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Ba Le Vietnamese Restaurant & Deli - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Vietnamese Restaurants Delis Vietnamese, Delis [Edit]
842 Rockville PikeSte A
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 294-7808
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
102 reviews for Ba Le Vietnamese Restaurant & Deli
Review Highlights
"The beauty about banh mi is the ample vegetation to balance..."
(in 17 reviews)
"I have to confess, I love spring rolls."
(in 14 reviews)
"I'm definitely coming back again for their beef noodle soup."
(in 4 reviews)
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102 reviews in English
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Review from Lea Q.
Gaithersburg, MD
5/14/2011
I like this place and the Vietnamese subs are worth every penny. Recently however, they have been running out of stuff, their meals seem to all be pre-cooked and they just kind of nuke them in the microwave, and they staff seems pretty depressed to be there.
I still go every once in a while though. -
Review from Robert C.
9/22/2011
Ba Le's gone downhill sooo much. In just 2 years, the new owners're able to destroy this place. Gone are the old, nice owners that know me by name. In are the douche bags that give attitude and don't know how to keep the restaurant clean.
Lemme get straight to the point: Only the Spring Rolls are worth getting. They're actually really good. However, their portion's a JOKE. My last visit here, I got 1 of the lunch specials, Lemongrass Pork ($8). The portion's incredibly small. They only gave me 4 small chunks of pork,1/2 of a spring roll and 5 spoonfuls of rice... The flavor's just ok now, nothing special. A bag of chips probably would've filled me up more...
The worst part is on top of all these, they're not clean. My friend saw a mouse running around last time she's there. Don't waste your time and money coming here!!! -
Review from An T.
6/9/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This place has really gone down-hill since I first started here. I used to come here virtually religiously with my sister when we first started back in 2009. We're big soup & noodle fans, so we always came for the Bun Bo Hue, Bun Rieu, or some kind of Hu Tieu. The pho wasn't too bad, but definitely paled in comparison to a few other Pho restaurants around the same area.
I've stopped going as frequently within the past year or so, and after my very last visit, I'm not sure I'll ever come back. It was Sunday afternoon, and I was hanging with family from Ohio. They were in town for a family wedding, and after some crazy shenanigans during/after the wedding, they were looking to settle down with some good Vietnamese food. Given that there aren't that many Vietnamese options in MD/DC, I took them here, and man... it left me really embarrassed.
It was completely empty first off. Seriously, around 1-2 on a Sunday afternoon? Secondly, my out-of-town cousins arrived a bit before I did, sat there, having no idea that they were suppose to order at the counter, and apparently, people working there neglected to say anything to them. As soon as I got there and said something, they were like, "Oh... no wonder no one's said a single thing to us". I found it really rude... considering the family was the only group of people in there. Nice.
Long story short, the tables were dirty, the area where you pick up your utensils was dirty, and the food was meh. My family went from being really hungry, to just staring at their bowls after awhile. I felt soooo crappy as a hostess. Ugh!
Word on the street is, they're relocating or shutting down. Regardless, I won't be back ever again. Save your money and go to Mi La Cay in Wheaton! -
Review from Hodogg A.
Gaithersburg, MD
3/1/2011
This place USED to be awesome, it USED to be a place where you could find actual Vietnamese food. Over the last several years, the new owners tried to turn it into a trendy place...I'm not sure where what the new owners business model is but people are looking for a clean place where GOOD ETHNIC food is served and don't care about your orange walls. I've been a regular to Ba Le for about 15 years but I doubt I will ever return to this joint. Why do you have a menu when you don't serve half of the stuff that is listed.
If you are looking for Pho go to Pho 75 down the street, for real
Vietnamese food drive to the Eden Center in VA but if you like Orange walls, techno music and mediocre food then have fun at Ba Le. -
Review from Sarah L.
7/28/2011 1 photo
Sadly, this location is now closed. Make way for Pho Nom Nom!
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Review from Cheryl L.
12/10/2010 15 photos
I'm not a big sub or sandwich fan, so I didn't try the Banh Mi sandwiches everyone raves about when going to Ba Le.
Instead, I got one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes-- Bun with Grilled Lemongrass Chicken! This is basically rice noodles topped with grilled lemongrass chicken and veggies. I've had really good Bun, so the one here was a bit less than average, in my opinion.
What I really like about Ba Le Vietnamese Restaurant & Deli is that they have a huge selection on their menu, and off too. There is a whole shelf of fun snacks and Sriracha sauce for purchase. Same thing with the drinks-- a whole fridge with waters, juices, sodas.
I'll have to try their other items for my next visit, maybe Pho or a Sandwich! -
Review from Abegail A.
Washington, DC
This restaurant is located right across the street from the Winter Green Plaza off Rockville Pike.
I ordered their lunch special-BBQ pork banh mi, crispy chicken spring roll, and a can of soda for $5.75 (although it was advertised on here as a $5 special). The BBQ pork was okay, nothing special. I do wish they put more meat in the sandwich though...what's a sandwich if it's just bread?! The other ingredients (thinly sliced carrots/daikon, cilantro, and jalapenos) weren't exactly fresh, maybe several days old. They also just seemed to be thrown in there, for the sake of just throwing them in there. The bread wasn't bad, not stale and had the right amount of crunch to it. The crispy spring roll was pretty tasty.
The restaurant was pretty dark inside and had maybe about six tables if you decided to dine in. They also have several items blacked out on their menus because they are no longer available. They have an empty deli counter (maybe they should just change their name to Ba Le Vietnamese Restaurant?) and some Asian snacks on a rack.
I'm not sure if I'll be back or not, especially since I rarely crave a Vietnamese sandwich. They offer other Vietnamese dishes, but eh, maybe I'll be back to try them...just maybe. -
Review from Su K.
9/16/2010
If you want pho, I recommend driving 2 miles north on Rockville Pike to Pho 75. If you want my favorite banh mi that's not in the Commonwealthy, Ba Le is the place to be (Pho House in GBurg is a close second, but this is my favorite).
Food - if you don't know what banh mi is here's a link (http://en.wikipedia.or...). $3.50 for a 10", but don't let the size deceive you: most will need at least 2 sandwiches to be full b/c 1) the sandwiches aren't filled to capacity like most sandwiches you may be used to and 2) 2" on each are tapered, so really, you're getting a 6" sub that's not filled to capacity. But it's overflowing with goodness.
The bread is usually fresh. The pickled ingredients are great but hey tend to skimp on the pork. The chicken, however, is very meaty. They should really offer an extra meat option for an extra buck. Like John K. said, they have a Buy 5 Get 1 Free special, a.k.a., the Lester K. deal.
The other food and baked goods are just ok.
Location - $10 minimum for credit cards. Tightly packed interior - not so awesome when people are carrying around piping hot bowls of pho.
Service - even during the lunch rush, their service is efficient. -
Review from Eduardo S.
Aspen Hill, MD
3/25/2011
I liked this place...I walked in and it was a little dark inside, but i'm not one to be overly concerned with "ambiance" if the food is good.
As you walk up to the counter, there is a glass case FULL of Spring Rolls just glistening in the light, that make your mouth start to water.
They were pretty tasty, not as piping hot as I had imagined in my head prior to ordering, but still good.
Also, they have vietnamese sandwiches for $3.25 each, which I usually get at Saigonese in Wheaton for $2.50 each... they had limited selection and the bread was not as fresh as I had hoped...
I was in the mood for Pho, and got a bowl ( only 1 size, $ 7.50 per bowl), and it warmed me up on an unseasonably cold March afternoon.
Each table had a little bottle of hand sanitizer , which was nice.
Also, I got a can of "Jugo de Coco" from the fridge, and I enjoyed it as well. There are some Tamarind Candies, and other Asian treats and snacks on the shelves.
I assume that they are not available everywhere, so those who are familiar with these delicacies might appreciate them somewhat more than I did.
In conclusion, not too shabby ! -
Review from Melody C.
Arlington, VA
2/27/2011
I used to come here with my parents when I was younger - at least 10-12 years ago - and the quality of food and service was much better. It was our go-to place to grab banh mi sandwiches and a quick but yummy dinner of bun (vermicelli rice noodles topped with veges, cilantro and a grilled meat. Egg rolls were really good, our favorite. They must have changed management or ownership because after revisiting the place recently, I came away with a really bad impression of the place. I went in for a quick to go order of banh mi to stock up on for the rest of the week and of the various types I requested (which ARE on the menu), they only had one type, which sucked.
The service was slow, the guy at the register (I assume the owner) had kind of a bad attitude. He looked really unhappy to be there, pissed off to take my order. As I waited for my sandwiches to be packed up, I noticed that the place just had this deadened atmosphere - not like I remembered it to be. Shelves of snacks and chickory coffee were 1/4 full, the bakery counter was empty, but for a few pieces. They used to carry a lot of different puddings and coconut chewy cakes, and goodies wrapped in banana leaves, etc. What WAS left on the shelves, I wouldn't dare buy, because it looked like they hadn't restocked in a really long time.
Sorry to have to give this place a poor review, but quality has just gone down, and I was disappointed. -
Review from Gabriela R.
Gaithersburg, MD
Updated - 12/4/2010
Was there last Monday (11/29) and I doubt I will be going back which is a terrible shame because for years it has been the only place I go to for soup.
There were two people sitting down eating, a table with a couple of guys that looked like the owners friends and myself. I ordered two chicken pho. I waited and waited and waited. I waited for 25 mins. The girl (maybe 15 year old) was as oblivious to me as can be. I know I should have said something, but I was sick from the flu and had just come from being at the dog park for over 1 hour and was just cold, tired and super hungry for some hot soup.
I finally asked her when my soup would be ready and the guy, who looks like the owner said "a couple of minutes". When I finally got home with my soup I was so upset. Barely any chicken and the broth is different, even the color of the broth is different. The "sauce" they give you had barely made it into the container, I was given so little of it.
It seems like the place has changed owners. Gone are all the items in the front counter, now it is two empty gray counters with nothing in them. They no longer offer two or three items off the menu board.
Service before was very quick, food was excellent and there was so much to choose from. When the prices doubled a year or so ago I wasn't upset because the food was so good, but when you have doubled prices, bad service and too little food, I think it's time to look for another pho place.
Sorry, it has just deteriorated so much. Pity.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/17/2009
I love Ba Le, the Pho is awesome, I usually only buy the Chicken or Nam, it is my favorite soup in… Read more »
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Review from Jim C.
Silver Spring, MD
8/18/2011
Out of business.
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Review from giang l.
Silver Spring, MD
8/9/2010
I went there at 11am. I ordered a sandwich and a noodle dish (in Vietnamese) to the girl behind the counter and was snarlingly responded with, "um, i dont speak viet *rolls eyes.*" I don't know if she woke up on the wrong side of the bed but she was obviously already pissed off because the credit card machine was down and nobody was answering her call on the other line for help. Also she rang my sandwich, noodle dish and bottle of water for 32 bucks. Um, WTF?! She quickly corrected the problem...
Onto the food. The bread was hard as a rock and dry as sand. The meat was barely visible but they sure did add three gargantuan jalepeno pepers to pretty much kill my taste buds... I didn't eat the noodles, my boyfriend said it was good because they gave him enough fish sauce to drown everything in. Meh. I do have to say the only thing was great, the cold and refreshing bottle of deer park water.
I'd say, save your money and go somewhere else for lunch. Honestly, I think its THAT bad. -
Review from ChattyCathy C.
Germantown, MD
9/22/2010
This is a cute little place.
I was surprised at how many items are on the menu!
My hubby and son had the pho w/beef and meatballs and really enjoyed it. I had the bun tom thit nuong. Delicious. I also tried the combo sandwich. It was just ok. Displayed were some of my favorite Vietnamese desserts, but I was too full to eat anymore. I will def come back and try the other menu items and desserts. -
Review from Neal E.
After two back-to-back failed attempts to visit Garage organization solutions companies on a Saturday in Rockville - I was somewhat frustrated and annoyed. Something satisfying to eat for lunch was clearly needed. Pho sounded awesome!
I found Ba Le on Yelp and made my way over. Be La is a little different than other Pho places. No one brings you a menu and then takes your order. Instead, you grab a menu, get in line, place your order and pay.
If you order rolls - they hand them to you at the register and you attempt to grab a table. There were approximately 13 tables in the place - so this approach could be problematic - what happens if you show up planning to slurp down a bowl of Pho - you then get in line, and after getting to the front of the line - find that no tables are left? Weird.
I ordered the Garden Rolls and Pho Ga with white meat. I was handed my Garden rolls and sat down to eat them. I added some Sriracha sauce to the peanut dipping sauce. The Sriracha sauce seemed like it was a little thin - like it had water added to it. The rolls themselves were not bad - but the consistency of them made me think they had been sitting for several hours - they lacked a "fresh" quality to them.
The Pho Ga came out quickly - the aromatics and veggies were in reasonably good condition. But I noted - no jalapenos. So I finally managed to get the attention of one of the employees and waved him over. I asked him for jalapenos - he then brought me some. I asked if it was standard procedure to NOT serve jalapenos. He replied they only provide them upon request.
Pho Ga was good overall. The broth had a nice star anise/cinnamon fragrance to it. Noodles were not clumped. However, the broth level in the bowl was a little low - it needed a cup or so more broth in the bowl. Flavor was good - not the best I've ever had - but I certainly would come here again and order the same soup!
The place is brightly adorned. An almost fluorescent green and orange colors adorn the walls. The place was very busy at lunchtime on a Saturday.Listed in: Pho-Tastic Pho
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Review from Teresa H.
Rockville, MD
6/9/2011
This place USE to be my favorite place to go until their chef left about a year ago. I use to go there 4-5 times a week. Now, I can walk there from work and wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole. The food is almost not edible. Such a waste of what WAS a great Viet restaurant. I gave them 2 stars because of all the memories. Otherwise, it's a 1star rating.
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Review from William L.
Flushing, NY
6/22/2010
disappointed in the sammiches after all the good reviews. The bread was dry. I tried three different sandwiches and they were all a bit dry except for the bbq pork. Also, there was not enough cilantro in it. I will give them another try but mehhh for now. :)
On a brighter note, the decor is clean and quaint for a hole in the wall sammich place. -
Review from Mark G.
Satellite Beach, FL
7/22/2011
Decent, but not the best pho I've had.
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Review from Captain A.
Germantown, MD
11/10/2010 1 photo
** THIS PLACE IS NOW CLOSED **
Bummer. Was good.
This place is great. Everything is good. Very authentic.
Lately (the past year or so) it seems that they are often out of items listed on the menu. While I'd like to have what's shown, I take it as a good sign that the ingredients are fresh and consumed regularly.
Seriously, all the dishes (Pho, noodle bowls, salads, sandwiches, etc.) are excellent. Service is fast and I always find myself enjoying my meal but looking at the next table and wondering what they ordered. All the food looks good. Lots of hidden treasures in the large menu of this small deli. -
Review from John K.
Rockville, MD
7/11/2010
I want to give this place 4 stars, but I feel like the quality has gone down over the years. I used to always order the sandwiches (the "Buy 5 Get 1 Free" deal is very enticing), but this go around, something just seemed different.
The "Ba le" sandwiches are french bread with cilantro, cucumbers, pickled radish/carrots strips, peppers with your choice of meat. Whether it be pork, combo, BBQ pork, etc, it used to be so satisfying. Now, the bread seems hard and stale, they don't give you enough meat, and the peppers are so hot, that it just ruins the entire taste of the sandwich.
Their other food choices seemed very enticing. Neal E's review of the Pho seems pretty good. And everyone else around us ordered their dishes, rather than their sandwiches. I'll update my review after I try their other dishes. -
Review from Laura C.
Saint Louis, MO
7/28/2011
Good take out Vietnamese.
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Review from James P.
Bethesda, MD
6/28/2009 ROTD 8/29/2009
Omigah for saying wtf is a Vietnamese Deli, then trying it and saying WoW! Not World of Warcraft, but damn the subs are good!! Got the combination sub while I was kind of hungry and it was definitely not enough to eat ahhhh~!! If the Pho is good here, I don't care because the subs are just too good to pass. I'll come here over Subway anyday of the week =D. Also got the Pork dough/bread, I don't know what it is really called.. in Korean it is very similar to a Ho-Bahng. A bit sweet and delicious with meat inside, they heat it up for you too!
My friend said to try the Ramune drinks, and to be honest I was a bit disappointed =\. It is a carbonated drink but I didn't really like the taste of it. They have flavors such as strawberry, melon, raspberry etc. The cool part about it was the unique design of he bottle with a marble cap. I spent about one minute figuring it out. It might be difficult to drink it at first because it takes practice to learn to stop the marble from blocking the flow of the drink. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but I'm not going to explain it to you because it would be no fun without experimenting on your own =P.
This place might easily be 4.5 stars!Listed in: ROTD's~!!
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Review from Sarah C.
Updated - 6/8/2009 4 photos
All I wanna do is have some Pho
In line, observin' - I'm not the only one
I try somethin' new, put ga in Pho
Clear broth is fragrant, white tender meat - lots yum
All I'm gonna do is chew slurp Pho
Until my Pho's gone while in this cafeteria-restaurant
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Pho your eyes http://www.yelp.com/bi...2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/1/2009
4 stars for Ba Le
3 stars pho their pho
Nam.
… Read more »
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Review from Jennie L.
9/18/2008
my boyfriend and I are the BIGGEST fans of this place.
GREAT customer service, very affordable prices, and the food is excellent to boot.
my recommendations: the lemongrass pork sandwich, the pork sandwich, the noodles, the summer rolls, the cassava cake.
I will literally drive an hour from arlington to come eat here. -
Review from A.lo X.
Washington, DC
9/7/2010
I've only sampled the banh mi, so I can't comment on the other items they serve. Unfortunately, I have no desire to go back. The bread was so hard and stale, these were by the far the worst banh mi I've had in DC. Although the bbq pork filings were ok, the taste of baked saw dust is too difficult to get past. Is it really that hard to go to safeway or Costco to get edible bread at least?
To make matters worse, there was an unpleasant smell upon entering. In their defense, the more substantial dishes looked promising. But restaurant owners who obviously don't take any pride in all of their items don't deserve my business. I'd rather make the trek to any of the numerous shops in and around eden center, which are orders of magnitude better. -
Review from Tu-van L.
4/15/2009
After hearing Thuy L. rave about this business and how she was excited how the Falls Church location was open 24 hours, I figure I look for a Maryland equivalent. Thankfully there's one in Rockville, and while I don't know if they're open 24hrs, this is close enough to home to be convenient for a quick bite to eat.
The banh mi they have is pretty tasty and hits the spot. The grilled pork ones(ordered both kinds) were plentiful and flavorful though it might be slightly overseasoned/oversalted. The beauty about banh mi is the ample vegetation to balance the flavors. Displays of other snacks available in addition to regular sit-down menu.
Great quick Viet food fix. Bring some cash - $10 minimum for credit card orders. -
Review from Tiffany L.
Washington, DC
8/15/2007
My boyfriend and I just went to Ba Le for lunch. I got the lemongrass pork vermicelli noodle bowl. It was very yummy! My boyfriend got the spicy beef noodle soup, and he said it tasted a lot better than the noodle soup from Pho 95.
Just FYI, they do accept credit card now, but only Visa and Master. Not sure if there is a minimum charge, but I paid $7 with my Visa card. -
Review from Vivian K.
Silver Spring, MD
8/15/2006
Bale is like the Mcdonalds of viet food.. fast, quick, and always tastes good with a slight difference.. it's actually good for you~!! here are some good recommendations that will be sure to give you another option when you're thinking.. "asian".. and please.. stop going to pan asian restaurants.. the fact that they aren't focused on one type of azn food... a.k.a. japanese or chinese or viet or korean or thai, usually means they are bad at all of them
1) viet sandwiches- first off, they are the cheapest subs you will ever get now, and hopefully, they won't ever change that.. at 2.50 a pop, and packed with meat, pickled veggies and a lil' slice of hot pepper, these subs will definitely take you to a different place than those subway sandwiches you've been eating just because you wanna be like the still slightly overweight jarod who continues to eat subway even though it's not takin' away that flabby stuff under his arms when he waves..
2) the vermicelli noodle bowls - you can have your choice of meats and even spring rolls in this dish which is nice on your wallet and on your calorie count... full of flavor with meats such as lemongrass chicken or pork, shrimp skewers, and lots of sweet nuoc mum for you to pour over it, this is a filler upper...
3) the three colored desserts- for the coconut lovers, this is the best dessert hands down.. a coconut milk drink with lychees, jellies, and dried mango slices, you cannot have anything more exotic than this..
small tidbit you should know:
always have cash.. it's a cash only place.. .. $10 is sufficient for one.Listed in: food food food.. this is the…
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Review from Laura T.
1/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
Pho sure I'll be back!
Tasty broth, perfect noodle consistency, plenty of sprouts and cilantro to go around.... loved the spring rolls! Vietnamese spring roll dipping sauce beats out any other dipping sauce, EVAH!
I have to confess, I love spring rolls. Love them. Can not get enough of them. But I try and refrain from ordering more than one (or one order), for fear that I will begin to look like a spring roll.
Tomorrow, perhaps..... -
Review from Jess C.
Washington, DC
1/15/2010
So good.
Whenever, I feel like eating Vietnamese, but don't want a Pho, I come here to try all the other wonderful dishes of Vietnam.
I especially love all the noodles that make you use all that special sauce on the table. You have to be really generous with that sauce.
Boutique restaurant, and definitely worth a try if you're craving Vietnamese. -
Review from Seiko L.
Washington, DC
10/28/2008
I hadn't been back here in like 5 years or so...Temari was closed, and my second choice was a Vietnamese sandwich, so I gave it a go again. This place got better than what I remembered it to be.
The sandwiches are just as good as DC Sandwich in Falls Church - the only difference is that the pork is cut differently. It's sliced thin here, but they put a lot of meat, daikon & all that good stuff in the sandwich. The bread was hot out of the oven, and so was the meat. The sandwich was actually warm! And they have rice dishes too which were pretty decent for the price.
This place is a bang for the buck! I'll come back again if I'm not too lazy to drive my butt back to Rockville. -
Review from Sarah T.
Rockville, MD
8/1/2010
The bread is so stale and hard, almost like chewing on rubber.
I'm surprised there are so many good reviews about this place. Most local vietnamese people (esp the ones who can cook) go to Eden center in virginia when they're looking for good authentic food.
So I can easily guess why ba le is so overrated:
1) Convenience- it's the only one of its kind in the proximity. Like stopping at McDonald's to shell out a few bucks for crap food and bad service.
2) most of their customers are not Vietnamese, and have yet to ever taste better viet food. Go to Eden center and see for yourself the difference.
I've been there more times than I'm proud of, even years before the renovations with a different owner...it wasn't good back then either but the customer service and banh mi sandwiches were much better, also most of the food was made by actual viet ppl.
Although the ba le menu has many items that are inexpensive, the quality is truly sub par and there are things that are overpriced (i.e. a $7 bag of common viet instant coffee is only 3 bucks everywhere else)
The cashiers have never been friendly. When you ask them questions, they give a curt reply. When you have problems with the ominous prices on the receipt, they are rude. The food runners tend to be more polite, but it doesn't make up for the cruddy customer service received earlier.
Bottom line for ba le: they could be a tempting quick stop when the craving for viet food hits as you're rolling on the pike, but I'd prefer to drive to another state than to eat there again. -
Review from Donna Y.
Rockville, MD
8/17/2009
From all the great reviews I was expecting something spectacular, but i was disappointed. I had the pork roll and the flavor was great with the pickled vegetables and cilantro, but there was only one thin slice of pork in the entire sandwich. The sandwich is only $3, so you can't beat the price, but I was expecting so much more from past reviews.
Credit cards are accepted, but you need a $10 minimum, so make sure to bring cash just in case. They also have an ATM located within the restaurant just in case you do forget.
Next time I will try some of their other dishes or I'll venture out to Eden center, which I heard has much better Bahn Mi sandiwches. -
Review from ben l.
Rockville, MD
4/1/2008
I really like ba le, even though ive had some dirty experiences there. they spent some money on new decorations and such so it looks nicer inside and has more seating. The subs are a great deal and delicious. You can never go wrong with the bun dishes and the hue noodle soup is my favorite in the area. Another little gem that is only there occasionally is the pickled ham squares. Pickled ham with a slice of garlic and hot pepper on top. they are usually in the little fridge case up front. getting back to the dirty experiences (hair, cold soup, insects), those were back a couple years ago that made me boycott the place for a bit. but ever since i've been back its been clean. yay.
edit: they no longer have the pickled ham, they say they can't find a fresh supplier anymore. -
Review from Lam Ngan L.
Hyattsville, MD
4/12/2011
I could point out so many things wrong with this place but the bottom line is... I wouldn't go here for lunch unless I was really hungry and couldn't decide fast enough
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Review from Ellyn n.
Tustin, CA
5/9/2007
It's been a while since I've visited Ba Le, but I keep this little joint close to my heart. Ahh, Rockville Pike, which isn't known for its culinary diversity but more for its quick-hit eateries. Ba Le is one of them.
I remember the cheap, shredded chicken sandwiches with the right amount of daikon and cilantro. The owner who counted the change on the counter and curtly pushed them towards me after I paid. The hour-long talks with the best friend I had there about life, our futures, boys.
I've had pretty good sandwiches at Lee's in Orange County. But Ba Le has that hole-in-the-wall, I'm-in-someone's-living-room feel that Lee's can never touch.
Brings back memories. -
Review from Jen C.
4/19/2010
My favorite Vietnamese place! They have everything I want--sandwiches, egg rolls, pho, salads, and rice dishes. No msg either.
Sandwiches--I went for the regular combo, which was delicious. The bread may seem hard and flavor might be bland to those who've never had Vietnamese sandwiches, but once you dig into these it's an awesome sandwich which leaves a really appetizing after taste.
Egg rolls--not as good as the Pho 75 chains', but I can't gripe. It was cheap and good. However, they got my order wrong...when I asked for two I only got one.
Lunch meals--great deals. I've had the lemongrass pork and it's awesome, it comes with a salad or vegetables (the salad is really tasty with their squeeze in sauce, located on every table), jasmine rice, and an egg roll.
Salads--also awesome.
Pho--tasty and plentiful!
By the way, utensils are self-service so you gotta get up and get them for your table.
Employees sometimes have their off days (some days they're chipper and some days they look indifferent), but the food makes up for it. It's always packed during lunch hour. & every time I go here I get way more than I can eat. Thanks for the variety, Ba Le... -
Review from Paula N.
San Diego, CA
5/20/2008
It's cold and rainy and we had to choose a place to go to lunch. Some people wanted pho because of the warm soup. Some of us weren't in the mood for noodle soup.
So we chose Ba Le because a huge variety of Vietnamese dishes are available here, not just pho. I like this place because it's cheap, fast, and good and there's something for everyone. We ordered at the counter, and 5 minutes later got our food. You don't need to tip because you service your own table, so that saves an extra buck for lunch. We were all full, even the big eaters, because Ba Le is very generous with the rice noodles and those rice noodles tend to expand in the stomach.
They have lots of Vietnamese desserts too. I had a coconut sticky rice cake with coconut milk. It was yummy and light. $2 and very filling (3 of us shared the 2 pieces). Another guy got a cup of bright-green taro with tapioca bubbles on the bottom (and topped off with some more coconut milk). I don't know what that dessert is called, but it came in banana and mango flavors too. -
Review from Jonathan C.
Washington, DC
10/27/2008
Found it by accident and absolutely loved it. I was really missing Lee's Sandwiches in Los Angeles, and Ba Le's are nearly as good. The egg rolls were also great.
But this place is about the sandwiches, and the special pork roll rocks my freaking world!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from den f.
White Marsh, MD
1/2/2009
They have a buy 5 get 1 free special for Vietnamese sandwiches. They also have a good variety of sandwiches (hot, cold, pork, chicken, combo, veggie, beef) all which are pretty good. The only one that I have not been a fan of was the shredded chicken because it was really dry. Their iced coffee is also AMAZING. It's delicious and strong.
It's been awhile since I've tried the other dishes. They have vermicelli and rice dishes also, but it's pretty hard to mess those up since its grilled meat and fish sauce.Listed in: My Neighborhood
