recommend asking for extra jalapeños, otherwise, it's perfection. read more

Ba Le Bakery - #4 BBQ Pork Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

BA LE has the absolutely best bahn mi in philadelphia. i love #4 - the bbq pork. the bread is so delicious and doesn't get crunchy quickly like most other bahn mi. read more

At Ba Le Bakery, you choose from various premade foods. I have tried the Pink Water Chestnut Dessert, Rainbow Dessert, and Banh Da Lon (Steamed Layer Cake). Given that I purchased only premade items, the payment process was swift. The space inside is quite compact. Overall, I had a positive experience and I would consider returning in the future. read more

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I love this place. It's a Vietnamese food / snack haven for me. Most of the foods here are tasty especially the banh mi. The rest is a hit or miss depending on your preferences. The cha oc , for example has too little snail and is mostly cha - pork roll. Their sugarcane has about 20% sugar cane then cut with water and orange juice. It sucks. This really takes away from the scent of sugar cane. The service is okay. It's an Asian establishment. It all depends on their mood . Haha. Things over the years have gotten too expensive here though. read more

Oh yeah, I will be back to revisit. I thought this was great and I picked it up right before heading back to Queens. The is a Viet market and they sell a variety of goodiess. This place seems like a well oiled machine since the lines were a moving. The food: Vietnamese Ice Coffee- I really liked this a lot. I liked the bitter note, the flavor was great and the consistentcy was really good. I did think it was a touch too sweet but this is a must get. #1 Dac Biet- This is the classic of what I consider a banh mi to be. I thought it was made well, I loved the ingredients, my only issue was I wished the bread was crusty. The bread was 100% soft but to preface, I ate the sandwich like 4 hrs after I bought it. I would easily get this again since it was the preferred sandwich between the two. #2 Thit Nuong- Grilled Pork- I thought this was made well. I thought the filling was so flavorful but for me, it was a bit too sweet for me. Overall, it's worth getting but I did like the original a little more read more

Authentic Vietnamese market with the best Bahn Mi in Philadelphia! Their bread is baked fresh on premise and it definitely makes it even better. read more

When my husband and I first moved to the South Philly area, we were coming to Ba Le almost every weekend, which attests to how good their food is. What I think really sets Ba Le apart from your average banh mi shop is that they also sell a variety of items in addition to their sandwiches, ranging from pre-made meals to all the ingredients you would need to make your own banh mi at home. Ingredients, Food, and Drink Ordered: * worth trying - [Xoi Man/Sticky Rice with Pork*]: I haven't tried many of the platters/pre-made meals but, if you try any, I think you should try this. I really like the combination of the different textures and flavors. - [Deli Meats*]: I've had a number of the different deli meats like Nem Nuong (Pork Meatballs), Chao Tom (Prawn Patty), Nem Chua Vi (Cured Ham), and Cha Chien and they have all been delicious. You can buy them to make your own banh mi at home or do what one of my friends did and make a charcuterie board. - [Dui Ga Nuong/Chicken Leg Quarter*]: Don't be fooled by the simplicity of this item. Even though it is simply a single leg quarter in a plastic container, this is some of the best chicken I've ever had. I like to buy it for dinner and have it with some rice and a side dish. - [Cha Gio/Pork Spring Rolls*]: If I were to recommend any single item from Ba Le, this would be it. These are some of the best spring rolls I've ever had. I will sometimes come to Ba Le to just buy these. - [Banh Mi*]: Out of the handful of different banh mis I've tried, they have all been good (Special Combination, BBQ Pork, Lemongrass Chicken, and Prawn Patty). However, I've noticed that they only taste their best if you order them during peak hours (i.e. on the weekends). When I order them on the weekdays, sometimes the baguette isn't toasted or the meat doesn't taste as good. Also, I've had better experiences ordering them in person versus ordering them online. - [Kem Flan]: The flan isn't anything special. - [Banh Mi Ingredients*]: I've bought Ba Le's Do Chua (Pickled Vegetables), their baguette bread, and housemade mayo. I would recommend their bread and mayo but I think you could make your own pickled vegetables and produce the same result. Would I go back? : Of course! If the amount of times I've checked in is any indication, I frequent Ba Le a lot. Although I would more accurately rate them a 4.5/5 due to the inconsistency of the quality of their banh mis, Ba Le is easily one of the top places I recommend to people when they visit Philly. read more

This place has a lot of varieties of Vietnamese dishes. There was a crowd waiting for the banh mi order. The summer rolls are big. The sesame balls are fresh and has perfect chewiness. I took a star down because It's a bit too crowded for current pandemic condition and it's hard to be six feet apart I was so anxious about the crowd and couldn't wait to get out of the store. read more

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Ba Le Bakery may serve the best bahn mi I've ever had in my life. Their bread is the winner and is an absolute show stealer. The meats and veggies are top notch, but the bread for their sandwiches is such a crowd pleaser. Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and it doesn't get soggy with the ingredients. What more could you ask for? Ba Le Bakery is a traditional, classic Vietnamese shop in all aspects. Hot and cold dishes freshly made that day and ready for you to pick-up. Bahn mi to order at the counter with most customers and staff speaking in Vietnamese. It reminds me of home and is always a highlight of my day to stop by here. read more

The is place is great. Very authentic Vietnamese bakery/deli! It's so great to see a place that has all the Việt goodies! I ordered 2 banh mis with extra pate, summer rolls with shrimp and pork, Việt vinaigrette to bring home. read more

Ba Le Bakery - Grilled Pork Summer Rolls - Goi Cuon Thit Nuong - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ba Le. Rhymes with banh mi. And if you're in Philly (also rhymes), Ba Le is probably top of the representative heap of Banh Mi-teries. Basically, if you're judging other Viet hoagies, a Ba Le banh mi is the yardstick. Their entire menu is good. Throw up a dart, I dunno. Assuming you have no allergies and aren't the type to say weird shit like "no mayo" in a banh mi joint, then you're gonna have a good time, yo. It all starts with the bread. They bake their own, because it's a bakery, it says so outside. And god damn, is it pillowy and soft, and perfect for absorbing the flavor and fat from the mayo and pate. I know the pate is house made. The mayo might be? I don't really care if it is, because it's punch-someone-in-the-face levels of good. Of course, the default move is the dac biet, which I think roughly translates to "special"? Which is funny because the special is the default everywhere. Which makes me wonder what type of banh mi is "plain." Is it just bread, pate and mayo? Questions. Lemongrass pork is not to be missed either. Their little snacks and premade pate and gio lua (Viet pork roll) are also excellent for purchasing in bulk and attempting to make your own sandwiches. I can't say anything about the cha gio (fried pork spring rolls) because they're comically expensive, or maybe that's just the opinion of someone who had to make hundreds of these for parties as an "intern" or "child laborer" in my parents' house. I will never hate on someone's cha gio money. Don't let your dreams be dreams, Ba Le! **I've never tried the boba here, because honestly, I completely missed that trend like I did with Harry Potter and Pokemon. OG coconut juice (back before they called it "coconut water") crew, represent. read more

First timer here. Small take-out only restaurant. Accepts cash and credit cards. Has an ATM on-site. I ordered the special combination banh mi which consisted of pork pate & mayonnaise, pork bologna, pork ham and red pork belly, soy sauce, standard mix of pickled daikon, pickled carrots, cucumbers, jalapenos and cilantro. The banh mi was good but couldn't really taste the pate. The bread was nice and crispy. Veggies were fresh. I also ordered cha gio (pork spring rolls). They were crispy and fresh. This was one of my favorite. I was disappointed it didn't come with nuoc mam. Overall good, and will likely be back! read more

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

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Ba Le reminds me of SoCal Viet joints near OC, delicious food and authentic flavors for a reasonable price. Their Vietnamese coffee and thai tea is the real deal - however, not a big fan of their boba texture (reminds me of boba you'd get at a supermarket). My go-to banh mi orders are bbq pork and crispy pork belly. Their bread is always fresh and all of the fixings (pickled radish, carrots, cilantro, etc.) are always fresh was well. The pork belly is definitely crispy and seasoned well, and bbq pork is always a staple! Some snacks I always pick up are their goi cuon (shrimp summer rolls), banh cam (sesame balls - SO CRISPY!), and Che, of course. *Bring cash if you don't want to get charged an extra fee when using a credit card!* read more

Ba Le Bakery - #14 Crispy Pork Belly Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I used to really like this place but the quality control has gone way downhill. I don't like giving bad reviews but the last order I got was the final straw. The beef in the lemongrass beef banh mi was essentially just fat and cartilage. It was so chewy and lacking in actual protein that it was inedible. Of the 5 chunks of beef in my sandwich, I had to discard 4 and I regretted persevering with the other. They clearly just used the cheapest possible off-cut in the hopes that no one would notice. Added to that, the banh gio was slimy and didn't smell right. Such a shame as this place used to serve some of the best banh mi in town and the bread is great. Just a shame about everything else. read more

I'm in this area on certain days in this day I saw someone eating something that looked familiar and I hadn't had in a very long time! This is one of the sections of the city filled with Asians and there a language barrier that almost stopped me from get to Ba Le Bakery, lol! But I made it and I'm glad I did! I ordered a number seven. Why? It looked good and had stuff on it that I kinda knew what it was. Shredded chicken. Then there was veggies and a spread. It was a warm sandwich with cold veggies on it and oddly enough, it was amazing. I did want a cold sandwich, but I didn't know which one to order. I do now! I'll be hitting this spot at least once week for a different sandwich each time! There's so much more in the store too. I'd consider it exotic due to the cultural differences. From spices to baked breads to strange looking desserts and meats! Get you some!!! read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I grew up coming to this shop. It's a small space with just an ordering counter, but you can grab banh mi, Vietnamese noodles, rice dishes, drinks, and desserts. You can also buy banh mi ingredients like pate, baguettes, and ham. I've tried a lot of their sandwiches but the special combo is unbeatable. It has probably three types of Vietnamese ham, pickled carrots and daikon, pate, Vietnamese mayo, and cilantro. The bread is also made in-house and they toast it so it's nice and flaky. Tip: if you don't like spice ask for the jalapenos on the side, those are crazy spicy. Make sure to also get Thai tea or Vietnamese coffee! I've been to so many banh mi places around the US, like San Jose and Houston, where people have claimed the best banh mi are. I think nowhere can top Ba Le though. Every time I come back to Philly, Ba Le is often my first stop before going home. I have to grab multiple sandwiches every time I go and stock up for the week. Highly recommend it, you can't go wrong with the special combo sandwich. read more

Oh wow. I've been craving a Banh Mi in Philly for so long and didn't know about this place. This hit the spot. Went to a South Philly Plaza after being recommended Ba Le, got the Pork BBQ Banh Mi. Too good. The veggies were perfectly crisp and tart, grilled pork was perfect, and the sauce added savory and sweet to the sandwich. Loved how the Banh Mi overall wasn't dry but had a perfect balance of all flavors and textures. The service is a bit hectic in the grocery store/bakery but the wait is so worth it. read more

Great banh mi with some vegetarian options. I also like getting summer rolls or other snacks! The prices online were the same as in shop last I went. There's a large selection of options to grab and go inside. read more

After being to Ba Le many more times, I have come to appreciate their banh mi's a lot more. The banh mi's are big, refreshing, and delicious. That one time I ordered a banh mi that had a certain smell must have been an off day, all the banh mi's we've had after that did not have any funky smells. My favorite banh mi is the #2 with the pork belly. They have recently raised their prices (only by a little) for inflation and while there is no longer a credit card minimum, you have to pay a credit card fee if you do not meet the spending minimum. So just bring cash, unless you're buying 3 or more banh mi's. read more

Thank goodness for the convenience of a parking lot! South Philly can be pretty rough on parking, the lot made this trip simple. Anywho, I've had their Vietnamese hoagies before, this was my first time visiting their location. Inside of the store can get pretty congested quickly with little order, my suggestion, speak up when needed (for example: is this the line? are you in line? Did you already order? Yes! That's my order, etc) and follow the crowd. In any case, LOVE the hoagies! The bread is incredibly fresh and so are the veggie toppings. Looking forward to my next visit read more

Ba Le Bakery - #11 Vegetarian Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Authentic Vietnamese sandwich shop. Must go whenever at Philly area. A lot of Vietnamese snacks, meats, desserts and pho too. read more

Ba Le Bakery - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Amazing. Best bread ever. Many options. Thai tea Sells big container of pork floss for $20 read more

Ba Le Bakery - Pork Floss - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Tried the Fish Patty Banh Mi, was pleasantly surprised of how large the sandwich was, vegetables were crisp and the bread was great, overall decent hoagie they also added complementary sticky rice. read more

Ba Le Bakery - Fish Patty Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania