Ghetto? Idk, I don’t really get it. People really need to stop complaining about the way things look or what area its in, and describing it as «ghetto» If you’re looking for all the frills and trills just don’t even bother going here. You’re not worthy. Lol maybe it’s just me because i grew up not particularly in this area but what everyone calls«southeast SD» so it looks pretty normal to me. I find it rather offensive when people call things ghetto. Just cause it’s a little south of the 805 that they rarely ever travel to. Anyhow, yeah this isn’t a sit down, conversation, eat. Type of place. You just grab, and go. We always do the buy 5 get 1 free. He’s been doing this forever, and still does it. Which is pretty cool. The«regular»(special) sandwich that has all the cold cuts, pâté, head cheese pickeled radish and carrots of course. And a few jalapeños for some kick. You can’t go wrong with ordering this one. It’s my go-to banh mi. If I’m every trying somewhere new, I usually compare it to the one here at ba le. The bread here is so good. Nothing like k sandwich type of baguettes. This is the real deal, it’s so fresh and soft. Slightly toasted, it even smells hella good on its own. I also recommend the bbq pork if you’re not an avid banh mi eater. And haven’t tried the pâté or head cheese yet. He also doesn’t skimp on the meats so the sandwiches are fat. The only reason why this is not a 5 star review, is because the Parking lot, is small. It’s really not even a parking lot. Lol there are like 6 spaces of parking divided my 3 different shops. & sometimes the wait is long. Obviously people love the buy 5 deal. And it’s just one little old man slaying sandwiches and taking orders by his self. So imagine if u have 3 ppl ordering 5 sandwiches each and getting that extra 1 free. You guys know simple math right? So I advise you to call ahead and place your order. P. s.(F.y.i) Just like every«hole in the wall» Asian place. They do the bare minimal with cleanliness of the store and presentation. It’s just enough to keep me going. I’m not complaining though.(:
Cheryl V.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Westminster, CA
This is only my 4th sandwich shop in San Diego that I have tried and I must say this is my top choice next to Saigon Sandwiches. Location: not the safest Parking: very limited Exterior: a typical mom n pop shop Interior: no ventilation & very stuffy Menu: A good variety, but disappointed they didn’t have a beef sandwich and limited drink selections and refrigerator wasn’t cold at all :( I wish they had smoothies like how Saigon does Sandwiches: Ordered 5 and got 1 free: so 3 grilled chicken &3 grilled pork for $ 18.75 Wow…I must say, the sandwiches were filled with a lot of meat, just enough veggies, & asked for extra jalapeños, but the bread and the good amount of mayo made every single bite so delish Extra Item: Pork Steam Bun $ 1.75. I was a pleasant surprised how big the steam bun was and when I had the first bite, it was yummo n the inside was filled with Ground Pork, Chinese sausage, & eggs which was also a lot compared to any other places Final Thoughts: Never judge a book by its cover. The price on food is a bit pricy, but well worth it. Now, I want more Banh Mi, can’t wait to go back!!!
Audrey L.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 San Diego, CA
I am always one to get excited about trying out new banh mi shops and, let me say, this place is where it’s at. When my boyfriend and I went, we found this place rather easily, but if you blink you might miss it. Be weary that the parking lot for this place has about five 20-minute parking spots. We went on a Sunday afternoon and there were about three spots available. Walking in, it’s very mom and pop shop with that hole in the wall vibe. Don’t mind that because the sandwiches are ~delightful~. We each ordered the $ 4.25 special banh mi with extra meat included and a bbq pork banh mi to share for $ 3.75. This shop also offers a buy 5 get 1 sandwich free special. We ate the pork fresh and I’ve got to say that it was my favorite bbq pork banh mi that I’ve had. The bread was soft — didn’t scratch the roof of my mouth. The meat was plentiful and different.(While most banh mi shops I’ve been to chop up their pork, they left their’s in meatier strips.) It was delicious. Later for dinner, I had my special. This sandwich was stacked. Even after a few hours in the fridge and a few minutes in the oven, the bread remained chewy and the ingredients intact. This sandwich was also delicious. Overall, I recommend everyone to step out of their comfort zone and into this lovely little pop shop. The owner was very welcoming and our sandwiches were yummy. Also, CA$H ONLY. Bring them dollar-dollar bills, y’all.
Eric E.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 San Diego, CA
I was impressed with the sandwich for sure. I had the BBQ pork. Nothing like what I was expecting but very delicious. If you’re looking for something a little different, definitely give this place a shot. You will not be impressed with the location. It is a hole in the wall. Kinda rough, but the food is on point!
Christina A.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 San Marcos, CA
Been coming here for years.(I used to live near here.) The prices are good and the sandwiches are even better. Some people complain about the place being small, and there is no parking, and the place is quite unkempt(read: dirty). And those complaints are actually valid. This place rather hole-in-the-wall. But I’m a uncomplicated person who doesn’t ask for much and isn’t into all the frou-frou bullsh** that everybody seems to expect when walking into an establishment like this. Like I said, I grew up near here so I know what to expect and how to handle it. If you want a better-looking sandwich shop you’d be better of going to one of those rich neighbourhoods where the crime rate is low. If you want good sandwiches at a cheap price, this is the place.(I had originally thought of giving this place four stars, but decided on five because they kept me coming back for years and years, so they deserve five.) I also must warn that if you come here on a hot day, that inside the restaurant will be even hotter. No A/C. Sometimes they have a fan in the corner and sometimes they don’t. It’s whatever. To be frank, it’s never bothered me.
T t.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Las Vegas, NV
This is my favorite bánh mì in San Diego. I’ve been coming here for the last 30 years or so. Every time I leave Vegas to visit San Diego this is the place I visit every single time. Can’t wait to bite into it right now! Yummy!!!
Tiffany G.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 San Diego, CA
Best vietnamese sandwiches in San Diego. I’ve taken lots of people here who have eaten sandwiches elsewhere and definitely agree. My go to is the bbq pork sandwich – sooo yummy. The bread is the best I’ve had, soft and doesn’t cut your mouth like K Sandwiches. The meat… so juicy. Yeah, the parking is tight and the restaurant is small and outdated, but you go for the awesome food. It is also pretty cheap for a sandwich.
Rose P.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 San Diego, CA
This is a Ma n Pa place. They make banh mi like no tomorrow. They are very generous with their meats and pâté. So worth the drive. My sister and I crave the #1 special banh mi $ 4.25 it comes with extra meat. Also when you buy 5 sandwiches you get 1 free. I’ve tried their vegetarian banh mi and and honestly its to die for too it’s not tofu its actually fake but tasty«meat». We’ve been to LOTS of banh mi places. Our favorite for the past few years used to be Kim Chan on El Cajon blvd until we accidentally found this Bale place in January-and now we can’t get enough. We come here at least 3 times a week. Parking here is quite difficult but there is an additional parking literally thru the next entrance(15 second walk). Don’t let the location of the bale place turn you around. The service is also great! The Man behind the counter is always welcoming and cheerful. It’s a must try and go to place!
David R.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 San Diego, CA
Looks can be deceiving because this place is butt ugly… but the sandwiches are delicious. Bbq pork is awesome and the bun baos are mouth watering. Perfect dough to meat ratio. The best banh mi s in town for sure. Parking is very difficult and limited but so worth it.
Dean H.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 San Diego, CA
I absolutely love the ham sandwich here! #3 its my favorite! Love the sweet and spicy flavor. The people who own the place are very nice also. Ill definitely be a regular there
C c.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 San Diego, CA
Been eating sandwiches here since I was a kid. They are generous with the meat and pâté. Special with extra pâté is the way to go.
Jack M.
Évaluation du lieu : 2 Rancho San Diego, CA
I have to admit, I struggled between giving this place a two or three stars, so I am averaging it to a 2.5 stars and displaying two star, even though they have very reasonable prices, I just could not get over the poor Bahn Mi I experienced. I order the BBQ Chicken Bahn Mi which was anything but BBQ. The bahn mi came on a good hot moist French Roll and plenty of chicken, but the chicken was very bland and had no hint of Vietnamese BBQ nor grill as BBQ chicken Bahn Mi’s go( ). It was disappointing to say the least. It reminded me of oven roasted chicken that had its meat pulled right off the bird but without seasoning, and to make it worst, they left several pieces of cartilage that I had to spit out. No bueno. In addition, The bahn mi came with very little veggies, which I have grown to enjoy so much( ). The place is a little dingy, not much to look at, and has very limited parking. The people who work here appeared to be quite nice, but apparently they are making quite the different BBQ Chicken Banh Mi here that I was not a fan of… The bread was the best thing about the sandwich…
Robert K.
Évaluation du lieu : 1 San Diego, CA
The wife and her family have been getting sandwiches here for a long time now. I never heard of this place until my wife took me here. I would probably never go out of my way to come here on my own. Ya, the truth hurts… Anyways, the«Buy 5, Get 1 Free» special has been an ongoing special for years now. You can order just 5 and when you pickup your order, you will get 6, without even asking for the free one. My wife typically calls in the order when we go down and visit her folks. She also ask to get the pickled vegetables on the side as that keeps the sandwiches from getting soggy. It is good that she does this because this place smells like rotting fish sauce or something just as sinister, if not worse. I have pretty good olfactory senses, but I cannot pinpoint the exact odor. I was probably in there for about 20 seconds, when I had to bail(no pun intended) to get some fresh air outside. I guess that is probably why when we come to pickup sandwiches, we never see anybody eating inside. Then again, they have some ghetto tables setup in there so it really is not all that appealing to eat your sandwich while breathing in rancid odors. You are probably better off sitting outside on the curb right off of University Avenue. I must also comment that the place is quite dirty. When was the last time anybody cleaned under those refrigerators? I don’t think the tile in there is supposed to be black in color. Good food cannot come from a place that is dirty. If the front of the restaurant is this bad, how much better can the kitchen be? Parking also sucks at this place. I refuse to consume a sandwich made from this place. My wife and in-laws say they are great sandwiches and I respect that as this place has been around for a long time. Maybe people who frequent this place turn a blind eye and nose to the lack of cleanliness and putrid odors. This place just ain’t for me. I think Robert Irvine should make a trip out to this place as I would like to know what he thinks.
Joseph Y.
Évaluation du lieu : 3 La Mesa, CA
Very hole in the wall place, don’t even begin to wonder if they take credit cards, let alone report to the IRS. Guy inside is super nice, took my sandwich order and asked me if I wanted spicy or not spicy. I ordered the #9BBQ Chicken sandwich extra spicy( ) which turned out very tasty. It wasn’t as spicy as I would have liked it, but it had a little heat to it. The sauce inside was a little runny, which made it kinda of a mess to eat. But in the end, taste wins here, damn good banh mi sandwich. Just disappointed because the guy didn’t serve ice coffee, I should just stick to the banh mi places off el cajon blvd instead.
Phuoc L.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 La Mesa, CA
I’ve been going here for over 30 years now. The place is an institution for the Vietnamese community in central San Diego. I remember when it took up the entire ground floor of that building, before the Somali coffee shop and the knick-knack store flank it now. Sure it’s dingy and is the quintessential hole in the wall but the food’s great! The sandwiches are still very good Vietamese banh mi. I normally get a Banh Mi Ba Le(the regular) or if I’m really hungry, I go for the Banh Mi Dac Biet(the special). Others that I like depending on my mood are the Banh Mi Thit Nuong(grilled pork) or Banh Mi Xiu Mai(pork meatballs). I haven’t tried their rise dishes to go so I can’t vouch for that. But if you’re ever in the mood for Vietnamese banh mi and are in the neighborhood, this is a great place.
L N.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Sacramento, CA
Oh my! What a lucky find without Unilocal search. We were in the plaza grocery shopping when we realized we needed to get bread for our pasta tonight. Right in front of us was Bale Sandwiches so hubby ran over to grab some baguette. I tore a piece to try it was still warm and crunchy on the outside soft and chewy inside with a buttery flavor I looked at hubby and said«we must get more!» For $ 2.50 you get two very long baguettes. What a great deal! We went back in to pick up another order plus some banh mi sandwiches! Buy 2 get 1 free! They use the same fresh baguette for the sandwiches! Wow so delish! What a great find. We will be back before we head back to NorCal. Wished we had a shop this yum back at home. Lucky SD!
Katrina S.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 San Diego, CA
Wow! This little hole in the wall makes the best bahn mi on the west coast. Well. At least here in sd. The bread is fresh and crunchy and whatever secret sauce they put on there has crack in it. Because all you can do after eating on of these is dream about the next time you can have another one. And living all the way downtown is a bit of a problem. But I make a drive when the cravings are too strong!!! I always get the BBQ pork and some balls. Yummy!!!
David L.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 San Diego, CA
I’ve been coming here since i was a little kid(as far as i can remember ~5yrs old, now turning 22. By far the best Bang Mi sandwiches in all of San Diego. People who go to other places are missing out! Their parking sucks, but many great food places in SD have crap parking. But this review is strictly food! That’s all we should care about. I always get Thit Nuong(BBQ Pork). Help the small businesses! There is more love in their foods. :D.
Monica S.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 San Diego, CA
This is one of my favorite spots for Vietnamese sandwiches in San Diego. I always order the bbq pork banh mi. They are very generous with the bbq porks and the prices are also reasonable. If you buy five sandwiches, they will give you the sixth one for free. Parkings may be small, but the owners are nice and friendly. They are always smiling and welcoming. I will always return to this shop for more sanwiches.
Vicki C.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Dallas, TX
My mom and I stopped by Ba Le French Sandwich Shop last week after a Thanksgiving visit to San Diego. We had already eaten lunch, but just knew we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to test these rave reviews! And boy, I am so glad that we made the pit stop because MMM! These sandwiches are divine! The shop is definitely a hole in the wall, and the parking lot in tiny, but we didn’t have any trouble finding it. We ordered take out since we had to hit the road to beat traffic back to LA. At the owner’s recommendation, we got the #1 Special Sandwich($ 3.75), which is the traditional #2 Ba Le Sandwich with extra meat, and the #8BBQ Pork Sandwich($ 3.50). We asked the guy to pack the veggies separately from the sandwiches so they wouldn’t get soggy, since we wouldn’t be eating them until hours later. When dinnertime rolled around, the sandwiches were in great shape. The meats and paté were flavorful and the veggies were crisp and fresh. I haven’t had that much bahn mi around SoCal, but I thought these sandwiches were truly satisfying and such an amazing bargain. I highly recommend trying this place out if you’re ever in San Diego! Note: Cash only!