Ba Lẹ 1 Vietnamese Cuisine — Restaurant in Dallas

Tried this place for the first time after living down the street for years and I’m sad I didn’t go sooner. There is just two people running the restaurant, I believe a husband and a wife. He runs the front and she is in the kitchen. It’s just the two of them so be mindful of this, if they’re busy there will be a wait. Be patient with them! The man was so friendly and sweet. He didn’t speak a lot of English but it was still very easy to communicate and order what we wanted. They weren’t able to accept anything but cash when we went, but there is a convenience store with an ATM next door and a 7-11 across the street. I was pleased to see quite a few dishes with tofu. I got the pho with tofu and my husband the pho with brisket. The broths seemed the same so I’m not sure it’s actually vegetarian, I wasn’t bothered by this but if you are strict you’d need to ask or order something else. We had our food within minutes, (the broth would be made in advance so they just have to add whatever is ordered to it) and it was very fresh and tasty. Portion sizes are huge! Comes with lots of garnish as well as multiple hot sauces and hoisin on the tables. I will definitely be back to support this family run small business. I can’t wait to try more from their menu as well as get pho in...

We have been coming here for a while and every visit is a surprise. I first want to say the food here is probably one of the best Vietnamese restaurants we've had but the level has decreased dramatically from our first couple experiences. We tried coming here after church to order our usual Bahn mi and fried rice and noodles with the amazing spicy sauce but we're told to only pay cash? We went and got cash and came back to pay. On the next visit, we were told that we couldn't order the amount of bahn mi due to running out of bread. Next visit, we're told to wait longer than usual and see the older gentleman leave and come back from somewhere with more bread.... last visit, we tried to come in and order but was told to sit down at some dirty tables, after proceeding to tell him that we want to order take out, the older gentleman continues to tell us to sit down. We finally obliged and sat down where he brings a menu, and when we try to order, we're told everything is not available..... this restaurant has so much potential to be great but needs better management and...

3 out of 5 stars

I had high hopes for Ba Lẹ 1 Vietnamese Cuisine, but unfortunately, my experience left much to be desired. I ordered the pho with beef balls, and the broth lacked depth—thin, flat, and missing that rich, aromatic complexity that defines a great bowl of pho. The beef balls themselves were rubbery and oddly flavorless, almost like an afterthought rather than a centerpiece.

The atmosphere was equally uninspiring. The dining area felt bland and uninviting—more cafeteria than cozy noodle house. The service, provided by what appeared to be an older couple (possibly the owners), was slow and a bit disengaged. Not rude, but definitely not warm or attentive either. Still, I wouldn’t call the service a deal breaker—it just didn’t elevate the experience.

Overall, Ba Lẹ 1 left me underwhelmed. Not the worst pho I’ve had, but certainly not one I’d crave again. If you’re in the area and desperate for a fix, it might do—but don’t expect...