Ba Le Field Corner

I wouldn’t give this place any stars at all. I literally stood in line for 15 minute to order my banh mi. When it was my time to order, a customer Rudely spoke out loud and order his banh mi knowing that it was my turn to order. But anyhow the worker didn’t acknowledge me one bit knowing I was next and the worse part my banh mi wasn’t even all that fresh… I rather go across the street to A chau bakery for my fresh baked banh mi.

Can I give them a no star? Im so thankful for Fipping donuts and chau bakery because this place is horrible! The one in 7hill is a lot better. The only thing I like here is the fresh sugar cane juice, and the factory packaged items. Put some love back into the food please!

So there are several sub shops with the name Ba Le, which a web search tells me is the name of one of the first (if not the first) banh mi spots in Saigon. The original Ba Le became very popular and many of the banh mi shops in the US have taken the name as their own.
I have tried several banh mi over the past decade and have yet to find a better vegetarian banh mi than the one made for me at the fields corner Ba le. Angela, the owner, is a very particular woman and has a strict protocol for how sandwiches should be prepared. The bread is always deliciously crusty, the tofu and gluten is always seasoned well, and the vegetables are always fresh.
Angela speaks English very well, but some of her staff are still learning. Everyone there is definitely willing to make the sandwich the way you want it. You will have to communicate with them about your preferences, which may have resolved some of the other reviewer concerns. However, I should note that not all staff are confident about credit card transactions, so bring cash.
I also often get a side of steamed veggies and a sesame roll stuffed with bean paste. Sooooo good!
I hesitated to write this review because I think this place is a gem and I don’t want to stand in line for my sandwiches. But that’s just selfish, Angela is a terrific person and deserves success. So if you are ever in the Dot looking for the best veggie banh mi, go here. If you are willing to drive long distances for an excellent veggie banh mi, I understand brothers and sisters, this is our spot.

If I had a penny for every time I walked by this place dying for banh mi but was too scared to go in, I’d have enough pennies to Scrooge McDuck dive into them and back stroke through my coppery wealth.
Finally got up the gumption one day and headed to BLFC with Anouska B., because we were both verging on hangry (so hungry that you’re angry) and it’s a skip and a hop from our front door.
We both ordered the grilled beef banh mi, spicy (with jalapeño rings.) The bread was SUPER crumbly and left me picking bits of it out of my cleavage for an hour. I realize the baguette is meant to be crusty, but this was verging on stale. Also, the lack of filling was disturbing. The meat, cilantro, pickled veggies and fish sauce were all delicious, there was just hardly any of it. 85% stale bread, 15% beef and veggie yummehness. Woooomp :\
I believe two sandwiches added up to seven dollars and some change, so points for being super cheap.
All in all, I’d say if you’re really craving banh mi, it’s not a bad option. Maybe just ask for extra filling. But if you can get to ohhhhh, say, New Saigon Sandwich in Chinatown (stay tuned for review!) then DO EET.

Lots of goodies that I could not fit into my stomach. Had the Nem Chua which was delicious and the people are nice to chuck out the not so fresh ones that have been sitting out (even though I grabbed it). They have fresh sugar cane juice here which is awesome. The Banh Beo (first time having it) was ok.

Ewww nasty looking place and the banh mi is bad. Rubbery tasting bauguettes. I would rather hike/​drive to the one near UMass then go here. l8ter!

This was pretty darn delicious!
I’ve never had banh mi before in my life, but I became curious since I had passed these Vietnamese bakeries several times since I intern in the area. I got the beef one, and it was oh-​so-​good. The beef was super flavorful, and I loved the cilantro, cucumber, and of course, HOT PEPPERS (which added a nice kick)! What an awesome combination of flavors.
And not to mention, it’s super cheap! Barely puts a dent in your wallet for a delicious and filling sandwich.
I’m finding that the Fields Corner area is freaking awesome for Vietnamese food. How lucky am I that I get to be there three times a week?! The commute to my internship sucks, but I gotta say the food is so worth it.
Now I have an alternate place for a cheap lunch, rather than settling with the McDonalds further down the street!

the sandwiches are amazing and at $ 2.75 each (for now anyway) you really can’t get a cheaper lunch. i haven’t tried much else from there but their cold noodles are good.

I came here while waiting for my sister at her dentist appointment in Fields Corner for something sweet. I got the Che Soi Nuoc. So, it tasted okay. I was freaked out though by the trashed, sticky floors and the million flies buzzing around. The other Ba Le on Dorchester Avenue is better.

I love Ba Le. I only go there when I’m walking to mom’s house from Fields Corner Station. I always get the grilled beef banh mi and a couple of the fried shrimp and bread things that sit right in front of the cash register. They are cheap and good. They lost a star because the items in their hot buffet just don’t look too appetizing.

I ordered a bunch of sticky rice dishes and desserts from here. They were all very, very cheap. The staff were friendly and kind. There is a wide selection of exotic Vietnamese foods to try, and though I didn’t find anything I ordered remarkable, the food is so cheap that you can take a chance.