Ba-le Kona Restaurant

I will live in Kona for 12 years and been to this restaurant multiple times. But recently, I tried to Kalbi ribs for the first time and it was oh my gosh amazing! The whole thing melted in your mouth but at the same time it was an over salty. The flavor was so wonderful And then I had the spicy lemon grass chicken Vietnamese sandwich. The bread was so fresh. From my understanding, they make it every morning. It was a little small for me as a 6’1 guy but for normal people it would be a satisfying size. Lastly, I just really love their spring rolls. Again, because they wrap it and make it every day in the morning so it tasted really fresh. It wasn’t super salty but flavorful and crispy. So yummy!! I actually crave these things now

Not quite as authentic as Vietnamese restaurants we frequent in the DC area, but not bad by its own right. The pho used high-quality meat, and the broth has a different but pleasant flavor.

Good food, good prices, excellent Pho. The Happy Pancakes are crepes, not Bahn Xeo. But they are served in Bahn Xeo style. He bakes his own bread for the Bahn Mi. Definitely worth the stop.

We come here a lot as the price is not bad, especially the "mini menu" (which actually had decent portions). I recommend the beef pho with the lemongrass chicken sandwich (I only get that when I'm really hungry). The pho is solid, but nothing really groundbreaking.

A small sized pho is $13!! and it is super tiny. Super bummed but something in management has definitely changed, prices have gone way up and the portion to price ratio is definitely not worth it. They also charged 50 cents for butter to go with your bread.

My go to place for pho noodles and they have banh mi sandwiches in all kinds of flavors. Friendly Wali up counter service and good people. Husband left his wallet on the table and they held it for him. Good comes out fast. I always so in for a meal when on island. Nothing fancy...total casual spot.

Always delicious food - beef pho, special sandwich, pork chops, Vietnamese Iced coffee - yum! And friendly service too, w/ COVID safety!

Very good pho! I’ve eaten many pho in many restaurants and this one definitely belongs to the best ones! Don’t be afraid from the decoration, just order a pho and enjoy!

Really excellent pho - we went there twice during our week on the Big Island. Budget friendly, counter service and bare bones ambiance, but very friendly staff. The pho broth is delicious and complex, just like it's supposed to be. Clearly a local favorite. It is a little hard to find, tucked in the corner of a shopping center, next to a KTA store.

Okay... we are from Little Saifon on the mainland in orange county CA... so the expectation on pho is quite high... BaLe nailed it! Job very well done... the broth is delicate and yummy. Meat isn't over cooked. Total family run spot. Love it!

Excellent pho!! Comes in mini size again!! My favorite place of all time!!great service! Quick service Wonderful people! Plus wonderful sandwich's with yummy rolls that are homemade DAILY!! YOU'RE WELCOME 5 s

Always a winner for lunch in Kona. Pho, and Bahn-mi both staples once a week when on island.

The pho is always the best here. I had chicken pho and a tofu sandwich. They have excellent service and always so friendly. Walked in the restaurant and was closed but they served me and my fiancé.

Sooo good broth Wonderful basil Clean Nice people The broth! Good portions Family friendly Satisfying Clean restroom Get sriracha and oyster sauce

Great food!! One of the best kept secrets in Kona. Pho delicious and French rolls the best. Spicy lemongrass chicken sandwich is the bomb.

It was our first time eating here. I had the kalbi rice plate and my husband had their pastrami sandwich. Food was delicious! Friendly staff and great service. I noticed lots of people just ordered their Thai iced tea with boba or Vietnamese coffee. Next time I'm going to try their Thai iced tea. =)

Man I can only give ba-le 2 stars, and that is being more than generous. Location- next to sack n save. Dirty and freezing inside. Random items stacked against the walls and a bit of weird smell. At first glance at my Togo order it seemed okay but boy was I wrong. The broth was seriously horrible (I got the standard beef). They use the thicker style noodle which I personally really don't like in my Pho soup, I like the skinny ones. In my side back of assorted toppings little ALL my cilantro (which wasn't a lot) was rotten. Only good thing and deserving of 2 star was the lady was pleasant and tofu prepared well. Also a bit overpriced. I had the Mini pho with a can of plain green tea out of their fridge and it was over $12. Not mad I tried it but definitely won't be back.

I love their chicken noodle salad. It's the only thing I order, so I cannot vouch for any of the other menu items.

We flew all the way from Oahu for the homemade goodness of this Ba-Le. All you need to know is Thai iced tea with the PERFECT consistency of boba, family recipe Kal-bi AND family-run. I feel the love in the food. 4-days in a row. Seriously addicited

Ordered a Banh Mi Grilled Pork. Huge and delicious. Ordered ahead by phone and it was waiting for me to arrive.

When did their 8.00 sandwiches turn into a 20.00 sandwich. I was craving a bah-min , and it's been a long time since I went to ba-le . Prices was reasonable (at the time ) I order a sandwich and a Thai tea total was 21.00 !!! Holy c*** , never have I paid that price for a sandwich. WHY what is the reason !! still taste the same . Never again , should have gotten a pho if I want to make that price worth it . The staff is very nice tho and good service

Crusty and soft baguette bahn mi sandwich. I had the grilled beef. Love the sweet daikon. Also had a small bowl of Pho. The broth was delicious and not greasy. I dislike when you can see oil in the pho broth. Was visiting and glad to find delicious Vietnamese food here.

This was our first time at this place being on the Island for our vacation. I never went back. I ordered fresh spring rolls, mini Pho, fried egg rolls, and a Vietnamese sandwich. I didn't enjoy the fresh spring rolls at all. They were not authentic and filled with only iceberg lettuce and noodles and of course the shrimp. I would have like to see more herbs in the fresh spring rolls. I also didn't enjoy the Vietnamese sandwich at all. I ordered extra pate because I love pate. But the pate here was awful. It was not tasty at all, in fact it tasted like iron. I should have not ordered extra pate. The french bread was good and it's what i expected. The decent items were the fried egg rolls and pho. Pho tasted like how it should taste and being we ordered a mini bowl, that is what we received. Had a few bites of meat and the noodles. The broth was hearty and rich in beef flavor which is what is expected from pho. Overall, I didn't enjoy the food as I've tasted way better Vietnamese street food.

I'll start by saying, I love Bale so there is usually a bias. That said, I will do my rating on my experience today but also make some recommendations from my many experiences here. It's rare that I will try something new as I am a creature of habit but I did try something new today, their saimin with won ton $12.95. It's egg noodles with 7 pieces of won tons. The noodles were too overdone, way too soft and soggy. I did like the won tons. There is a good amount of green onions and cilantro topped on it so be sure you like that, I do. Next time, I'll definitely stick to won ton only. Which is a pork won ton, no shrimp. I got two egg rolls $2.25 each. Which are filled with ground chicken, cabbage, carrots, onions and shitake mushrooms. They seemed made to order, a perfect golden brown and quite tasty. Good sized too. Comes with fish sauce vinaigrette. It tasted like vinegar versus lemon juice which is what is traditionally used. My colleague got their spicy lemongrass chicken rice plate $12.95. Comes with two scoops of rice and a choice of mac or green salad. She opted for mac. I tasted it, which had good flavor and a little kick from the chilis. Good sized portion, which she couldn't finish and saved for later. I also got a Thai Iced tea with boba $4.95. The cup was small with a good amount of ice and the boba was firm in the center, which means it was sitting for a long period since they boiled them. Tea has good taste and mixed properly. My absolute favorite things to get from here they have discontinued. Banh mi with shu mai (pork meat balls) and Vietnamese manapuas. If you read your reviews, please bring them back! Another go to of mine is the lemongrass chicken banh mi, usually can't go wrong with that one. I also like the steam pork and pate, you need to like pate though. And for those who have not had a Bale banh mi, or any banh mi for that matter, it will come with pickled daikon (turnip) and carrots. I love them but have learned that to my mainland friends, it is an acquired taste. The service was very mediocre. You encounter cashiers that don't smile or seem to care much, it's just a paycheck kind of service.

Boyfriend wanted to try pho just so he could say he had pho in Hawaii. If you google it, there's one in Kona and one in Hilo that showed up. Although you can get noodle soup at other locations like inside a food court. You order and pay first then seat yourself. We asked the girl if anyone here speaks Vietnamese. She said yes and asked if we needed them to come out. I'm sure he's in the back and good to know that a viet person is cooking. There's three sizes. At first we were going to get a large to share but decided to get two small for $8.95 each. I got sliced beef and he got the combo that came with chicken, beef, and tofu. He added 6 halve meatballs for additional $2. It came out rather quickly and the first thing I noticed was the color of the broth. It was extremely dark. A side of garnishes were given for each person. Either it wasn't fresh or due to the humidity, it's wilted. Before I squeezed a lime, I took a sip of the broth and there was no need for lime. The broth was a bit sweet like msg then you get the tangy lime taste. The pho noodles are also slightly thicker than what I'm used to in California. I thought it was fine but you can clearly tell the broth has been altered by the taste and the color. My bf, loves pho and he said it's "awful" and said two stars. I don't agree because based on what they have on the island, I think it's decent. If they lighten up the sweetness and let people control the tangy lime taste then they got it perfected. The sliced beef is also not super thin. It was thicker but at least it came out pink until I sunk it in the broth. Chop sticks were disposals and the veggie plate. All the condiments are on the table. Napkins are at the front counter same with water.

The foods not even close to any Vietnamese foods. Phở taste worst then instant pho, basil snd bean sprout are not fresh. The place is not clean, table is very sticky. Service is very poor. we order pork over rice , she bring a sandwich. Not offer any water. I don't recommend this place . I would give zero star

Great food at a great price! They have options for everyone and really take care of their customers. This family owned and operated restaurant has the best Pho in all of Kona. Highly recommend!

The pho & sandwiches are so delicious! This place focuses on quality and deliciousness. It hasn't changed location, appearance or quality in at least 12 years. This place is a definite must visit while in the area.

Kinda weird I haven't written a review for Bale yet. This is one of my go-to spots, not only because it's almost the only Vietnamese in Kona- but because they are really good too. When I first ate here I would almost always get the vermicelli noodle bowl with fried pork rolls. That is still delicious, but the last few years have been exclusively pho and banh mi. You will notice they don't have the big selection of pho that most places will have. In fact, I think it's pretty basic in its offerings. However, to me, more important than even the stuff that goes into the pho, is its broth. If you don't have a good broth, it doesn't matter what else you put into it. This is where this branch of Bale shines. Their broth is top notch. Whenever I eat pho anywhere else, it's always a comparison to Bales broth. *Bale is a chain, so each one may differ. The banh mi to judge a store by is the classic, aka the special aka the combo (bánh mì đc bit). This is the quintessential banh mi- cold cuts, head cheese, liver pâté, and Vietnamese pickled veggies. They make a good one. As others have said, their baguettes may not be as good as other places. This is true, but there is nobody else in Kona making banh mi. I took my parents in law to eat banh mi here and they loved it. They actually took a vacation to Vietnam the following year, came back, and said Bales banh mi was better! Hah! Bale also makes an amazing grilled pork banh mi. I usually rotate between those two. The tofu is also good. In fact, I can't say I've had a bad one yet. Is there even thing as a bad banh mi? Pass on the manapua and the boba drinks, but definitely try their tapioca. It's delicious. This Bale is family owned and ran, and they do a good job. I have been a long time regular, and plan on continuing to be.

After coming here many years while on our vacations, the other day is the last time will be back. First, the prices have gotten way too expensive in relation to what it is. Secondly, the service is not friendly. Third, for the astronomical price we were paying relative to the quality of the food, the chicken was way over cooked and way too tough. We have been repeat customers on every vacation we have taken for many years. We're done.

The best Banh mi sandwich i have ever tried. We are from Hilo side but a visit in Kona will never be complete without having their Banh mi sandwich, so tasty and just simply amazing. Their Pho with brisket is the best as well. I wish they are in Hilo side.

Great banh mi sandwiches... I heard about this place before coming to the big island and decided to try it. I came at a time when they had just freshly baked their bread. It was all so yummy. And I'm so glad they had veggie options. I tried the spicy (not really spicy) lemongrass tofu banh mi.

We loved the pho, and the boba was tremendous. However the thing that stands out most is the wonderful service and the helpful folks at the counter. They showed great care and kindness to our little family.

Great Bahn mi sandwiches . They make the bread in house . We always get the take out ,which is all they do now. We call in and pick up in 15 min.

If I could give it 0 stars I would. Pho tastes like instant pho. You're better off getting instant pho honestly for the price. It's not even close to legit pho. The lemon grass bahn mi tasted like fake chicken. No cilantro, no carrots, no jalapeño , just stuffed with tasteless meat and Dikon. Pho 99 in Hilo was amazing! So if you can wait head there and get legit pho. This was really a waste of money. :(

We went on a rainy day mid day at lunch time 45 people inside, thought this might be an indication of good food people seek out Turns out everyone is still waiting on their orders, moving very slowy They're out of chicken which was what we came for

Located in a small shopping plaza in Kailua-Kona nestled right next to KTA supermarket, Ba-Le is delicious grilled pork sandwiches. Unfortunately on the Friday night we visited this restaurant, they ran out of grilled pork so we opted for the beef instead. Both items we ordered the beef sandwich and the beer plate we're ok nothing but nothing to rave about, just ok. The pickled carrots and radish and cucumbers really make this sandwich unique. In my opinion, the price you pay for what you get doesn't really doesn't compare to the same thing in the mainland. This is a tourist town so I get it, just support the local businesses.

I understand that Ba-Le is a franchise and will have different menu items depending on the owner. This specific location offered a spicy lemongrass chicken banh mi. It was just OK. Maybe it was the day I went, but it was very ginger-y tasting. Also, it was shredded chicken which made the sandwich very hard to eat. However, amazing staff, fast service. Clean. I would go back!

I love this spot. I eat here most of the days in my work week. Pho is delicious. Banh Mi's are delicious. The coffee, guess what, is delicious. I am not necessarily a connoisseur of Vietnamese food, but I did grow up next the biggest Little Saigon in the USA, in San Jose!

I don't know why Kona doesn't have more Vietnamese restaurants in the area but this little place will satisfy your cravings. Not a traditional spot but I'll take what I can get. The lemongrass chicken (or tofu) noodle salad is my jam!!! The first time I ordered the dish, I'll admit it didn't look so appetizing- the meat looked pale and the veggies bland. But one bite and the taste is phenomenal. Their sweet potato tapioca is pretty yummy- I kind of wish there was more chunks of sweet potato. And thank the stars they are able to accommodate different dietary needs!!! Dairy-free Thai tea? Yes please!! Serving size is a bit on the smaller side compared to the price you pay. Service has always been very friendly. Reason for 3 stars is because on several occasions, they wouldn't have one (or multiple) dishes available. My go-to meal was their fresh summer rolls but why stopped selling them due to being understaffed. I would call ahead and order to make sure you don't go there expecting to satisfy your cravings only to be let down that they are all out.

Okay! Bhan mi sandwiches, can be better... ingredients doesn't taste fresh, friendly service, however indoor was stuffy and no kind of ventilation... I suggest adding some fans or open door

Not a bad food selection and they have Bobba Tea. They have a few dishes other places usually don't like the seafood pho. They also have tapioca dessert. The restaurant isn't the cleanest and it's pretty sparse but the price is good for a quick lunch. 7/10. Will come again. The staff is also nice.

Tofu banh mi really hit the spot. Their tofu, lemongrass tofu, and vegetable banh mi are great options for vegetarians. If you are ordering banh mi, come in around 11:15am so you don't have to wait 20 minutes for the bread to bake. Workers behind the counter are very nice!

Don't come here for lunch unless you have a one hour long lunch break. Service is sloooooow. Lucky the food is good.

5 stars based on only trying the banh mis here, can't speak for the quality of soups and other items. We always get the special combination and theirs didn't disappoint. Their bread was the star of the show, light with crispy exterior, just like it should be. One of the best banh mis I've had in awhile. Iced coffee was on point as well. Sandwiches are pricy compared to the mainland, but it's still a good economical option for lunch in Kona.

Been hear so many times and have never been disappointed. I love their Pho soup. Their sandwiches are also very good and flavorful but I do wish they put more meat in their sandwiches. I will continue going back.

Food was delicious- it's very close to being authentic but more importantly it wasn't MSG loaded. I got the oxtail pho, beef combo pho, chicken pho, crispy egg roll and smoke meats platter. They have a Vietnamese and Hawaiian menu. Everything was delicious! We will definitely return for our Pho fix!

Delicious banh mi sandwiches. This is my just say no to bread & sandwiches diet breaker spot. I've had the spicy lemongrass chicken and the grilled beef. Omg heaven on a roll. I order extra mayo on the side & this orange colored dressing to dip my samiches and I'm set. It's hard not to order extra to take home with me. To cut calories & carbs, I take a to go menu to reminisce & dream about my next Ba Le order (really :) ) Besides banh mi their kal bi - bbq beef short ribs and butter garlic shrimp is delicious also. Tucked in the corner of a strip mall, this Ba Le is a very good location. It feels more like a mom & pop - my #1 criteria for a great food experience than a chain resto. I've been to the Honolulu location which has a totally diff. vibe & not in a good way... This location in Kona is waaay better.

Rude service. I had a really bad cold so I called to order vegetable Pho two separate times which they didn't have so they told me they'd have it the next day and then the third time I tried calling on a third separate day, they blocked my number?

This restaurant is in a strip mall with plenty of parking outside. At the time we went there was a high rate of Covid on the island so you could only get take out. That was fine with us because that is what we wanted. We ordered 3 Bahn mi to go. One spicy and. 2 regular lemongrass chicken. I told the lady that we wouldn't be eating them until later and she said she will keep the pickles vegetables separate because that's what would make the sandwiches wet. They labeled the sandwiches nicely and put a separate little bag of vegetables with each sandwich. After being out on the ocean for hours we got our sandos out and put our fresh pickled veggies on and ate away. It was delicious. The only reason I gave it a 4 was because I was excited for what I thought would be a nice and fresh and soft roll that they make there but it was tough on the edges which made it hard to cut and eat. The chicken flavor was very nice. While there waiting another customer told me their tofu salad is delicious. I would definitely go back.

Country music in a Vietnamese restaurant sorta throws one off - if you like salty food this is the place to be. Pho was decent, Sandwiches are questionable. $ value for portion and quality- average at best.

Best egg rolls EVER!!! Take them home and reheat them!!! Spicy lemongrass chicken sandwich is incredible!!! Most stop !!!

Great stop for a quick bite. It has a good selection of Vietnamese food: banh mi, rice plates, phô, and more. Order & pay at the counter and they'll bring the food to your table. We ordered the grilled beef banh mi and the mini sized sliced beef phô. It was just the right amount of fillings/toppings for both. The bread is made daily and was toasted just right. The restaurant is pretty casual with plenty of tables for couples and smaller groups. Overall pretty good!

I am not one to post bad reviews on yelp... but this blew my mind. There is no where else in kona to get Vietnamese food and I wanted pho. I ordered a mini pho and a mini bbq chicken plate. I always order this and the chicken usually comes with a couple pieces. This time they gave me one TINY piece of chicken and more rice and Mac salad than the chicken piece! So shame! I would have been shame to bring out and serve this tiny piece of chicken. I was like, "are they punking me?" It was $7.99 too for this tiny ass piece of chicken. WTH is going on here. I will not be back.

Would give 5 stars if they brought back the yummy soft Croissant bread they used to make their sandwiches with. The sandwiches here are delicious BUT the French Bread is SO CRISPY and hard it will literally cut your mouth when eating it! This is the second time my mouth bled due to the bread cutting my mouth! Maybe bring your own bread next time or just get the pho instead lol

Best Banh Mi in town even if it is not the best I have ever eaten. The prices are high like most things in Kona but it is the best Banh Mi in town and I go there frequently. Don't be offended by the rather dated interior decor. The food is what counts. Take it to go.

There's some food items I love here and some others not so much so I'd say that averages out to a 3 Love: the pho and saimin are good! always order seafood, combination or wonton. One of my favorite menu items is the spicy lemongrass chicken sandwich. Lots of flavor, moist chicken and crunchy french bread. Avoid: I had their egg drop soup and it seemed to coat your mouth the way raw egg feels- which was an odd sensation since the soup came out at like 200 degrees, so it was definitely cooked. The noodle salad I've got a few times, there's some ingredient they add that gives it a sandy texture, I just don't order it now. The summer rolls only seem to have lettuce and shrimp, a little bit of a disappointment if you're used to the herbaceous flavor of Thai style basil rolls. Love: The tapioca puddings!!! So many flavors to choose from, I love the coconut, chocolate and mango. They also have boba tea to complete the experience, major plus.