Ba Le Sandwich Shop — Restaurant in Vancouver

Hello, Viet person here. Went here and ordered the #1 (cold cut) and #8 (BBQ pork) on a Saturday morning. Parking was easy to find, ordering was quick and quiet, and the shop is owned and operated by an older couple.

For a $7 (the BBQ pork) sandwich, the sandwich is fine. For a Vietnamese sub, it’s very sub par. It is the smallest Viet sub I’ve ever had, and the quantity of the meat and veggies is about non-existent. Compared to “Banh Mi Saigon”, the size of the entire sandwich is about 60% of it, and even the ingredients used are very minimal. Again, it’s great as a $7 generic sandwich, but the fact that they’re charging the same for most of the sandwiches as “Banh Mi Saigon” while only giving ~60% of the portion and quantity should tell you whether or not I’m returning and if I recommend here or not. I see a lot of the reviews being quite stellar from years ago versus trailing more towards mixed as we get closer to 2024, so I’m not sure what happened but it seems like a lot of people enjoy this shop.

I am not a “Banh Mi Saigon” fan boy, it was just much easier comparing this shop to one that is well known for...

It's amazing that this place has been around for so long and weathered the great gentrification of Chinatown! I remember when it used to be across the street (in a building before the giant condo tower) and the subs were $3... ahhh the nostalgia alone makes me happy. I know the Kingsway Bahn Mi shop puts more into their sandwiches, but somehow the specific taste that Ba Le on Main Street has is what I crave. Major props for the family who has consistently ran this place, I am reviewing because who knows how long until they're also but a memory? Thank you for being a Chinatown staple for so long, far...

Very very affordable prices (banh mi and a drink + tip approx $10-12). Honestly the best banh mi I have ever had. Cafeteria style, order at the counter pick up at the counter, eat at a little table n go. Owners are solid and consistent, can tell they been in this business a long time and they’ve perfected their products and provide quality food with fresh ingredients. A hidden gem but everyone seems to know about it. Walk in and you’re lucky if you don’t have to wait. Today I came in and there was a line of people and all of them were makin large orders of 5-10...