Ba Le Deli & Bakery - Vancouver, BC

I have to admit I'd visited this place a long time ago but haven't posted it since I finished the entire posting and then it disappeared without warning.  Technology hates me.  And I HATE technology.  Here we go again...


Banh mi blah blah blah...  I really don't have the heart to do this.  I love banh mi but damn, I spent hours finishing up this post and making it look pretty and it just disappeared!!  Another day...

So I posted a few months back about a place that sells some awesome banh mi aka Vietnamese subs aka the loves of my life.  A few days afterwards, I received a comment from an anonymous person who suggested I try a deli down the street called Ba Le Deli & Bakery - I'd heard of it before through the grapevine (new articles, Ms. Porker and Mama Piglet has been for their buns) but never been.  So, of course, this Piglet being a banh mi lover had to go check it out.  After blowing all of my money at the Aritzia bi-yearly sale, I figured I should go for a cheap meal.  

Ba La Deli & Bakery is located on the corner of Fraser and Kingsway and I would have driven by if I hadn't shoulder-checked for no reason.  It's not much of a looker - just a barren looking place with a menu board, a counter (that you CANNOT lean on) and three dinky looking tables for four.  It's empty but I figure it's after the lunch hour rush so I'm just there at the right time...  or am I?  I approach the counter and just as my mouth opens to order, the cashier tells me they're all out of bread and sold out for the day.  What?  It's 3 in the afternoon??  How could you be sold out already???  Just as I walk away sadly empty-handed she yells out she has one bun left.  It probably fell on the floor but I'll take it anyways.  I ask for the best/most popular sandwich is and this is what they gave me...

#5 House Special - $3.50

Ham, ham, ham and pate - what else could a girl ask for??  This thing is packed to the brim with various cold cuts and the pate here is a bit more robust than I've had before but it's good because there are so many competing flavors going on.  The bread is crunchy on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside.  It's not as fragrant as their competitor's bread but good nonetheless.  All of this for $3.50???  That's a steal!!


Even though the House Special was awesome, there is no way I could do a review of a place based on one sandwich.  So for you dear readers, this Piglet had to make a second trip out!  Well, for you and my growling stomach...  Round 2 FIGHT!

#2 Grill Pork - $3.75

The bread is still good but the pork...  oh the pork...  It's chewy and tough in some places and really hard to get through.  It's sweet enough but for a grilled pork, is sure is missing the grill marks.  And the flavor of charring/smokiness is nowhere to be seen.  I also think I saw this come out of the microwave...  I'd probably skip this one for the next time.

#6 Grill Chicken - $3.50

The second most popular sandwich on the menu and I can see why.  This is not so much a grilled chicken than a chicken salad sandwich but it's good nonetheless.  Packed with tons of chicken that's been shredded and mixed with their house-made mayo.  The chicken is milder in flavor but matches really well with the milder veggies.  I ordered this with jalapenos but for some reason, they are not showing up for the show.  Where has your spiciness gone jalapenos??

#8 Meat ball - $3.00

Don't be fooled by the grey-colored meat my friends because this meatball sub might not look like much but it's packed full of flavor!  If you've had Vietnamese food before, there's this crepe that comes with meat and mushrooms and then dipped into a sweet tangy sauce - that meat is what these meatballs taste like.  Delish!  I'm not sure how it's marinated - I can taste lemongrass, ginger, sesame...  I think.  I have no idea.  Just try it for yourself!  It's only $3.00!!!


Would this Piglet go back?  Well, I already went a second time so that answers that.  How does it compare to their neighbour?  Well, the House Special here rocks any House Special sandwich anywhere, the meatball banh mi at both places are awesome, the chicken at the other place has more flavoring and the grilled pork has no place among the banh mi wars.  The baguette bread at the other place is more fragrant and their veggies have a stronger pickling flavor BUT the sandwiches at Ba Le are better packed with sandwich fillings.  Verdict?  Everyone is a winner in the banh mi wars because both places are awesome.  Try Ba Le banh mi and you can't lose, especially if you go for the House Special.  Bon appetite!


Pros:

• Excellent sandwiches (minus the grilled pork)
• Very cheap prices
• Free parking

Cons:

• Cash only
• Sandwiches sell out early (as I found out already...)