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Ba Le Bakery
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
22 reviews for Ba Le Bakery
Review Highlights
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"The Banh mi sandwhiches are also delicious." In 8 reviews -
"...filled with my favorite of grilled pork and pickled veggies." In 6 reviews -
"...hidden away in a shopping center along 193 in Langley Park." In 3 reviews
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22 reviews in English
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Review from Jim H.
Takoma Park, MD
1/1/2012
Great sandwiches, Bo Kho, garden rolls and vermicelli dishes so you can move beyond sandwiches here. Not the best ever or anything but everything is solid and reasonably prices, especially if you are not interested in driving to hell and gone Virginia. Also the lady who runs it is a sweetheart. As with most places there are better and worse dishes. I've never understood why people would order a bahn mi with roast pork or chicken breast-if you want a pork or chicken sandwich go elsewhere but if you want a standard with all the loveliness of head cheese and pate then you can't go wrong. Also lovely desserts in the fridge.
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Review from Yimei W.
4/20/2012
Very comfortable place to go on a warm afternoon; we got the banh mi sandwiches which were grilled such that I felt like I was eating asian pork jerky (in a good way!) and the set-up was very homey. It's casual, and sort of a mix between a grocery store and cafe. I appreciate their choices for different banh mi sandwiches; the summer rolls were prewrapped and came as a set of 3 large rolls plus sauce. That was a good deal. Overall, very cheap, casual-but-nice, and a sweet, low-key place to hang out without too much disturbances.
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Review from Jeff T.
9/19/2011
There are certain benefits of being Asian that serve as consolation for how sucky the rest of our lives are (unmanageable hair, mean parents, poor vision). One, we instinctively understand the complicated protocol of ethnic restaurants. Two, normally rude Asian waitresses are inexplicably sweet to us. Three, we are pretty good at math.
Whenever I walk in, the one old lady who is always sitting in front gets up from her chair, shuffles to the register, and asks me sweetly what I want with her mouth still full of food. She waits patiently while I read the Vietnamese scribble and the ambiguous translations underneath. I usually get at least two sandwiches or a sandwich and a summer roll. The roast pork, bbq pork, and the combination are the best. The roast pork is a lot like Cantonese char siu, so that's a familiar, tasty treat.
The bread is perfectly crisp on the outside and pillowy on the inside. The pickled radishes and carrots give it a nice tang/crunch and the cilantro and jalapeno add a lot of great flavors. I usually add a drizzle of sambal oelek and fish sauce that are available in dingy little containers on all the tables.
If you buy 5 sandwiches, the 6th one is free. At $3 each, that's 6 sandwiches for only $15 (I told you I was good at math). Also, more times than not, the old lady rounds my change up to the nearest dollar, and just gives me that. *Swoon*
Service, and the experience, isn't the same for everyone. I had a [white] friend that came here alone once and they yelled at him, start to finish. And then he wrote the lyrics to "Tonight Tonight." -
Review from Michael D.
Rockville, MD
2/28/2012 2 photos
Best bahn mi in the area; but considerably worse than Seven Corners. Pickled vegetables are fine, bread is acceptable. Grilled pork was kind of dried and old, and not particularly grilled.
I also had their fresh sugar cane juice, twice, which was consistently fresh.
Had a cold crispy egg roll which was a C+.
I will go back and try their soup.
Note, there's a large, great asian grocery next door. -
Review from Venu N.
6/15/2011
1.75 stars. My experience at Ba Le (Hyattsville) reminded me of a line from Paris at Midnight: "No, I said cheap is cheap."
Look, I get that some people are turned on by the fact that an ethnic sandwich costs $3.00. In many respects, I commend that. Why overcharge for a simple product? Having said that, the banh mi here is amongst the worst that I have had in my life. The "baguette", or rather, Ba Le's version of it, was simply a soft, slightly sweet roll that tasted absolutely nothing like what I would generally expect. I didn't think the sandwich was generously stuffed with meat (my roast pork order was probably 10% meat), and I question whether the vegetables that I ate were fresh. All in all, it was a below average sandwich.
Service was unnecessarily brusque. They were out of half their menu before noon even though there did not seem to be a line of customers knocking through their door. The store itself had a God-awful putrid smell that pretty much wrecked any semblance of this outing being a positive experience.
I'll be the first to admit that the surrounding cities of Washington DC have relatively strong ethnic options, but in this case, I'd rather just stay in my neighborhood and eat the "expensive" banh mi at Ba Bay. -
Review from Kelly O.
College Park, MD
1/5/2011
Inexpensive and delicious. My favorite is the pate sandwich.
(BTW, I wonder the "old mean lady" is coming across as gruff because she doesn't speak English very well. She was nice to me.) -
Review from Kevin H.
Bowie, MD
3/5/2011
Reminds me of L.A where these things are $2.50 - $3.00 a pop. They are only $3.00 here so get 2 for yourself.
Bahn mi is the fantastic fusion of French imperialism and Vietnamese cuisine. There are a ton of sandwiches to choose from. I know it took me a awkward 4 minute standing session of me going back and forth between all the options they had. I got the combo(for the adventures and not turkey sandwich on white bread person kind of guy) and the grilled pork sandwich( for anyone with a soul and appreciation for good food) would like.
However, this is all I ate and I plan on returning next time I buy dirt cheap produce at H&A asian supermarket next door. Oh and buy 5 and get the 6th one for free. -
Review from Carl T.
Columbia, MD
3/27/2011
I was introduced to the Bahn Mi at a wonderful Vietnamese Grocery Store in Falls Church, VA. This place is the closest one to where I work. It is pretty much the same, but not quite as good. It will satisfy your craving, but leave you wanting more.
However, I was very surprised by the desserts they offer here. They have a delicious corn pudding that I have returned for many times. It's a wonderful way to finish a meal. It is very cheap too, less than $2.00. -
Review from Nathan S.
Gambrills, MD
4/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really have liked most of what I eat here, check out the other reviews as they are representative of the bahn mi. I would recommend spending a little time and branching out and try the rice dish (grilled pork is yummy), or their crab and tomato soup. The owner makes her own hot sauce in jars on the tables...use at your own risk, this stuff is super potent. Give this place a shot and lets make sure they stay in business.
Giving it a 5 star because I can always find something here I feel like eating, knowing I will enjoy it.
Don't forget, they sell alot of the foods they make over the counter, so you can get the headcheese, pate, black pepper sausage, Ham, etc. For home use. Major plus! -
Review from Roy S.
10/19/2008
This place is tucked away in "Langley Park" but if you are willing to brave the area you will be in for a treat. I go for the Vietnamese Sandwhiches which are awesome! Freshly prepared and tasty, they just raised the prices to $3 a sandwhich and no more so they lose a star!
They are foot longs on french bread filled with my favorite of grilled pork and pickled veggies. Sounds weird but trust me its good...
The inside aint much but the people are friendly and the food is good, plus you can get some random asian stuff if thats your thing... -
Review from Christine L.
Silver Spring, MD
5/28/2011
This place is quite the hidden gem in college park. They have many different types of banh mi and its is freshly and quickly made. Be sure to try the vietnamese coffee. It is made with condensed milk =) There is also a variety of different desserts in the fridges.
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Review from John P.
Takoma Park, MD
1/27/2012
Great banh mi sandwiches!!!!
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Review from Sara M.
2/21/2010
Just noticed this little gem hidden away in a shopping center along 193 in Langley Park... I guess it's been there for a couple of years, but I didn't spot it until the National Wholesale Liquidators (::shudder::) next to it went out of business and was replaced by a nice international supermarket.
Like any good Vietnamese deli/bakery, they've got a wide assortment of banh mi sandwiches with different toppings - pork, sausage, pate, veggies, egg, etc. Every sandwich is on their excellent house bread with pickled vegetables and tasty homemade mayo. They have a deal where you can buy 5 sandwiches and get the 6th for free. The sandwiches are a little small, but I can only eat one and a half or two... not anywhere close to six! But at $3 per sandwich, these are cheap eats either way.
I tried three sandwiches (split with a dining companion): combination (two types of pork and pate), lemongrass sausage, and grilled pork. All three were tasty, but the combination sandwich was by far the best - it's pretty much the "traditional" banh mi sandwich. I'm sure I'll work my way through the menu on future visits. They also have a lot of other dishes on the menu to try, as well as smoothies and bubble drinks.
Ba Le doesn't measure up to some of the delis in the Seven Corners area, but it's a great find for the local crowd. Cheap, friendly, and delicious. Yay! -
Review from andrew s.
Bethesda, MD
7/13/2009
Good banh mi at a good price, excellent Vietnamese coffee and fresh spring rolls, plus bun, pho and a few other specialty dishes (although I haven't tried the noodles yet).
Very friendly, low-key and pleasant on the inside; dive-y, in a very low rent strip mall on the outside.
The only Vietnamese sandwich place that I've found this side of Rockville, so that alone recommends it, but its a tasty, cool little joint too. -
Review from Diane Z.
Laurel, MD
9/23/2010
I really wanted to try Bahn Mi after watching the Great Food Truck Race on tv. I went to this place at 8pm. No one else was there and it was 1 hour before close. This is the convo I had with the lady behind the counter.
Me: Which is better, the Pork Breast or the Shredded Pork
Old Mean Lady: I don't know, you have to choose what you like, I can't help you
Me: If I've never had it before, how do I know what I like?
Old Mean Lady: You have to choose, I can't choose for you. You are eating it not me.
Me: Well, are they cooked differently?
Old Mean Lady: Yes
*silence*
Me: Well, how are they different?
Old Mean Lady: I have all these sandwiches, look I have 19 different kinds *points to pictures*, I can't tell you the difference in all of them. You have to choose what you want, you are eating it not me.
Me: *in shock for a whole minute*
First of all, Bahn Mi is not really the most common food around. It is not like I'm asking a question that everyone would know, like "what is the difference between a cheeseburger and a hamburger?" Me and I am sure a lot of other people would like a nice "starter" Bahn Mi and not something too crazy. Secondly, I was not holding up the line nor was it closing time, so I have no idea why she was so rude. I also only asked the difference between 2 things, not all 19!! If she had just pointed the pictures to begin with, I might of ordered something. But I refuse to spend money on a place where someone will talk to me in such a rude manner.
If you're new to Bahn Mi, please save your time and try another place first. Apparently the people here do not have time to help you figure it out. 0 stars is what I wanted to give this place. -
Review from Brian R.
Berkeley, CA
4/25/2011
This place has solid banh mi, although they should give more of a discount for buying in bulk. They don't dumb down the pickled vegetables and peppers for their non-existent gringo clientele.
Oh, and the person who thinks that banh mi is really exotic needs to get a life and stop watching food truck TV shows.
Bonus points for the two overdressed, middle-aged Vietnamese women behind the counter always having really loud conversations in Vietnamese. Inside voices are for gringos. -
Review from Al T.
San Diego, CA
12/23/2010 7 Check-ins Here
They bake fresh french bread daily only 25 cents a pop. Crispy on the outside soft and doughy on the inside what more could you ask for?!?! The Banh mi sandwhiches are also delicious. Cheap and Delicious....what more can you ask for?
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Review from Sarah E.
Hyattsville, MD
1/7/2011
I love the combination bahn mi from this place - so cheap and delicious! The sweet yogurt from the refrigerator case is also yummy. Definitely worth checking out if you live nearby.
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Review from MARIA H.
San Francisco, CA
7/17/2010
They make great vietnamese sandwiches that comes in a variety of combinations made to your preference. (or did I just feel like I got special treatment from the supernice guy that made my sandwiches) I loved the fresh french bread with the soft center and crispy outer skin. All the different fillings were so good. I don't think you can get a better tasting sandwich for price you pay anywhere else.
I also fell in love with the vietnamese Iced Coffee there. It had a good strong coffee flavor, sweetened, and iced. It was just perfect for the hot weather outside. I had to get one everyday while I was around the area. -
Review from Claire J.
Washington, DC
7/8/2011
A banh mi here will only set you back $3 (and if you buy 5, you get 1 free), as other reviewers have mentioned, so it's hard to resist them. The combo banh mi is delicious (but with the head cheese and pate, in addition to some more traditional meats, it's for the adventurous eater), and their grilled pork is also really tasty. The pickled carrots and radish on the sandwich are just perfect, in my opinion. I've also tried the pork + egg roll vermicelli salad which was quite good. All in all, definitely worth a visit, especially after picking up some great groceries at H & A Supermarket!
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Review from Kurt B.
Washington, DC
5/9/2011
I had the combination Banh Mi. On another occasion I had spicy beef soup. Both were excellent, but the Banh almost made me turn my car around to go back for another. Perfect bread, delicious mix of flavors. Maybe a Banh Mi purist will think it's just ok, but it was a little $3 slice of heaven for me. Just trying to think of an excuse to go to Langley Park again.
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Review from Leland C.
Hyattsville, MD
4/26/2009
I got the grilled pork bahn mi and it was great. The quality was at least as good as Song Que in the Eden Center. It's surprising this place has not been reviewed more, considering that it is directly across the street from Pho 75.
