Ba-Le Sandwich Shop

I had a few things to pick up from Don Quijote because I’ve been learning myself how to make egg rolls and phở. One of my Vietnamese friends here told me this was here favorite spot on island and since we were already next door picking up supplies that we should stop in. I ordered the chicken sandwich. I really did like it. The daikon was a little overpowering the chicken and it was a little dry, but it had a good flavor and the french bread was fresh.
This location is tucked away on the side of Don Quijote next to the Yummy BBQ. I would of never seen this location if my friend didn’t take me here. The staff was super friendly and quick as well. They were pretty busy because it was lunch time. I was happy with my experience here and will stop in again next time I’m at Don Quijote

This location is clutch af. All the food is good, helpful, quick, inexpensive. Everything is fresh daily! You’d think something of this craftsmanship would deserve higher pay. Also there’s a little food court that you can sit just outside of Ba-​Le!

I’ve been here quite a few times and now I’ve decided to post a review. They’re always quick and very friendly. I’ve only tried the sandwich’s so far but I’ve liked them every single time. I will continue to come here after we do our weekly grocery shopping.

Stick to the sandwiches. I had the chicken curry with rice and it was terrible. The lady that works the register I give two stars. However the other staff was not very nice when a person I was with went into ask for more napkins she was asked very rudely if she bought something from there. Which she had made a purchase of over thirty, enough to offer a consumer a napkin.

Some people may hate me for this but I’m giving this BaLe a 5 star review. Please here me out, then judge me.
I’ve been eating here regularly (once or twice a month) for 7 years. I’ve eaten tons of things on their menu. All three of the workers recognize me (and many other regulars) when I walk in. They are always friendly and smiling.
The owner (the middle-​aged man), works his butt off. He rarely takes any vacation. Yet he is always super friendly and talkative to everyone. He makes me feel very welcome. Customers to him are like family. And I don’t mean that in the cliché BS way that companies like Walmart say it. He’ll talk story about everything and to anyone, old, young, whatever race, whatever job, everyone is an auntie, uncle, bruddah or sistah to him.
The two ladies (one wears an old apron and the other is a smaller lady) are also quite nice. Always smiling. Quick to take your order and make it. One night my wife and I came by and they had just closed, the lights were off and she was walking out the door. But when we came in, she opened it right back up, got everything out and made us our couple sandwiches. We didn’t even ask, she just did it.
The food is good, not outstanding. But if you’re reading this review, you have probably eaten at BaLe in the million other locations in Hawaii and you know what it tastes like. I’ve eaten at many other locations (Manoa, Pearlridge, Kahala, Downtown, etc) and it’s the same. Yummy.
Look, I’ve seen the things other Unilocalers have talked about. The «rag» from the zero star guy does exist. In fact, I’ve seen much worse than his story. If you’re a germophobe you will not be pleased. But for the record, I’ve never gotten sick from eating here after dozens and dozens of meals here.
So why the 5 star review you ask? I know, I rarely give 5 star reviews. However I’m going with my heart here and really want to support this family’s business. It’s a hard life to own a restaurant, a small business, and especially here in Hawaii. This place represents to me old Hawaii, not corporate, sterilized Hawaii. Ultra friendly service, a love for everyone, simple, old school, with hardworking people trying to make a living to support their children to not have a life in food service. I’m dead serious, that’s why the owner busts his butt. For his children. For his family. For the love of making people happy.
I apologize if this review offends you as I know it may some people. I personally love the food and service here and I believe you will too. Mahalo if you read this far.

If you’re looking for something fast and simple then this might be the place for you.
Whenever I go, the lady is friendly and is fast, which I appreciate.
Their sandwiches have pickled daikon and carrots which is perfect with their toasted French bread. Yum! Their shrimp summer rolls are yummy too, especially with their peanut hoisin sauce. However I’m not a big fan of their phở. They sometimes have ready made lunch specials like half a sandwich, 2 spring rolls, and chicken salad w/​rice noodles for only $ 6.50. Just keep a look out!

Looked up this Ba-​Le on Unilocal tonite. There wasn’t any Business hours listed so I gave them a call (Closes at 8pm Sat). It was after 7:47pm but she cheerfully took my order of 8 Eggrolls. That was nice of her. I picked up 6 minutes later. Went home to try. It was delicious. Will come back here again.

I enjoy this place, however I just don’t find it very appealing. They have great choices and some really good menu choices, however all in all I did not enjoy the food as much as I was hoping I would.
I’ve had a couple of sandwiches, the pizza, and the coffee here. I love their pizza, however everything else I’ve had just was alright. Nothing off the wall amazing. The flavor just doesn’t «pop» for me, although this could just be a personal preference I have.
The seating is plentiful and the place is clean. Nothing bad to say about the inside or outside seating and décor itself.
The workers are usually very nice and can answer menu questions relatively often. Lots of smiles here, so at least that’s good
All in all, if I was asked to choose between this place or another coffee shop with food items, I’d probably go somewhere else, although it’s better than the big franchise places. You know who I’m talking about!

Lemongrass chicken sandwich on a French baguette is so so good. Topped off my lunch with the taro tapioca pudding, which wasn’t too sweet like some places I’ve had. Perfect, quick, and light lunch. I smelled couple people eating phở and to definitely need to try that the next time. They seemed to be enjoying it a lot.

Came here awhile ago and hated my experience!
Walked into the shop and all three workers (2guys & 1girl) chatting in the back, which is fine because she came and helped me right away my problem has to do with the other employees. While she was taking my order the two other workers were still in the back (very visible) talking, one sitting and the other standing, which is still not a big deal to me. Talk all you want to each other I’m fine but my problem is while being helped by the lady the guy standing wouldn’t stop staring at me and I’m sorry but if you’re going to stare at me for the whole time (while ordering & while I wait for my food to be done) then you better fuc*ing ask me if I need help, I better know you or else I have a problem!
First off its rude but I guess he never learned this while growing up and it’s really creepy… But being the person I am I just stared back, after so long of trying to convince myself he wasn’t staring (even though it’s was a dead on view no mistakes possible)
I had sunglasses on at first then took it off and gave him the «I know you’re looking at me and what the fuc* do you want» look
Because of this supper comfortable moment I will never come back not even if I were starving!

They are Always so nice. There the best bale by far. Always have salads and spring rolls ready to go.

I come here at least once a week… average price for a sandwich is around $ 5.00 + tax. I always leave my change in the tip jar. Sandwiches is okay for the price compared to other Bale shops. I noticed they don’t put as much meat and sauce is thier sandwiches. Today I bought two sandwich but only had a $ 10.00 bill. Owner didn’t let me slide the 40 something cents. So I could only buy 1 sandwich. Looks like this is the last time I come here… i think i left 76 cents in the tip jar… bye bye Bale Pearl City… you lost a loyal customer. Your hole in the wall shop looks crummy anyway…

I had the barbecue chicken sandwich on French bread here and really enjoyed it. I love Ba-Le’s combination of meat, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and fresh bread! They also just started serving slush drinks!

Okay… long write up for a place that deserves 0 stars. Like many Unilocalers… I saw a friend post a pic on instagram of a Ba-​Le sandwich and had a serious need to get one. I happened go to Don Quixote and while exiting saw the Ba-​Le shop and figured I’d pop in and fill my need. When I entered I saw a woman wiping the soda fridge near the entrance with a rag (remember this rag) and she asked me what I wanted. I ordered my usual Ba-​Le pick… pâté/​steamed pork and she said $ 5.24 and I paid her. She gave me my change and then went to the little sink next to the counter and proceeded to rinse out her rag in it. She then dropped the rag in the sink and rinsed her hands vigorously like she was washing them yet no soap was used. She then proceeded to wring out the rag and of course. pat her hands dry on it. I’m a bit OCD… and started to cringe.
The lady then reached in a bag, grabbed some french rolls and popped them in the toaster. My mind started racing.okay.the heat from the toaster should kill the germy rag germs… hopefully she’ll put on gloves. While she waited watching the toaster. she then grabbed the rag and wiped that white counter down where she makes the sandwiches. My mind starting going 240 now and I was thinking. all the germs from the fridge, the money, the sink and her hands are now on that counter. I can acknowledge my OCD’ness.and thought to myself. maybe she’ll put that paper that they wrap the sandwich in and it’ll all be alright! After all, I’ve been thinking about this sandwich for two days!
The lady then grabbed my roll from the toaster with metal tongs YAYYYY first attempt of being clean! and of course. plopped it right on the dirty counter minus paper. :(I’m staring hard now and think to myself, maybe she’ll put some gloves on to make my sandwich. She looks at the shelf under the toaster, grabs an old looking rubber glove, shakes it, stretches it and then slaps it on her left hand only. With her naked right hand, she then grabbed a metal spatula, looked at it and then wiped it on the RAG!!! With that now even dirtier spatula she scooped up some pâté and smeared it on my roll. I’m seriously cringing now. my inner voice wanting to scream! From there she grabs her tongs and then adds the pickled veggies, grabs a handful of cilantro with the naked hand and puts in on top the sandwich that she’s grasping in the dirty old gloved hand. Finally. the paper.the glorious paper that I wished was on the board gets wrapped around a sandwich that she cut with a knife pulled out from somewhere in the bins in front of her.
She bags it and tells me ENJOY! Have a nice day!
I’m standing there. stunned at what I just witnessed. My inner voice saying «Give me my money back!!!» but I’m a wimp. I say thank you and walk out carrying a dirty sandwich that I was never going to eat and with a story to tell everyone I saw today.
I really love Ba-​Le and my pâté/​steam pork sandwiches. I will never enter this one again though. How I miss the Ba-​Le at Ala Moana in the Sears store!

I’ve always heard people talk about Ba-​Le. I thought it was this huge-​ish restaurant that’s always busy. But when I went there I learned a few things:
1) I had no idea it was a sandwich shop. I have never been interested in going to Ba-​Le. So sandwich shop did not come on my radar.
2) It’s a very small place (t)he one in Pearl City. It’s tucked in the side of the Don Quijote entrance. You could easily pass it and not know it. And
3) It’s not as glamorous as people make it out to be. Like I’ve mentioned before, I’ve heard a lot about this place. My girlfriend goes to Ba-​Le a lot.
I’ve heard a lot about it but not much about the food. I guess people associate the place with the food. Their sandwiches are good. A lot of veggies though. But still good. Their service is great: They were quick, nice and pretty helpful.
Would I go again? Sure.

Aunty is always on it here. Haven’t ever seen anyone else taking orders, but I know that she’ll dish it out at top notch speeds correctly while taking multiple orders from other people, and calculate the total in her head. She’ll even tell you your fortune for FIVE BUCKS!!!
I usually come here in between busses and have a short window to get my food and get out. Even if I don’t place a phone order, I can get my stuff in under 5 minutes. I usually order their sandwiches, but their plates are good too. Portion size is so-​so. The lumpia is real ono. Watch out though because it’s always scorching hot. She will charge for sauces on the side, but not if you ask her to put it in the food as far as I’ve experienced. I haven’t tried the drinks here, but I HIGHLY recommend the Bale at the Pearlridge Sears for bubble drinks.
Check it out the next time you’re at Don Quijote or Foodland.

This has to be the best Ba-​Le franchise Sandwich Shop! I’ve gone here for the second time with my girlfriend and forgot how awesome the sandwich is! I ordered the chicken sandwich on french bread and my girlfriend ordered papaya salad. The price for both are very reasonable and they are located in Sears Pearlridge right next to Zippys inside. The chicken sandwich came with toasted french bread. I took my first bite and my face lit up with a smile. The taste of the chicken with a crunchy warm french bread is just something that’ll take you to heaven and back. My girlfriend loves their sandwich here and she claims the papaya salad here is the best because the papaya are cut in very thin strips which makes for easy chewing. I took a bite and had to agree it makes for a more pleasant taste. I am dreaming of eating their sandwich again as I am writing this review!

I love this Ba-​Le. The owners are friendly, and because I eat here so often, they know my order. They know me on the phone. They know me when I come in. If I don’t order a drink, they remind me and know what drink I always order.
I love the sweet potato tapioca and their chicken lumpia.
I order the roast beef on a french roll with hot sauce. Perfect every time.

They got the best stinky er I mean tuna sandwiches. It has pickled daikon and carrots with chinese parsley (extra for me) on a croissant.
Gotta tie the bag real good and stick it in the trunk for the ride home. Once you reach your destination take it indoors as soon as possible cuz you don’t want people to think you have «gas». Open all the windows and eat it as fast as you can… oh yeah and enjoy it!
All the Ba Le’s make it the same, it’s all good.

I thought it was pretty cool to see a Banh Mi Ba Le in Hawai’i. To be perfectly honest, I had no idea that it was such a huge chain. And maybe it’s not so much a franchise as mom and pops appropriating a famous name, I’ve got no idea.
What I do know is that I’ve been to a couple of de-​fuggin-​licious Banh Mi Ba Le shops in Westminster and Oakland, CA and the sandwiches were the freaking bomb. Granted, these areas have some legit VC cred with a big Vietnamese population.
When I walked into this place, I forgave the shabby cramped storefront and imagined I’d get the same high quality, low priced, tasty meat and veggies on a rip-​up-​the-​top-​of-​your-​mouth baguette as I’ve experienced at my local Ba Le locations.
The first tip off should have been when the server asked me if I wanted my sandwich to be on a croissant. What??! Blasphemy! Baguette, sir! I say, BAGUETTE!
Then I watched him put some pre-​cooked grilled pork, toss it into a dirty bowl and put it in the microwave where it was zapped for a couple of seconds. I tell you, just watching the process made me feel unclean. And I’m used to these places having questionable hygiene…
Anyways, the sandwich was not that tasty. A tremendous let down at nearly two or three times the normal price. Sorry Ba Le, I’ve got to take a pass when I see your Eiffel Tower in Hawai’i.