Banh Mi Ba Le Vietnamese Sandwich Deli

This place is a block from my yoga studio, and once a week I’ll treat myself to a spectacular Banh Mi for only $ 3.50! I always get either the BBQ Pork or the Grilled Chicken, always with extra jalapeños, and they never fail to hit the spot… Okay, I’ll confess, I also grab a couple packs of Hi-​Chews to take home… Hey, it’s only once a week!
I haven’t tried their Phô yet, but I’m sure it will happen soon!

Best Banh Mi at great prices in the East Bay.

Delicious sandwiches priced at $ 3.50 — $ 4 each. Add an egg for 50 cents!
Cash only!

We ended up here b/​c my husband though this was a chain of the one in Oakland, but they are completely different. Viet ppl just like re-​using the same names a lot. Worked for the other guy, right?
We only ordered the one egg sandwich. Compared to the store in Oakland, it was just lacking in that maybe the bread didn’t taste as fresh but definitely that the flavors were more bland. Not enough maggi? Salt?
If we had walked in with no expectations, it would’ve been a fine sandwich. Plus, if you’re in the Berkeley area, this is a lot closer than braving the traffic on the I-​580 for the other restaurant. Also the area doesn’t look as skeevy.

Tiny hole in the wall type. They make delicious phở that hits the spot, the seating consist of one outdoor table and I indoor table. Their sandwiches are better than most around the area– ask for no mayo… B/​c he slathers way too much on. Take outs they have ready made are ok. Overall, tasty, reasonable price, and awesome.

The sandwiches are very cheap and tasty. The store also has che-​style drinks that are the bomb.

When we are in the area and craving some Banh Mi this is the spot we hit. Its a «little hole in the wall», but its a solid place to get Vietnamese sandwiches in the area.
Customer service is okay, but for us they have been pretty fast to get our sandwiches. We always get the BBQ Pork. The bread is good, not great, but good enough.
Definitely our spot when we are in the area.

There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how the play the game
It’s easy
What can I add to the many positive Unilocal reviews already posted?
This is my only bahn mi place. I went through a stage where I tested a bunch all throughout Oakland and the waste of money and calories only confirmed what I already knew: this is my only bahn mi place.
Learn from me young grasshopper. Don’t waste your money and calories. Come here for the double meat chicken sandwich and you will always be happy.

Delicious and inexpensive sandwiches served by a friendly and quick guy who always wears a smile.

Ba Le withstood the test of time, other local bahn mi places that were good have been slipping in quality recently, Ba Le however, reliably makes the same tasty sandwich every single time for years and years. i wish they would open later so i can come for dinner some times.

I love this place. Too much things cheap and affordable for everyone. Of course for students too who do not have enough money. I have been there every week and to be honest, this is the best banh mi in bay area. @@@@

I stopped by to get some food before driving back to Sacramento, got there right at 8 am. Unfortunately they weren’t open I waited bc I didn’t wanna leave empty handed and glad I did. The owners opened shop 20 mins after 8. I had the banh cuon which was so fresh and yummy, the noodles was sooo soft and fluffy, the shrimp spring rolls was good the sauce made the spring roll amazing it was extremely flavorful sweet, hint of spice, and not salty. I also order the banh mi combo which was also great however the French bread it was on was really hard like old bread – hard. I waited approximately 35 minutes before my food was ready which was about average timing. Had to take a star off for the bread and the hours of operation.

Best place for a quick lunch. It can get crowded because it’s so tiny, but worth dealing with people.
#9 BBQ Chicken bánh mî is my favorite thing here. It’s always a bonus to be able to get some of my favorite Asian snacks at the same time. The price isn’t terrible either. Can totally have a feast for three for under $ 20.

I got the #1 — but I’m used to these sandwiches with liver pâté. He said he could make #1 with liver pâté, ham and the head cheese — which apparently is not really a cheese. Bread was excellent — classic banh mi.
The coffee is pretty strong, the way I like it, on the sweeter side.
There’s a few tables and chairs inside and out — but it’s really a take-​out place.
Came to $ 5.50. Excellent deal

Quick, cheap, tasty. This is a bare-​bones kind of establishment. Seems to be a one-​man operation selling sandwiches for $ 3 – 3.50, so don’t expect white tablecloths and a sommelier. The bread is classic banh mi-​style roll, and the contents are classic.
Another poster gave a lousy rating to the place because he assumed the packaged food was not properly cooled. We had packaged spring rolls — they were properly cooled and were tasty and cheap.
Parking is no problem. There are only a few tables — three I think, two out front, one inside.
If you have a large order you should call ahead.
I expect I’ll be coming back.

Had the chicken sandwich which was OK and a good value. This place is very inexpensive. So why one star?
They had a selection of packaged sushi and a large packaged salad with seared shrimp in a cooler in front of the counter.
Looked tasty but the cooler didn’t function. It was being used a a display case and was at room temperature. The food, shrimp and raw fish had been sitting out for who knows how long at about 70°.
In fact it looked as if the cooler hadn’t worked in a long time.
Makes me wonder how clean the rest of the operation is.
Sorry owners, but this is a deal breaker. I hope you clean up your act and have much success. We won’t be back.

This place is a hidden gem, found in a strip mall off San Pablo. If I hadn’t been looking for them specifically, I would have never noticed it.
This shop is a small storefront with prepared food up front, drinks in the cooler to the right and pictures of their menu on the wall to the left. Sandwiches are prepared to order. I had the #2, the special combo with ham, pork, pâté, veggies. It was delicious! The roll was soft and the vegetables were fresh and crisp. Next time I’ll have to ask for extra veggies.
I also picked up one of their prepared combo rice meals with chicken, shrimp, roast pork, egg and salad to eat a later time. That too was quite tasty, even when reheated.
The gentleman behind the counter was really nice and friendly. Service is fast. This has to be one of the best deals in the area.

I find Banh Mi Ba Le to be one of your typical Vietnamese stores of an affordable and delicoius Banh Mi with other food options as well. I came here with some coworkers for one sandwich and I got the grilled pork option. We saw somebody next to us sitting outside get a bowl of Phở as well, so that’s also another option.
The service is quick and there are surprisingly a lot of options.
Quite good, tasty, and affordable!

Not as fond of the banh mi as most other people. I think just because it got too much hype and I maybe had too high of expectations.
When I walked in, I noticed the guy taking my order was on the phone, so I couldn’t tell if he was talking to me or not. He was also both the person preparing the sandwich and ringing me up. There was no one else around to help him even though there was a line starting up behind me. Yes, the sandwiches were pretty affordable at $ 3 each but they weren’t that great. The bread was crunchy and tasted fresh. I ordered the BBQ chicken, which wasn’t cut in pieces but shredded which compromised on the flavor a bit. But, they had a good amount of veggies, which I liked.
Some tips: Make sure you bring some cash. There’s a private lot to park in.
Final verdict: Meh. Just okay. Not worth the hype.

Decent banh mi, but some corner cutting leaves a bit to be desired.
First, the French bread. Still crunchy enough to tear up your mouth, but hints of staleness are also there. Not cool.
Second, very little pickled yumminess. What’s up with that? It’s like they skimped on everything that makes a banh mi good.
Lastly, the meats seemed dry and old as well. I’ve definitely had better.
Finally, mostly a nitpick, but who the hell just throws giant cucumber logs in a banh mi? It’s impossible to eat and just seems downright lazy.

My friends and I love to come here before our Saturday hikes to get some delicious sandwiches before our adventures! About $ 3.25 for about a foot long sandwich (less but only by a little). Bread is crunchy; meat is fresh and filling. The spring rolls are pretty good as well!
The only tragedy is that they aren’t open on Sundays so we have to stick with Safeway sandwiches for our Sunday Hikes :(
CASH ONLY.

It’s a pretty decent place to grab a meal in a pinch. They have a solitary table with four chairs inside, and two round tables with three chairs apiece on the sidewalk outside; so don’t expect a sit-​down experience.
I noticed that they have a pretty big selection of banh-​mi, as well as phos. I had the chicken BBQ, and K had the Pork BBQ banh-​mi.
The bread roll was a little crumbly and flaky which suggests it’s been sitting around for a little while, but not stale. It also might have been lightly toasted but it was hard to tell. The chicken was tasty enough and I was assured the pork, though initially it looked like spam but wasn’t, too was pretty good. The sweet pickled julienned radish and carrot with jalapeño did their usual trick, but I was mildly disappointed to find no liver paste in the sandwich — I always presumed this is what *made* a banh-​mi.
Nonetheless, it’s a quick cheap bite that did not compromise on taste.
Two banh-​mi, and two sodas for $ 8!