Ba-Le Sandwich Shop

Reviews about Ba-Le Sandwich Shop

• 5 / 5

  By Carol Porter
  Ba-Le is a no-frills Vietnamese restaurant with consistently excellent food. I always stop there when I'm in Kona. Their pho and saimin are flavorful and filling, and extra items (shrimp, roast pork, other dumplings or veggies) can be added for not much extra money. The green papaya salad is terrific. Nearly everything (with one exception, one time only) on Ba-Le's extensive menu is delicious, but my first choice is their French-Vietnamese sandwiches -- of which the spicy lemongrass tofu is my favorite -- served on their fresh baked crispy-crusted French bread, with just the right amount of radish, carrot and other tasty ingredients and textures that delight your taste buds with every bite!
  
  In local parlance, it broke da mouth!
  
  For me, the spicy lemongrass tofu on french roll, with a bit of Sriracha sauce added at the table, is the best sandwich on the Big Island. When I'm indulging myself, I pair the sandwich with a Thai iced tea. So richly sweet and satisfying!
  
  On one visit only, in February 2009, my visiting uncle ordered their beef ribs and was disappointed. Other than that, dozens of local friends and many of my visitors have enjoyed this place enough to want to return many times. It's always a meeting point when friends get together in Kona.
  
  Ba-Le has an affordable menu offering a variety of well prepared, fresh, authentic food. Local folks who seek a delicious alternative to fast food fill this place up every day. It is located next to the KTA on Palani Road in Kona.
  June 25, 2016