Nestled in Dorchester, Ba Le is the go-to spot for stellar Vietnamese banh mi, with a menu packed with vibrant flavors, freshly baked baguettes, and a vibrant assortment of snacks and desserts, all perfect for quick takeout.
"This is the crown jewel of Dorchester’s noteworthy Vietnamese dining scene. Banh Mi Ba Le is a combination market and takeout restaurant — there are a few seats, but it’s best to get your food to go and eat it elsewhere, such as at the nearby Robert E. Ryan playground, weather permitting — and it’s best known for its grilled beef banh mi. The bread, which is baked in-house, is both shockingly crispy and pillowy, packed with fresh vegetables and sweet, charred strips of beef. There are few better sandwiches in the city, or anywhere. Wash it down with some passionfruit juice, and get some Vietnamese pantry staples from the market." - Eater Staff
"One of Boston’s most iconic dishes can be found at Ba Le, one of Dorchester’s excellent options for Vietnamese food. There’s plenty of variety on Ba Le’s banh mi menu, including baguettes stuffed with spiced pork and shredded pork skin, pickled carrots, daikon, cucumber, cilantro, a choice of hot peppers, and special sauce." - Erika Adams, Rachel Leah Blumenthal
"Bread is at the heart of this French-influenced Vietnamese bakery in Dorchester. Their signature offering, the banh mi, starts with a baguette made fresh in-house daily. Topped with barbecued beef or braised pork belly, a pile of pickled veggies, and a housemade sauce, it’s a hard lunch to beat. Don’t sleep on the robust list of juice and smoothie offerings while you’re at it. Want to add to the order? Special lunch boxes at noontime come with a choice of two hot items like spring rolls and sticky rice, plus a soup." - Celina Colby
"Boston has a spectacular banh mi scene, but the best of the best can be found at Ba Le in Dorchester. Its barbecue beef banh mi may just be the best sandwich in the entire city. The bread, which is baked in-house, has a shatteringly crisp exterior and a pillowy interior, and it is packed with fresh vegetables and sweet, charred strips of beef. Plus, some optional fresh jalapeno if you like it spicy. The shop remodeled and expanded its interior during quarantine, with now even more Vietnamese pantry staples, delightful sweet and savory pastries, and other goodies on offer. Be sure to pick up a Vietnamese iced coffee while you’re there." - Terrence Doyle, Rachel Leah Blumenthal, Nathan Tavares
"At most grocery stores, the impulse items are things like candy bars and magazines filled with stories about Amanda Knox that you will not believe! At Ba Le, a Vietnamese grocery shop in Savin Hill, though, the impulse items are banh mi sandwiches and plates of Vietnamese beef wrapped in betel leaves. With all due respect to Stop N’ Shop, we like the way Ba Le does it better. Hit up the counter in the back here the next time you want to pick something up from a grocery store that beats the BBQ chicken wings that have been sitting under a warmer since Labor Day. Note that for the time being, however, you'll have to order by phone. " - dan secatore
