Ba-Le Sandwich Shop
74-5588 Palani Rd, Kailua Kona, HI, 96740
Ba-Le Sandwich Shop Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Diabetics at Jamba Juice:
Eating good food at the right time can control your blood sugar, also stop you from craving wrong sort of food. Jamba Juice offers drinks in three separate sizes: 16, 24, and 32-ounce. You can choose the lowest serving size and cut down on sugars and calorie intake. If you're diabetic and concerned about the sugar intake, then you can opt for the smaller 9.5-ounce smoothies available for kids at Jamba Juice.
Foods to Avoid at Jamba Juice for Diabetics:
Jamba Juice is primarily known for its highly satisfying and nutritive smoothies and juices. Almost every smoothie and juice item on the Jamba Juice menu contains sugar. Diabetics are recommended to opt for smaller serving size while ordering at Jamba Juice. Also, avoid opting for creamy treats as all the smoothies offered in this category contain a load of sugars.
Keep the sugar content below 50g per meal at Jamba Juice and ensure that you don't follow it with a heavy meal. A small size regular smoothie is equivalent to a meal for everyone. Classic smoothies at Jamba Juice are also heavily loaded with sugars. Stay away from that section if you are a diabetic.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Jamba Juice:
Great Greens (16 fl oz)
Nutritional Facts: 160 calories, 1.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 5mg sodium, 37g carbs, 24g sugar, 5g fiber, 4g Protein
Pomegranate Antioxidant Smoothie (Small)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 0g Fat (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 80mg sodium, 43g carbs, 34g sugar, 4g fiber, 1g Protein
Cucumber Orange Cooler (16 fl oz)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 1g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 10mg sodium, 46g carbs, 46g sugar, 1g fiber, 3g Protein
Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 2.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0.5g), 15mg sodium, 35g carbs, 5g sugar, 4g fiber, 8g Protein
Orange Carrot Twist (16 fl oz)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 1g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 120mg sodium, 41g carbs, 34g sugar, 0g fiber, 4g Protein
Veggie Vitality (16 fl oz)
Nutritional Facts: 200 calories, 1.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 240mg sodium, 44g carbs, 33g sugar, 5g fiber, 4g Protein
Lotta Horchata
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 2.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 125mg sodium, 44g carbs, 26g sugar, 2g fiber, 4g Protein
Positively Pomegranate Bowl
Nutritional Facts: 380 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 85mg sodium, 69g carbs, 46g sugar, 10g fiber, 10g Protein
Wheatgrass Juice Shot
Nutritional Facts: 8 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 5mg sodium, 1g carbs, 0.5g sugar, 0g fiber, 0.5g Protein
Orange Ginger Cayenne Juice Shot
Nutritional Facts: 35 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 8g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 1g Protein
Turmeric – Tame the Flame™
Nutritional Facts: 20 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 6g carbs, 4g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Wheatgrass – Amino on the Go™
Nutritional Facts: 20 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 4g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Ginger – Daily Zing™
Nutritional Facts: 25 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 6g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Kailua Kona for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at Jamba Juice
Vegetables and fruits combo is considered the best food to lower blood pressure. More importantly, if you opt for ingredients containing carotenoids such as lutein, beta-carotene, and cryptoxanthin as well as Vitamin C will also help lower blood pressure. Potassium-rich foods also help lower blood pressure. So, if you are concerned about your high blood pressure, then always opt for Jamba Juice smoothies and juices containing vegetables and fruits, especially foods rich in potassium.
Foods to Avoid at Jamba Juice for High Blood Pressure:
Almost every juices and smoothie offered at Jamba Juice contain an adequate amount of sodium. To control or maintain blood pressure levels, you must avoid flatbreads served at Jamba Juice. They are high in sodium and saturated fat. Most of the items on the Jamba Juice menu are safe for high blood pressure candidates. However, it is recommended to opt for healthier options than to munch on anything and everything.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Jamba Juice:
Acai Super-Antioxidant Smoothie (Small)
Nutritional Facts: 310 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 65mg sodium, 63g carbs, 52g sugar, 4g fiber, 6g Protein
Tropical Greens (16 fl oz)
Nutritional Facts: 230 calories, 1.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 170mg sodium, 56g carbs, 39g sugar, 8g fiber, 4g Protein
Pomegranate Paradise (Small)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 25mg sodium, 61g carbs, 50g sugar, 4g fiber, 1g Protein
Strawberry Whirl (Small)
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 20mg sodium, 53g carbs, 45g sugar, 4g fiber, 1g Protein
Wheatgrass Juice Shot
Nutritional Facts: 8 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 5mg sodium, 1g carbs, 0.5g sugar, 0g fiber, 0.5g Protein
Orange Ginger Cayenne Juice Shot
Nutritional Facts: 35 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 8g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 1g Protein
Turmeric – Tame the Flame™
Nutritional Facts: 20 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 6g carbs, 4g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Wheatgrass – Amino on the Go™
Nutritional Facts: 20 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 4g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Ginger – Daily Zing™
Nutritional Facts: 25 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 6g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
High Cholesterol at Jamba Juice
The best thing about Jamba Juice is that almost every item on their menu contains zero cholesterol and no trans-fat. Jamba Juice offers a wide range of vegetable, fruits, nuts, and chocolate smoothies, juices and bowls. The unique blend of these healthy ingredients ensures that each item on Jamba Juice is 100% healthy and cholesterol free.
Foods to Avoid at Jamba Juice for High Cholesterol:
Besides packing good amount nutrients in their drinks, several items on Jamba Juice often come with a high calorie count. If you have high cholesterol, then better stay away from their range of classic smoothies. Some high-calorie smoothies available at Jamba Juice are Peanut Butter Moo'd, Chocolate Moo'd, Strawberry Surf Rider, etc.
Although low in calories, the Tasty Bites are often cooked in palm oil (a trans-fat) and contains butter and sugar. It is recommended to choose a 200-calorie smoothie containing fresh fruits and veggies instead.
Food Suggestions for High Cholesterol at Jamba Juice:
Apple 'n Greens Smoothie (Small)
Nutritional Facts: 250 calories, 1g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 55mg sodium, 60g carbs, 45g sugar, 4g fiber, 4g Protein
Orange Supreme (16 fl oz)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 65mg sodium, 54g carbs, 40g sugar, 4g fiber, 4g Protein
Kale-ribbean Breeze Smoothie (Small)
Nutritional Facts: 320 calories, 3g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 75mg sodium, 66g carbs, 48g sugar, 6g fiber, 10g Protein
Nutritional Facts: 490 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3g), 40mg sodium, 99g carbs, 67g sugar, 11g fiber, 8g Protein
Wheatgrass Juice Shot
Nutritional Facts: 8 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 5mg sodium, 1g carbs, 0.5g sugar, 0g fiber, 0.5g Protein
Orange Ginger Cayenne Juice Shot
Nutritional Facts: 35 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 8g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 1g Protein
Turmeric – Tame the Flame™
Nutritional Facts: 20 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 6g carbs, 4g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Wheatgrass – Amino on the Go™
Nutritional Facts: 20 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 4g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Ginger – Daily Zing™
Nutritional Facts: 25 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 6g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Low-Cholesterol Foods:
The best way to get rid of bad cholesterol from the body is by detoxifying the whole system with fresh shots. Jamba Juice offers Turmeric Shot, Ginger Shot, Wheatgrass Shot, and Orange Ginger Cayenne Shot that will keep you healthy even when you consume junk food.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q & A for Jamba Juice
How to order Jamba Juice?
You can order Jamba Juice either online or visiting the store directly. Use the Jamba Juice to order Jamba Juice online or use Restaurant Listings directory to locate the Jamba Juice store nearby.
Are Jamba Juice smoothies gluten free?
Jamba Juice offers 36 gluten-free drink options including 15 non-dairy drinks.
Are Jamba Juice smoothies vegan?
Yes, you can order vegan smoothies at Jamba Juice. Almost all Jamba Juice smoothies are available as vegan or can be made vegan by substituting milk with Almond milk or Soy milk.
When does Jamba Juice open and close?
Generally, Jamba Juice outlets are operational every day of the week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. However, the timings may vary based on the restaurant locations and owner preferences. You can check the timings of the Jamba Juice nearby on our Restaurant Listings directory.
When is Jamba Juice happy hour?
Currently, there are no Jamba Juice happy hours.
Is Jamba Juice healthy?
Jamba Juice offers a wide range of smoothies and fresh fruit juices. Most of them are healthy, while a lot of others are loaded with sugar and excessive calories. Check the nutrition content before you make the order at Jamba Juice to choose a healthy option.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Jamba Juice
Jamba Juice Company was founded by Kirk Perron who is fitness enthusiast and avid cyclist. The company was first headquartered in Emeryville, California but later transferred to in Frisco, Texas. The company has 875 locations in the United States and 65 International Stores including Mexico, Taiwan, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. Jamba Juice gains its popularity by introducing healthy drinks and smoothies in the US. Later they also introduced healthy bowls and snacks specially designed for kids. The main aim behind Jamba Juice was to introduce nutritional food options for all age group.
Healthy Food Options at Jamba Juice
If you are too tired of sipping sugar-loaded drinks then
visit nearest Jamba Juice outlet where you can enjoy fresh fruit smoothies,
juices, fresh shots and ready to drink shots for those who wish to have
something healthy while going to work. All the drinks made in Jamba Juice are
made using fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables.
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Address :
74-5588 Palani Rd
Kailua Kona, HI, 96740 - Phone (808) 327-1212
- Website https://www.ba-le.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Warren T.
About 3.5 stars but the services was friendly, fast give it a 4. Its a Vietnamese family owned business. Pho broth was pretty good, quite authentic. Portion for a Large Pho was on the small side. Beef was a bit tough side 6-7 smaller pieces for $11.50 USD. Siu Mai (steam pork balls) sandwich $6.50 USD was good but nothing WOW about! Well, its in Hawaii Big Island, so I would say; overall, it's very good to be able to eat Vietnamese foods!
(4)John J.
We ordered 2 large bowls of Pho. It was pretty good until we saw the price tags on the soup bowls. They had never been wet let alone sanitized/cleaned. It appear they just pulled them from a box and served. The soup was probably hot enough to kill any bacteria but I'm more concerned about chemicals used in the plastic molding process (mold-ease used to keep the bowl from sticking when the mold is opened. We asked a server about it and she said, "I'm not sure what the protocol is." I can't imagine the health department would be impressed.
(1)Bela J.
Ba Le is conveniently located in the KTA shopping center off of lower Palani Rd. in Kona. Veggie pho with beef broth is usually what I get, which I love, save the MSG. I'm sorry to say that I've been informed more than once that MSG is ubiquitous in most all Vietnamese restaurants and all over Southeast Asia, as well. Since it often swells my extremities, I limit its intake to rare occasions. I can't for the life of me imagine why something so delicious is supposedly dependent upon a 'flavor enhancer,' so that is my one chronic complaint, not that it will get me anywhere. The alternative is a mushroom broth, which does not have the flavor of the beef bone, sadly. And the beef pho is just that - beef and noodles and not much veggie content or color. The last time I went here a couple of weeks ago, I noticed more veggies in my pho, which delighted me. I've had it when there's barely anything but a little shredded cabbage in the soup. So this was a pleasant surprise! Keep it up, Ba Le! And seriously, lose the MSG if you can bear it, one day. Love the bubble tea ;)
(3)Whitney A.
It's so nice to have pho so close to my home. It's not super authentic but the serving sizes are awesome! Very tastey and worth it!
(3)Bertwin L.
Great food but small selection. Their Pho is limited to sliced need and they do not have tendon, tripe, or beef balls. The sandwich is large - I recommend the special. Amazing summer rolls - so huge!!! They use lettuce vice bean sprouts jus so you know.
(3)Nicola L.
Papaya salad and shrimp rolls were both disappointing. The shrimp was not fresh and had a fishy taste. The sauces were definitely not authentic either.
(1)Frederick M.
I went to undergrad at Irvine, which was a hop-skip away from Little Saigon so I'm pretty spoiled when it comes to Pho. But, the food here is terrible. The staff is great, but the food is terrible, which is doubly bad considering how overpriced the food is. I've also been to two other Ba-Le's on Oahu, so that's where my other reference point is. I try to go to a restaurant at least three times just in case I happen to go to a bad day, and well the food was bad every single time. The pho was extremely pricey and low quality, pretty much tasted like they got some instant pho, also not too much fixings in terms of protein. It was over $10 dollars, which is very disappointing. I also tried the pork chop, which was very bland. Then I tried the bbq chicken mini with an egg roll. The rice tasted as if there were chemicals in the water used to cook it.
(1)Federico I.
5 stars for value. Lunch for about $6. local plates and sandwiches 5 stars for the vegetarian options. 2 stars for the decor. Great place for lunch (locals eat here)
(4)Michelle N.
After reading yelp I thought I give this place a shot. All I have to say is I wish I could give this a no star. I understand not everyone has the same taste, but for me... I wonder how the hell did this place stayed in business. My family of 8 came here for dinner, we each pretty much ordered what was recommended on yelp plus dinner special which was Vietnamese pancake. All was terrible. My pho noodle was not cooked, taste like instant pho from a top ramen bag dump in hot water with added onions & meat. On the picture when we went inside shows beef pho has meat & meat ball but no meat ball was given. All in all it was a waste of money & time eating out here at this place.
(1)Anna P.
I was so excited when I saw this in the Lonely Planet guide book as I love Vietnamese. My husband and I got takeout when we were traveling in Kona a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say it was **terrible**. A huge disappointment. The papaya salad was basically papaya and carrot with a couple of sad herb leaves on top and a really bland dressing. Nothing else. I had the shrimp spring rolls and equally bad. Extremely bland filling, the shrimp tasted a couple of days old and the same bland dressing. None of the vibrant, fresh, herbaceous, tangy deliciousness that I'm used to from Vietnamese food. Even with the price, this was the most disappointing meal I have had in a really long time. Maybe I just ordered two bad dishes, wish I would've tried the banh mi or something else.
(1)Vivian Q.
I ordered a spicy lemon chicken sandwich and I specifically asked no homemade mayo. When the food came out, my sandwich had the mayo and it was mostly filled with daikon. I could barely see the chicken. Plus, it wasn't even spicy. My cousin ordered a mini wonton soup. All the orders came out before hers. We were almost done with the food and the wonton soup still hasn't come out. The girls at the register are unwelcoming and they always have this "wth are you talking about" look on their faces when we kept asking where the wonton soup was. I guess this place is okay if people hasn't ever eaten a lot of Vietnamese food but if you have, then this is not the place.
(1)Di H.
Was there for lunch today. The pho was ok. The soup was obviously made with broullion but that's ok. The noodle was undercooked therefore a bit hard, there weren't a lot of meat. The pork chop was surprisingly good. However the rice was undercooked and I was hoping for a tastier mac salad. The spicy lemongrass chicken was not spicy and I couldn't taste the lemongrass. Overall it was a rather disappointing lunch.
(2)Nam Tswv Tuam V.
I was craving for some pho broth but when I got there the pictures did not look too appetizing so I ordered pork chop instead. It was nasty. The pork chop was deep fried so it was really greasy. I took a few bite and couldn't take it anymore. Plain slices of beef Pho $12 (no meatballs, tendons, tripes) Pork chop $12 (2 scoops of rice, 2 slices of pork, choice of mac/potato salad or green salad) One star for location (it's in hawaii and not little Saigon in westminster) One star for convenience (easy access from hotels and freeways) One star for choices (many items if you are really craving for Vietnamese-Hawaiian food)
(3)Beth R.
We needed to grab some sandwiches for the road, so this seemed like a good option. I had a delicious vegan coconut tapioca pudding while I waited for our food. My husband and I shared spring rolls. They were OK. Not the best I've ever had, but not the worst. I like the idea of Banh Mi, so I couldn't resist the tofu sandwich. It had pickles, daikon radish and cilantro. It was yummy, but a bit salty. Probably not the best thing to eat in a rental car. Don't get me wrong, the bread was good, but with every bite it flaked covering me and the car seat. Oops. I was disappointed that they were out of the taro tapioca pearl drink. All in all, I would go here again. It's a great option for takeout.
(3)Yessica E.
The spicy lemongrass tofu sandwich I had here today was AMAZING!! Their bread roll is light and crispy, not heavy at all. There was the perfect amount of sauce and spice. They use crispy fresh radishes and cucumber and just a couple of sprigs of bright cilantro...... Oooooo....My mouth is watering just thinking about it. My hubby got the spicy lemongrass chicken sandwich and was also raving about it.
(5)Cory H.
Overall a huge disappointed as far as the high prices for the amount & quality you get! You walk in, order & pay at the register! They do serve your order as you place the number they give you on your table. Paid $30 for two & that was without drinks..oh we did have 1 tapioca dessert
(1)Rocco C.
Love this "locals favorite" spot! Service is fast and super friendly. The food us fantastic! The Pho here is the best in Kona town. You have to try this great place.
(5)D S.
Been coming here for years and I always get the same thing, Lemon Grass Chicken Sandwich!!!! This sandwich is so amazing and delicious! Fresh baked bread roll, chicken, daikon and lemon grass with mayo. I always get mine without the cucumber. Its a huge sandwich and half the time i cant even finish it and get to take half home with me. Ambiance is a little plain. The restaurant is pretty bare, not that many colors or decorations. Tables and chairs are basic but its location is in a shopping center. Dont avoid eating here just because of the atmosphere, the food makes up for it!
(4)Victoria T.
At Ba-Le, you order at the counter, get a number, and one of the staff will deliver your meal to you. They serve a variety of dishes - rice plates, pho, banh mi, and saimin. I fee like Hawaii likes to put its own touch on cultural foods - for example, the rice plates come with your choice of meat, rice, and macaroni & potato salad. I liked this menu because it had $5 "mini" plates. You could have a smaller portion of a rice dish, pho, saimin, or papaya salad for about half the cost of the regular, depending on which item. I liked having that option because I could try more than one item at a reasonable cost, and because I didn't really want to have a whole bowl of hot pho in standard Hawaiian weather. For beverages, they offer bottled drinks, boba drinks, and have a water dispenser on the counter for your convenience. Pho options were pretty straightforward: beef, chicken, tofu, combo, or seafood. There were three sizes: mini ($5), regular ($8.75), and large ($9.75). Combo and seafood pho in regular or large sizes were two extra dollars, which seemed excessive. I ordered a mini beef pho and a mini green papaya salad with shrimp. The food came out in just under ten minutes, and in the meantime, I took a look around the restaurant. It's kind of old- one of the staff told me that she thinks this place has been around for 12 or 13 years. The interior is not very attractive, though. The walls are white with red and blue trim, colors of the French flag. The Vietnamese decorations on the walls seem kind of slapped together. It's not very cohesive. The tables are in good condition, but the chairs have fabric upholstery and have retained stains over the years. But of course, the important thing is the food. The mini size of pho was actually a pretty good portion for me. Of course, it didn't fill me up, but it was the right amount to get a feel for Ba Le's pho and satisfy me. It had three or four pieces of meat, which were cooked through. They had good flavor and were nicely chewy, but not tough. The noodles weren't bad, and I thought the broth was well done. It was flavorful but light, and there was hardly a trace of oil on the surface. Vietnamese green papaya salad is served with fish sauce as a dressing. Today, I thought the fish sauce was kind of bland, which made the whole salad bland. It certainly could have been made stronger with more fish sauce and lime, but perhaps this is a taste more suited to a Hawaiian palate. Flavor-wise, it was disappointing, though I was glad to end the meal with something light, cool, and fresh. Ba-Le's food seems pretty good overall, and the prices are reasonable considering it's Hawaii, but I think that it really needs to step up its presentation. Well, it seems like they do good business, so they may not need to listen to my opinion, but I think it would be a much nicer place with some changes. I'd like to see a more developed image, with more cohesive decorating. The pho was served in a plastic bowl rather than ceramic, with a stained plastic spoon and disposable chopsticks. The garnishes came in a paper boat, and the goi on a styrofoam plate. These details kind of make me think I'm eating cheap food, which is why I'd kill someone if they tried to take me on a legitimate date here. That would not be chill. haha. Well, this Ba-Le location has been in business over ten years, so I doubt they'll overhaul their serving methods anytime soon. Since you order at the counter, it is kind of food court-like. After you finish, you throw away the items you can into the trash can along the wall. But the restaurant was kept pretty clean, in spite of some aging details. They have a single occupancy bathroom that was huge and spotless. I'd come back to try some other dishes, but I think I can find better pho in Chinatown next time. Read more at phoacrossamerica.com
(3)Janice I.
Good pho, just wished it had more selection for pho (hence docked off one star). I really missed tripe. Other ingredients recommended on the menu: tendon, beef ball. The broth was excellent. Flavorful with a slightly sweet taste. Pricey, though. I hail from Vancouver, BC, Canada, where there is an endless number of Viet places and high price tags for everything that is needed to sustain life (shelter, food, etc.), and I'm used to the price range of around $6-8 for a large. It's $12 here. Island prices, whew... Pho really satisfied my pho craving though. I had low expectations going in and was pleasantly surprised. And also ordered a Banh mi, which was pretty decent. Funny the guy at the counter didn't know what I meant when I said Banh mi though :P
(4)quyen v.
This place is ok. I got the seafood egg noodles bowl. The broth taste like it come from instant packet. If you are desperate and don't know what real Vietnamese food real taste like then come. Otherwise don't waste your time. The service here is really bad too. The forgot an out my niece wonton ordered and we asked them twice about it. Will I come back to this place?.. No. I'll wait to come back to SJ for real Vietnamese food instead.
(2)Rocco P.
Good. Although it is in a food court. I had the Beef Teri Bahn-mi which was quite good. Ham and Steam Pork Bahn-mi which was not that amazing. The ham was processed sliced deli meat. Price was quite good. For a quick meal to go its good.
(3)Sandy L.
SUNDAY SPECIAL: BAHN XEO - shrimp or pork I initially came here because someone said there was "turon," the Filipino banana dessert, but when we spoke with the owner, he said that his Mom used to make it years ago but since retirement, they no longer make it. I WAS SO SAD. But, we were still excited about their banh mi sandwiches and the bahn xeo. Both were quite delicious!! This is a no frills kind of place and it must be a popular spot for lunch because there was a constant line starting around noon. The bahn xeo is an egg like omelette with brussel sprouts and shrimp. You break the pancake into pieces and make a lettuce wrap. Quite ingenius and very delicious! I would order again and if you're planning to come here, possibly plan for SUNDAY so that you can order!! The Vietnamese sandwich was just OK. The bread was a bit dry and the lemongrass chicken was a little lacking in flavor, but they included a lot of meat and was very filling. I'm used to more oozing and juiciness of the sandwich but maybe that's just San Francisco style? I guess it's preference. The service is quick and it's family owned. They were all very helpful, quick, and patient with our group of 7 which looked like deer in headlights trying to figure out what to order. They even had their little grandson helping to deliver drink orders! SO CUTE! Overall, I recommend if you're craving Vietnamese food!
(3)Magnus S.
This is a great place to grab a fantastic cheap lunch in Kona. Their main clientele are all locals, a very good sign. Their kitchen is fast. There is nothing *fancy* about this joint - they serve their food on styrofoam plates, but for the budget conscience traveler, I could care less. Their Vietnamese sandwiches are amazing. The Pho is good too. SERVICE: 9/10 AMBIANCE: 6/10 FOOD: 10/10 PRICE: 10/10 UNIQUENESS: 8/10 OVERALL SCORE: 82 Service: Graded by the "Keep my cup full principle". Ambiance: Pretty self-explanatory Food: A high food score does not always indicate it is a place for foodies. It is weighted based upon the establishment - thus bar food can receive a high score Price: Price is graded based upon what I believe is fair value for the food you are receiving. A high score does not necessarily indicate the establishment is cheap. Uniqueness: Higher scores indicate desire to return.
(4)krystal p.
Bale, I absolutely love you BUT you do need to clean up your act a little -- literally. The banh mi is one of my favorite things to eat on the island BUT I have to get it to take out because the restaurant is just too dirty! I eat the pho there because it doesn't travel well and it is so good, but it would be much more pleasant if the place was cleaner. I am not a dirt prude, but I have my limits, and Bale is right on the line. The floors are dirty, the chairs are sticky, the trash can under the water container is usually filthy. PLEASE, Bale, clean up your act because I want to enjoy your wonderful food in a clean environment!
(3)Kahuku F.
Ba-Le is one of the few places in Kona that offers vegan items on their menu without the need to modify anything. It's become one of my favorite places to eat when in town. You can beat the lunch/mini prices either. I typically get the Tofu Pho with mushroom broth. If you're vegan or vegetarian make sure to ask for mushroom broth otherwise you will be served beef broth. The $5.00 mini bowl is plenty to fill me up. The spicy lemongrass tofu sandwich is also a great vegan option. Want desert? Try the tapioca. I really enjoyed the Mango tapioca, and I don't usually like tapioca. I've been told Ba-Le is more like fast food Pho by a pho connoisseur. I'll be honest I've never met a pho I didn't like. I find their broth to be quite tasty, add a bit of pepper sauce and I'm golden.
(5)Anabelle D.
THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I CAN GET VIETNAMESE FOOD. Sad life when I spent the summer in Kona. It's not legit Vietnamese but it's the closest thing to it. The special sandwich was okay and I got pho here too. Not a big fan of it but the beef stew was good. If you want legit VIET food. FLY TO VIETNAM even though I've never been there but I heard it's the best!
(2)P S.
Prices have increased since the last time I came here. For a regular beef pho it is $10.00 and, for a large it was $11.00. I ordered the large, and compared to some that I tried in Oahu, the amount of noodles you get are the amount for a regular. They didn't have the tapioca pearls for their bubble drinks. And they were also out of croissants for their sandwiches. Will go back for the pho since I do like the taste of the soup, and craving a bubble drink.
(3)T H.
OMG Where is the negative star when you need one? I was vacationing with friend last week and happened to stop at this shop. Boy, it was a big big mistake. The prices were outrageous. My friends ordered the "stir-fry seafood". Guess how many shrimp were in the plate? Three shrimps, yes, there were only three shrimps, the 50-60 count kind, bunch of cabbage and carrots cooked in water, chicken broth, and cornstarch. Does that sound like stir-fry to you? Probably not. That lousy plate cost $14. Three small shrimps, scoop of rice and badly cooked vegetables for $14. Don't believe me, order one and judge for yourself. Now, should go into details about a bowl of water combined with msg that is called "chicken pho". Do yourself a favor and stay away from this place. There are other eateries within very close walking distance in this area. You were warned.
(1)Jeanson D.
The only place for Banh Mi on this island so Automatic 4 stars from me. It's much pricier than I'd like but there's no other options. The manapuas are decent but again, small for the price. Unfortunately I loved them ever since I was a small kid so I always buy at least 10 to eat over the next week.
(4)Kat O.
Cheap quality food and desert. I picked up a tapioca pudding and it was disgusting! They basically added color and sugar which they claimed to be taro flavor. I often have different type of taro here in Northern CA so how know the desert well. I was going to order some other food but I changed my mind after watching them do the preparation. I browsed around for other items that were in packages and I walked out throwing my pudding away. Not recommend!
(2)Jess D.
Had a Seafood Pho, Some Egg Rolls & a BBQ Chicken Sandwich in a Croissant!! ITS AWESOME!! Best Restaurant in Kailua Kona!! Everything is ONO!!
(5)Joli W.
I was craving a Saigon Sandwich and my fellow Yelpers didn't disappoint. It's in a strip mall, but aren't some of the best places? Inexpensive, quick and tasty. Yumm.
(4)S D.
I've had my fair share of Vietnamese sandwiches, and give this one a "good" score. Got the spicy-chicken lemongrass samma. Wasn't too spicy, nor lemongrassy, but the flavor was great anyways. Bread was fresh, I believe. Cheap, dirty, delicious Vietnamese shop. Exactly what I expected.
(4)Lo N.
Disappointing! The Kalbi and lemon grass chicken dishes we ordered tasted ok. But, we ordered 2 Kalbis and received only 1. Turns out cashier wrote down only 1; she was too bored to listen to all our orders. The combos came with a strange mac & cheese. Strange that there's Mac & cheese as a side for a rice combo.
(2)Dennis L.
Great mom and pop Vietnamese restaurant located in this strip mall. The place is constantly filled probably because they have an awesome $5 ALL DAY EVERY DAY VALUE MEAL. But we were craving a viet sandwich. We got a non-spicy lemongrass chicken bahn mi. We added imperial rolls and based on the picture of the bahn xeo (shrimp and pork pancake) we decided to order that as well. The sandwich seemed a little bland and dry. I remember thinking to myself whether there was a difference between regular chicken and lemongrass chicken. The imperial egg rolls reminded me more of lumpia than anything. The bahn xeo was served lettuce wrap style and was tasty, just a little oily. It was my first time eating bahn xeo and I'd order it again. The service was impeccable and the owners patiently took their time explaining the menu to us.
(3)Laurence W.
This is a super no-frills spot for banh mi, pho, and other vietnamese basics. It's located in a strip mall, not all that far from the airport, and is surprisingly packed with people getting their lunch on. The food is just fine -- good, even -- especially if you're looking for a non-fast food option in the area. Better yet: pick up a sandwich and take it to the beach!
(4)Tien L.
Terrible. I'm from Falls Church, VA where we have Ba Le. I tried the following: Pho w/ meatballs - the broth was sweet... Um, pho's not supposed to be sweet. The noodles were minimum portion, meat was just pain and small. Overprice for its portion and flavor. Garden / Summer rolls - um, so cheap. It was just plain lettuce and a lot of noodles. Where's the mint or cilantros or bean sprouts? No pork. Just 3 halves shrimp.
(1)Samantha D.
Loved it At first but one day was served old pot salad and got food poisoning, haven't gone back since.
(1)Christian B.
For about $6, you can get a delicious, filling sandwich on an enormous French roll or croissant (either or which are baked in-house). The spice level is flavorful, not overpowering. A friend had a soup bowl which was similarly excellent, and came with a basil branch for adding leaves to the soup. This place is actually a chain, but you'd never know it --it has all appearances of being a small, family-owned shop. Great place -- definitely recommended for a lunch in Kailua-Kona.
(4)Keiko S.
My obsession with banh mi was carried over to Hawaii. Seeing a Vietnamese restaurant, I HAD to give it a try. Over all, the sandwich wasn't as fragrant as I'd hoped, and the pickled veggies weren't so flavorful. But the baguette was reasonably crusty, and the meat was...somewhat tasty. Not bad, though it's about $4 more than what you'd pay in California. I was more impressed with the chicken rice noodle dish, which came with a TON of lemongrass. 3.5 stars generously ROUNDED to 4 stars, considering there's no other place to eat traditional Vietnamese fare on this island.
(4)JK C.
I picked up a fewe bahn mi sandwiches before we went to Kona Airport. Tasted very good and totally worth it.
(4)Earl G.
Pretty decent banh mi sandwhich (cold pork roll). It was a little pricy at $5 bucks though, compared to $2.50 in the bay area. They also offer an alternate to the french roll for their banh mil, a croissant they say they bake fresh every day. Man, I guess I'm spoiled since I grew up on the $2.00 banh mi's in San Jose that are just the best. They also have daily dessert specials such as a taro cake and Filipino turon (banana wrapped in a pastry and deep fried).
(3)Tom L.
We often eat at Ba-Le and find their food to be a good value. Yes, the dining room is very cafeteria like and the presentation of the food is not fancy, but the staff is friendly, the food is good and is very reasonably priced. You order your food at the counter and they deliver it to your table or for take out. The sandwiches are delicious, their chicken curry is good (I usually add some hot pepper sauce), the pho is good and their happy pancakes, which are only served on Saturdays, is our favorite. Virtually anything on the menu is good. Great place for a good meal..
(4)Melanie L.
I came here two years ago when I was on vacation and apparently, this is the only pho place on the big island. I do recall this place being in a corner in the same center as a Ross store. I first noticed the Zagat ratings on the wall for their pho when I first walked in here. But since it was summer, I really wasn't in the mood for any pho. What my family and I did stop by for, though, was their banh mi since I heard they sold the best, freshest tasting French bread on the island. I ordered the banh mi thit kho (pork sandwich) and I must say, the bread really did taste fresh. It was amazing how soft and warm it was inside and crispy on the outside. The meat was soft and flavorful and the cilantro, cucumbers, and pickled carrots/daikon were so fresh that they complemented the whole sandwich very well. I actually found the banh mi here so much better than the ones back in Houston. My family and I frequented this place during our vacation here; the banh mi was so cheap and delicious! I miss it so. This isn't one of those super small Vietnamese cafes you see in Houston either; this one's actually pretty big (as in enough to fill up 3 large Vietnamese family parties). And I can see that this is a family-run business. The owners/chefs of the restaurant come out to the front every now and then to check up on their customers. They are the CUTEST old Vietnamese couple I've ever seen in my life! The cashiers at the front also happen to be their children and they're all just so welcoming and sincere. They even give you tips on where to go and what to see throughout your time on the island. Nice family business and their food and service shows for it. I definitely recommend you stop by this place on your visit to the big island!
(5)Nichole D.
THAI ICE TEA= awesome....coconut tapioca pudding= yummy..(although one time it didn't have the right consistency, these things happen). BF loves the lemongrass chicken sandwich. The egg rolls weren't very good, but the prices are fair and service is pretty good.
(3)Carol P.
BaLe is a no-frills Vietnamese restaurant with consistently excellent food. I always stop there when I'm in Kona. Their pho and saimin are flavorful and filling, and extra items (shrimp, roast pork, other dumplings or veggies) can be added for not much extra money. The green papaya salad is terrific. Nearly everything (with one exception, one time only) on BaLe's extensive menu is delicious, but my choice is their French-Vietnamese sandwiches -- of which the spicy lemongrass tofu or roast pork are my favorites -- on their fresh baked crispy-crusted French bread, with just the right amount of radish, carrot and other tasty ingredients and textures that delight your taste buds with every bite! In local parlance, it broke da mouth! For me, the spicy lemongrass tofu on french roll, with a bit of Sriracha sauce added at the table, is the best sandwich on the Big Island. When I'm indulging myself, I pair the sandwich with a Thai iced tea. So richly sweet and satisfying! On one visit only, in February 2009, my visiting uncle ordered their beef ribs and was disappointed. Other than that, dozens of local friends and many of my visitors have enjoyed this place enough to want to return many times. It's always a meeting point when friends get together in Kona. BaLe has an affordable menu offering a variety of well prepared, fresh, authentic food. Local folks who seek a delicious alternative to fast food fill this place up every day. It is located next to the KTA on Palani Road in Kona. For what it's worth, I eagerly visited a BaLe restaurant in Honolulu to have my favorite sandwiches, and their quality was far inferior. Unfortunately their sandwiches were less fresh -- they were pre-made and wrapped, thus quite disappointing compared to the freshly made food in the Kailua-Kona location.
(5)Jay P.
Not a lot of good asian food in the big island, this place is definitely a relieve, food is okay, we ordered Pho and its not so bad. For big island visitor that can't live with Asian food, this place is definitely a place to cure your craving.
(3)Brad P.
Every time I visit the big island I make sure to come by here and get the spicy lemongrass chicken sandwich. The french rolls they use aren't as good as the bahn mi places back home in the SGV, but they're ok. I tried something new this most recent visit, the vietnamese style saimin (ramen) noodles. It was pretty good... I'd stick with the sandwiches though next time. I haven't tried their pho, mostly because I'm loyal to Golden Deli for my pho.
(4)Aj D.
Man did we get our Vietnamese sandwich on here!!! It was just a good as the places we like at home. Tasty, fresh, and great service! It can get busy but it's worth it. we went here multiple times!
(5)SacBelle S.
This place was dirty. We ordered but by the time our food arrived we had had too long to look a the place and no longer wanted to eat. Wasted money. $18 for shrimp rolls and Lemongrass Chicken served on a Styrofoam plate.
(1)Martin L.
We ordered the shrimp roll, papaya salad and the special sandwich. The sandwich was by far the best dish. The shrimp roll Had too much rice noodle. The papaya salad was pretty boring.... The special sandwich was filled with yummy pate and assorted meat.
(3)Bobby D.
Ba Le has always been our go to place for Bahn Mi sandwiches when in Kona--the spicy lemongrass chicken always was awesome. But last few times there Ba Le has been maddeningly inconsistent. Some times the spicy lemongrass comes out not very spicy at all and with little flavor, just mediocre, and some times it comes out like it used to in all its awesomeness. Not sure if there is an issue in kitchen turnover and haven't sampled their other food, but the quality of the Bahn Mi is not what it used to be here. They are no longer making it on croissant either, which is a shame since that was a major part of the experience. Hope Ba Le can come back strong.....
(2)Victoria K.
Food is consistantly great... Healthy and light choices for a great price.
(5)Leo M.
Best food on Kona side - saimin and banh mi to die for Counter service and no decor to speak of...but the best food we had Kona side this trip. My wife has been a saimin devotee since she lived in Hawaii and was ecstatic - BaLe serves some of the best saimin she has ever tasted...if not THE best. The banh mi was delicious with tasty, crusty bread and the proper 'exotic' ingredients. The pho was also good - though not quite as exceptional as the first two dishes. Other than that there is not much to say - you get a cold drink out of the fridge, order your food at the counter, and wait for someone to deliver a miracle to your table. A classic 25/10/15 kind of place.
(5)Kimthy D.
I mean, for the only Kona vietnamese spot, it works. Nothing like Cali but when you're desperate... it's a go. If it was in Cali, it would probably be a 2 1/2 star tops. Their pho is mediocre, and the lemongrass tofu was delicious. It's weird because you pay and then sit.
(4)M H.
I LOVE the spicy lemongrass tofu sandwich on the french roll. It is so unique and delicious, and I haven't found anything anywhere else that satisfies my craving for it quite like Bale. If you don't like tofu, there is also a chicken version, but if you are on the verge, just take the leap and try the tofu, it is awesome and you won't be disappointed. Then to wash it all down I have a vietnamese coffee...double yum!
(5)Yumer Y.
update from last review... the Pho is tasty. its sweeter than the pho soups i'm used to but it's pretty yummy. The lemon grass chicken is good too. The vietnamese curry is reallllllly yummy! I actually got addicted to this place while living in Kona for few months!
(5)Robert H.
Consistent food for good price. The lemongrass chicken sandwich is good as are the noodle bowls. Convenient location off Mamalahoa.
(4)E M.
I would seriously go back to Kona just to eat at this restaurant. This is the best, cheapest, most delicious Vietnamese food we've ever had. The pho is amazing, the sandwiches are also great. You won't find a better deal than the mini menu, which has reasonable portions for cheap. LOVE this place.
(5)Forrest S.
So I went back and tried the bahn mi, and was it worth the price? Oh yes indeed it was. One of the best bahn mi I have had thus far. No skimping on meatballs, and fresh, crispy, chewy baguette. Mmmmmmm.
(4)Vicky J.
This is one of my most go-to places when I'm in Kona. It may partly be because I have a few lovely memories from high school here, but it's also partly because I just love the turkey sandwich and chocolate tapioca here. The veggies are fresh, the bread is wonderful, and everything about it just makes my taste buds happy. I'm not a huge pho fan, so this totally makes up for it.
(4)D A.
People who give this place 4 or 5 stars have to be kidding. I might give someone a pass with a 3 star rating but a 1-2 star is appropriate. The place is filthy dirty. The tables are sticky, the spice bottles on the table are filthy and sticky, the windows are dirty, the floors are dirty, the walls are dirty, the trash cans are absolutly disgusting and probably havne't been cleaned in 6 months based on the amount of accumulated filth. The place didn't stink and I didn't see bugs but am surprised I didn't experience that. On the food, I ordered the shrimp rolls and lemon grass chicken. The shrimp rolls were a disappointment. They were noodles, lettuce and shrimp and they were overstuffed with lettuce. They didn't have any flavor to speak of. Most places make them with some mix of mint, sprouts, basil, cilantro, etc. in them for flavor but not here. You get noodles and lettuce (not much flavor here). The lemon grass chicken was chicken and a little bit of white onion and I really mean little. So, I guess the plus is that they don't short change you on the protein. But I'm expecting some more flavors in my lemon grass chicken like maybe lemon grass? A little bit of color and flavor would also be nice like maybe some cilantro, shallots, green onion, etc.. The rice was clumpy with parts I had to use a knife to break up because it was stuck together so well. These unintentional rice balls were not cooked all the way through as the rice in them was still a little uncooked. So, big question, would I go back? I guess if I was starving and it was the only restaurant left in Kona I would go. As it is I'm sitting here writing this review wondering if I'm going to get sick.
(1)Steve T.
The sandwich is the worst I ever ate!!! It costs $7 a sandwich and smelled like a dead fish in between a two pieces of lava.
(1)Pismole T.
love their food , regular customer, missed their meat ball soup , overall I enjoy most of the menus, my one suggestion the restaurant need a facelift , tables and chairs look dirty and sticky
(3)Rebekah G.
The food here is fresh, delicious, vegetaria/vegan friendly, and affordable! We love the spicy lemongrass tofu, either on the rice plate or the sandwich. The Pho soup is the best! They offer small portions of many of their dishes for only $5!!! Good luck finding decent food at that price anywhere else in Kona!! Also, the tapiocas and tapioca pearl drinks are a delicious sweet treat you must try, and non dairy!!
(5)Hue M.
Not bad for being in Hawaii. The owners are Vietnamese. But the front wait staff are not. So don't start spewing out your Vietnamese cause they'll tell you they don't understand. Basically, don't be like me. Ha! The menu is big. There's lots to choose from and something for everyone. The iced coffee is good, but it's made too sweet for my taste. I know it's made this way to account for the average American patron, not for the Vietnamese community. The place is clean. Friendly. Food is tasty. Some of the sandwiches run a little high in price, but so what? Where else are you going to get this kind of food on an island!
(4)Mark K.
We were recommended this place by a friend and we ate there for lunch. We liked it so much that we went back there for dinner. The food is pricey for vietnamese food but this is the Big Island and everything is a little more expensive in Hawaii. I thought it was well worth it and with everything else closing down with the recession I don't mind paying extra for good food. The service staff is very good and helpful in recommending items on the menu. The menu is large and expansive. Plenty of things to choose from. Since I'm a sucker for good vietnamese sandwiches I ordered the pork and it was worth it.
(4)May T.
Woo hoo! We touched down in the afternoon on the Big Island, and were starving by 6pm. There was an abundant amount of cheesy tourist restaurants on the main strip, but we made our way over to the locals' strip mall and found this little gem. They've got a huge selection of banh mi with your choice of french rolls or croissants. They've got a myriad of rice plates, salads, pho and bun. The best part is the homemade tapioca with coconut, taro, chocolate, etc. They come in individual cups and have yummy chunks of whatever ingredient is featured.
(3)jaron s.
We have friends in Kona and manage to visit this delightful area a couple of times a year. About four years ago we discovered Ba-Le. We have probably eaten there a dozen times. And recommended it to many friends. We went yesterday and ordered bassa fish for lunch. ($11.71) It was okay. Then I noticed there was a lunch special. Five bucks. So I ordered the Korean ribs. The ribs were so tough I broke two plastic forks trying to cut them from the bone. I have pretty good teeth but I could not chew them. Very stringy. What the heck? Five bucks, no big deal and the bassa as I said was not bad. Alas, I was charged $14.06 for these deplorable ribs. ". But," I said, ". I thought it was only five bucks." No, no, you ordered the large meal. That ends our visits to that pho place.
(2)Franck M.
The roast pork sandwich was good, a nice option to have lunch in Kona. It was on the average side though as far as vietnamese sandwiches go. Disappointed the vietnamese coffee was made from drip coffee instead of using the common individual metal filter. The service was super friendly though.
(3)Jenny M.
I really liked their spicy curry sandwich and their pho was pretty decent as well. The bread was really good and soft, as if it was baked the same day. (it probably was!) While I was flying on Hawaiian Airlines, I bought one of their snacks which was a cranberry toast, only to find out that the brand of the toast was Ba-Le. I was disappointed that the restaurant didn't sell that same toast, because it was really good! Overall, I give this place 4 stars and I would definitely go back!
(4)Ken A.
Ba-Le has awesome food every time. Try the Spicy Lemon Grass Basa Fish or the Spicy Lemongrass Chicken on a Croissant. Also, you can't go wrong with their Veggie Sumner Rolls. Easy to find easy to park.
(4)Tim O.
Great food, good pho
(4)thb t.
when i first walked into the restaurant i was surprised. i guess it is because i never thought of Vietnamese food as pricey food. The sandwiches were around $5 and the pho was around $9. since we skipped breakfast, we had decided to give this place a try since i saw good reviews on yelp. we ordered one beef ball+meat pho bowl and one kalbi rice plate. I was very disappointed with the pho. The soup had absolutely no flavor and the noodles didn't even look like real pho noodles and i only got 2 beef balls that were cut in half to give the illusion that i had more. The Kalbi was nothing special either. Obviously the bay area has spoiled me once again, with their reasonable prices and well cooked food. But seeing as there aren't that many Vietnamese places in the area, i guess there really isn't a motivation to make the best pho you can
(2)Van D.
Came here with the family after arriving at the airport. Got take out to eat in our vacation rental house. We tried a variety of things including sandwiches, bun thit nuong, and pho. I tried a little bit of everything (fat kid), but everything was pretty average. Prices are a bit high but so is everything else in hawaii. Would not have high expectations for this place if you do eat here.
(3)Truong N.
The food here was surprisingly good because I'm from the oc which is full of Vietnamese restaurants. They did the best they could with the ingredients they had and everything turned out to be very authentic and delicious. It also helps that they had native vietnamese cooks instead of Mexican ones like Orange County. The one thing I found most amusing was the fact that the owner loved Vietnamese customers because she doesnt get them often so it was really awesome to be able to chat with her and have her serve us personally. Bust out some Viet! It might buy you points with her. Overall the experience was very authentic and delicious.
(4)Karen N.
Good food! Order the Spicy Lemongrass Chicken sandwich and have some tapioca pudding for desert.
(3)Jesse W.
1/1/6/10: Great, consistent Vietnamese foods that is a nice treat from the local takeout routine. Somehow, on trips to the west side, we usually end up here to grab a quick lunch, very reliable and delish tasting sandwiches. We usually stick with the french bread (not upgrading to the croissant roll) and almost always pick up the lemongrass chix sandwich with summer rolls! Its too bad that there isn't one in Hilo...
(4)Sophia Y.
Kid friendly b/c they have books for kids to read, a changing table! and a huge clean bathroom free water. LOVE the bread, though interesting that it is 90 cents for a loaf but like 1.85 if you get it with butter... so save yourself the extra$$ and don't do butter. though I do love butter. so perhaps get butter with one loaf and not with other(s) =) the "vietnamese sandwich" is good. though the turkey one didn't have high quality turkey (just your cheap cafeteria round sliced stuff). the chicken one was good. the pho was good. i like the orange colored lime! almond tofu - minimal but yum grass jelly in can drink - how could it not be good. expensive compared to CA prices, but this is Hawaii. They have to bring everything here by boat/plane... so good price for Hawaii!
(4)Emily P.
Nice and friendly service, the furniture was not so clean, however.
(3)Lynda S.
So, usually the normal vietnamese sandwich places open quite early say 5AM in the Bay Area as poeple grab lunch or coffee before going to work. To my surprise, this location opens at 11AM...a much more mellow, sleep in relaxing island, so that can be forgiven...lolz. Shocking so I had to go to Buns in the Oven for a sandwiche as we are 3 hours ahead our time making us grab breakfast to fill our time's lunch cycle. We did however stop by and grab Pho later on that evening as my husband was craving Pho on the islands. To our shock, it was $9 to start for a regular bowl of Pho! Kinda steep if you ask us, as we are used to asking for the special costing $5.50-$6.50 at max. Nevertheless, tried it and it was quite disappointing in taste. Wouldn't recommend coming here for Pho if your craving it. Doesn't satisfy.
(2)Michelann Q.
Finding cheap food in Kona has proved to be a challenge. Ba Le is a bit more expensive than I'm used to for Vietnamese food, but they make up for it in portion size and flavor. We had the grilled pork sandwich (bahn mi) and shrimp spring rolls (goi cuon). Both were excellent, but the roll that the sandwich was on was incredible. Fresh, crusty, flavorful. Very tasty.
(4)Ceci G.
I'm from LA and go to the Nom Nom truck every chance I get, and I used to think it was the best Bahn Mi I'd ever had. Used to! This spicy lemongrass sandwich was perfect, can't recommend it more. If you're a meat eater, the spicy pork meatball sandwich totally hits the spot. The bread, the bread, the bread. YUM. We ate dinner for less than $20, and that's with spicy lemongrass tofu noodles that we will be eating tomorrow because the sandwiches were so filling. Awesome find!
(5)Claire B.
Ba-Le Restaurant has the best Barbequed Pork Sandwich ever! Served on a crispy French Roll, you get nice pieces of pork in Ba-Le special sauce, along with pickled cucumber & carrot strips in the sandwich - which really add to the whole exotic Vietnamese experience of tastes and textures.. I will order that with their thai tea in the can, and a sweet potato tapioca.. it's so pretty! [purple] ..and what i really love about this restaurant, is their shrine in the corner.. it's always fresh.. so they give to their deity daily.. that is good karma & gratitude!
(4)Chris C.
For being the only Vietnamese choice in Kailua-Kona (and possibly the entire island), it's pretty decent if I were very desperate but living near San Jose CA, our standards are rather high. I must say, it's a great asian variation of the typical Hawaiian plate lunch. The mixed plate was great. As banh mi aficionados though, the pate, bread and pickles were not quite up to par. If I had a say, I'd ask for more jalapenos and cilantro. Couldn't quite finish the roll. Overall, average. Improve the banh mi and we'd bump them up a star or two.
(3)Amy K.
French/Vietnamese place: you can get sandwiches on croissants as well as noodles, or rice and taro in a banana leaf. They also serve boba and various canned drinks with chunks in them. It's a very informal little restaurant with menus in English and Japanese. My family mostly ordered lemongrass sandwiches in both tofu and chicken; I thought mine was alright, nothing special. I'd go get another sandwich, and I liked that I could get tofu sandwiches, but it wasn't memorable as a whole. Wouldn't say no if someone suggested a stop there, though.
(3)Sherron B.
We've been here three times, once just to try their croissants as I am dying for a good croissant. Still haven't found one ... We had good friends visit us the last time and they had a guidebook and wanted to try several places. Hey, we're game and they're good friends, so why not? They really wanted to try the Ba-Le pho, so off we went. They are both carnivores, and they did both like their multi-meat pho. She wasn't real fond of the quality of the meat (it did look kind of weird), but they agreed that the taste was good. My husband and I, on the other hand, swore off red meat some years ago, so we tried their mushroom pho and found it truly lacking. The broth was as close to tasteless as it could be and you had to search for any mushrooms. The noodles weren't quite right, either. Worse, there were so few vegetables in it that I couldn't even console myself with those. Now I like tasty, spicy food. I can buy a package of udon noodles mix at the local Long's Drugs, add my own seasonings and vegetables, add water & microwave for 3 minutes, and have a tastier version of "pho" than what we paid over $8 (extra for the mushroom broth) at Ba-Le. Maybe they just don't do vegetarian well ... there don't seem to be a lot of local people who aren't into meat. And most of them we've talked to do like Ba-Le ... but I have always been a foodie. All my memories tend to be food related and I really love food. And this place just isn't it. Now if you want to taste good food, mosey on over to Rapanui ... ;)
(2)Harold M.
they have the best pho.
(4)Holly N.
I am from Socal where you can find the best Vietnamese food therefore I usually have to lower my expectation when I travel elsewhere and I was quite impressed to taste the rare beef noodle soup or pho that is so tasty. Also try the house special sandwich or Vietnamese pancake Aka banh xeo that's only availabe on Sunday.
(4)Ray L.
This restaurant is overpriced, has no service, and is not authentic Vietnamese food.. Being overpriced wouldn't be a problem if it tastes good but it doesn't. If you never had Vietnamese food then you might say this restaurant is okay/good but if you are from the bay area and is not your first time eating Vietnamese food, I wouldn't bother stepping foot in this restaurant...
(1)Amy M.
Great everything. The food is absolutely special. It has great pho and rolls. Everything on the menu is delicious in it's own way. Relatively fast and good service.
(5)Daniela A.
This is a Hawaiian Vietnamese chain. They have a large variety of spring rolls, Vietnamese sandwiches made with fresh French bread and, of course, pho. I've eaten there on several occasions and never had a bad experience, although I have to say that the sandwiches are the stand-out item on the menu. You can find this restaurant at malls in Hilo and Kona.
(4)Kim K.
We grabbed a quick lunch here before our flight home. It was weird to see so many Ba-Les on the island as I used to frequent a Ba-Le growing up in the city. (That one has since moved to Oakland.) I wonder if there's any correlation... I tried the pork sandwich which wasn't bad for a Vietnamese sandwich in Hawaii. The processed pork was an odd gray color and the sandwich lacked substance; no jalapenos, parsley, or cucumbers. Doesn't compare to a Vietnamese sandwich from the TL but you shouldn't be comparing it anyway. I'd come back though, cheap meal.
(3)Tella D.
Excellent Vietnamese food: the pho' beef had a flavorful, subtly spiced broth, and both the beef and the noodles were cooked just right. The bean sprouts that came with the pho' were the biggest, whitest, crunchiest, and sweetest we've had -- and one of us grew up on them. The cucumbers in the salad were the best ever, too. Exceptionally high standards for a restaurant with no competition! The decor is simple and the restaurant, busy, but the server was very cheerful and helpful.
(5)Havana H.
Good pho and excellent green papaya salad. Try the tapioca pudding- sweet potato flavor was delicious!
(3)Jae C.
The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because the prices are a bit steep for vietnamese sandwiches and noodle dishes. The decor is what you would expect of a place like this that sells great sandwiches and noodles. The people were very friendly and treated us like family like offering to give our 14 mo. old daughter some noodles of her own. We went three times during our 6 day trip. We live in an area that has a hardcore chinatown with very authentic vietnamese joints and this one stacks up with them in terms of the grub. Just a little pricey from what we're used to, but probably more bc Hawai'i is just d*mn expensive. Go there and you will not be disappointe and will thank all the tope reviewers who persuaded you to check it out.
(4)Nina N.
The pho here was pretty good but it costs twice as much here compared to back home, so I wasn't too blown away. Their honeydew tapioca was like a slush which I didn't really care for either.
(2)R C.
If this place was in NY, it would rate a 2. Here in Kona, until very recently it was the only Vietnamese place. Prices are not cheap but average for Kona. Kinda cafeteria-style eat-in. Their Pho is pretty good and authentic. Their rolls for the bahn-mi sandwiches are fresh and good. Their sandwiches are tasty enough, I usually ask for extra veggies in mine. They have their version of cold vermicelli dishes which is kind of like the cold bun noodle dishes but for $9.95 the house special one which I forget the name of was unimpressive. Friendly service.
(4)Ron L.
Ba-Le is conveniently located in a shopping center next store to a KTA supermarket. If you are for looking for delicious, quick and inexpensive food. This is the perfect place for a casual lunch or dinner, with plenty of vegetarian options. The family who runs it is really friendly and there are always plenty of locals there, giving it a "real Hawaii" feeling. On our last trip to the big island in September 2005, I found this restaurant place in the ubiquitous tour book, Hawaii The Big Island Revealed. Everything I tried there was phenomenal. The vegetarian noodle soup and lemon grass tofu sandwiches (!) are top notch. After that amazing , we went back there at least once a day for the next three days. Don't forget to take away some of their light, sweet and pleasantly chewy french bread to snack on later. We took some rolls with us to Captain Cook Monument for a picnic. Some mongoose raided our kayak while we were snorkeling and also found them delicious. Fortunately, we had eaten some earlier with some laughing cow cheese. ONO. Apparently, this is a big Hawaii chain. So, you can have Ba-Le no matter what Island you decide to visit next. Visit their web site for locations.
(5)Jenna R.
As a very general rule, I don't give storefront/takeout restaurants five stars, but this place kicks massive ass. Seriously, in the week I was on the Big Island, I ate there five times -- even stopped in on my way to the airport for a sandwich for my flight. (Mmmm... lemongrass tofu on a french roll!) I really appreciated having so many vegetarian options, since most places in Hawaii have little -- if anything -- for me to choose from. This is the only restaurant I've ever been to that had a vegetarian option for pho -- and it was amazing. When I unwrapped my soup back in my condo, I was amazed how much there was, especially for the price.
(5)Emily Y.
Great Vietnamese hoagies! And Jamba Juice is almost next door!
(4)James B F.
I have a love affair with Pho so I like this place solely on the fact that I can get it here. Overall, I think the food is a little overpriced for what it is. However, you can say that about everything in Kona really. Their pork sandwich on a croissant is killer.
(4)Ariadne C.
i love ba-le. you can't go wrong with anything on the menu, and it is always on my list of yummy places to visit when i'm in kona. prices are insanely reasonable (especially their new $5 menu!). my recs: spicy lemograss chicken, their delicious french rolls and croissants, and the easily-overlooked tapioca pudding. the family that runs the place is great, and service is fast. the place is very casual, but so is kona ;)
(4)Jen B.
Ba-le is one of my favorite places to eat in Kona. I live for the beef and meatball pho which is always delicious and satisfying. I know it's a little more pricey than pho on the mainland, but then.....everything in Hawaii is pricier. The staff is always friendly and fast and the food fresh. I will return again and again!
(4)Jessica S.
It was great to find a Vietnamese restaurant that has many vegetarian options. We could even get the pho with mushroom broth instead of beef broth. We had the crispy noodles with vegetables, the lemongrass tofu, and the pho. We've had lemongrass tofu elsewhere that had a slightly stronger flavor, but this was still good. The place was hopping when we were there and the servers were very nice. They were happy to make recommendations and even stopped me when I tried to clean up our table.
(4)Dayle Y.
I refused to go for couple of years...but once I tried it.... I'm hooked- ate Roast beef on French Bread with Daikon for a week straight. Then, I tried the Spring Rolls with Chicken...very delicious. The Chili Sate sauce is a must with both. If it makes your nose run....its goooooood. People who work there are very nice and helpful.
(4)Warren T.
About 3.5 stars but the services was friendly, fast give it a 4. Its a Vietnamese family owned business. Pho broth was pretty good, quite authentic. Portion for a Large Pho was on the small side. Beef was a bit tough side 6-7 smaller pieces for $11.50 USD. Siu Mai (steam pork balls) sandwich $6.50 USD was good but nothing WOW about! Well, its in Hawaii Big Island, so I would say; overall, it's very good to be able to eat Vietnamese foods!
(4)John J.
We ordered 2 large bowls of Pho. It was pretty good until we saw the price tags on the soup bowls. They had never been wet let alone sanitized/cleaned. It appear they just pulled them from a box and served. The soup was probably hot enough to kill any bacteria but I'm more concerned about chemicals used in the plastic molding process (mold-ease used to keep the bowl from sticking when the mold is opened. We asked a server about it and she said, "I'm not sure what the protocol is." I can't imagine the health department would be impressed.
(1)Bela J.
Ba Le is conveniently located in the KTA shopping center off of lower Palani Rd. in Kona. Veggie pho with beef broth is usually what I get, which I love, save the MSG. I'm sorry to say that I've been informed more than once that MSG is ubiquitous in most all Vietnamese restaurants and all over Southeast Asia, as well. Since it often swells my extremities, I limit its intake to rare occasions. I can't for the life of me imagine why something so delicious is supposedly dependent upon a 'flavor enhancer,' so that is my one chronic complaint, not that it will get me anywhere. The alternative is a mushroom broth, which does not have the flavor of the beef bone, sadly. And the beef pho is just that - beef and noodles and not much veggie content or color. The last time I went here a couple of weeks ago, I noticed more veggies in my pho, which delighted me. I've had it when there's barely anything but a little shredded cabbage in the soup. So this was a pleasant surprise! Keep it up, Ba Le! And seriously, lose the MSG if you can bear it, one day. Love the bubble tea ;)
(3)Whitney A.
It's so nice to have pho so close to my home. It's not super authentic but the serving sizes are awesome! Very tastey and worth it!
(3)Bertwin L.
Great food but small selection. Their Pho is limited to sliced need and they do not have tendon, tripe, or beef balls. The sandwich is large - I recommend the special. Amazing summer rolls - so huge!!! They use lettuce vice bean sprouts jus so you know.
(3)Nicola L.
Papaya salad and shrimp rolls were both disappointing. The shrimp was not fresh and had a fishy taste. The sauces were definitely not authentic either.
(1)Frederick M.
I went to undergrad at Irvine, which was a hop-skip away from Little Saigon so I'm pretty spoiled when it comes to Pho. But, the food here is terrible. The staff is great, but the food is terrible, which is doubly bad considering how overpriced the food is. I've also been to two other Ba-Le's on Oahu, so that's where my other reference point is. I try to go to a restaurant at least three times just in case I happen to go to a bad day, and well the food was bad every single time. The pho was extremely pricey and low quality, pretty much tasted like they got some instant pho, also not too much fixings in terms of protein. It was over $10 dollars, which is very disappointing. I also tried the pork chop, which was very bland. Then I tried the bbq chicken mini with an egg roll. The rice tasted as if there were chemicals in the water used to cook it.
(1)Federico I.
5 stars for value. Lunch for about $6. local plates and sandwiches 5 stars for the vegetarian options. 2 stars for the decor. Great place for lunch (locals eat here)
(4)Michelle N.
After reading yelp I thought I give this place a shot. All I have to say is I wish I could give this a no star. I understand not everyone has the same taste, but for me... I wonder how the hell did this place stayed in business. My family of 8 came here for dinner, we each pretty much ordered what was recommended on yelp plus dinner special which was Vietnamese pancake. All was terrible. My pho noodle was not cooked, taste like instant pho from a top ramen bag dump in hot water with added onions & meat. On the picture when we went inside shows beef pho has meat & meat ball but no meat ball was given. All in all it was a waste of money & time eating out here at this place.
(1)Anna P.
I was so excited when I saw this in the Lonely Planet guide book as I love Vietnamese. My husband and I got takeout when we were traveling in Kona a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say it was **terrible**. A huge disappointment. The papaya salad was basically papaya and carrot with a couple of sad herb leaves on top and a really bland dressing. Nothing else. I had the shrimp spring rolls and equally bad. Extremely bland filling, the shrimp tasted a couple of days old and the same bland dressing. None of the vibrant, fresh, herbaceous, tangy deliciousness that I'm used to from Vietnamese food. Even with the price, this was the most disappointing meal I have had in a really long time. Maybe I just ordered two bad dishes, wish I would've tried the banh mi or something else.
(1)Vivian Q.
I ordered a spicy lemon chicken sandwich and I specifically asked no homemade mayo. When the food came out, my sandwich had the mayo and it was mostly filled with daikon. I could barely see the chicken. Plus, it wasn't even spicy. My cousin ordered a mini wonton soup. All the orders came out before hers. We were almost done with the food and the wonton soup still hasn't come out. The girls at the register are unwelcoming and they always have this "wth are you talking about" look on their faces when we kept asking where the wonton soup was. I guess this place is okay if people hasn't ever eaten a lot of Vietnamese food but if you have, then this is not the place.
(1)Di H.
Was there for lunch today. The pho was ok. The soup was obviously made with broullion but that's ok. The noodle was undercooked therefore a bit hard, there weren't a lot of meat. The pork chop was surprisingly good. However the rice was undercooked and I was hoping for a tastier mac salad. The spicy lemongrass chicken was not spicy and I couldn't taste the lemongrass. Overall it was a rather disappointing lunch.
(2)Nam Tswv Tuam V.
I was craving for some pho broth but when I got there the pictures did not look too appetizing so I ordered pork chop instead. It was nasty. The pork chop was deep fried so it was really greasy. I took a few bite and couldn't take it anymore. Plain slices of beef Pho $12 (no meatballs, tendons, tripes) Pork chop $12 (2 scoops of rice, 2 slices of pork, choice of mac/potato salad or green salad) One star for location (it's in hawaii and not little Saigon in westminster) One star for convenience (easy access from hotels and freeways) One star for choices (many items if you are really craving for Vietnamese-Hawaiian food)
(3)Beth R.
We needed to grab some sandwiches for the road, so this seemed like a good option. I had a delicious vegan coconut tapioca pudding while I waited for our food. My husband and I shared spring rolls. They were OK. Not the best I've ever had, but not the worst. I like the idea of Banh Mi, so I couldn't resist the tofu sandwich. It had pickles, daikon radish and cilantro. It was yummy, but a bit salty. Probably not the best thing to eat in a rental car. Don't get me wrong, the bread was good, but with every bite it flaked covering me and the car seat. Oops. I was disappointed that they were out of the taro tapioca pearl drink. All in all, I would go here again. It's a great option for takeout.
(3)Yessica E.
The spicy lemongrass tofu sandwich I had here today was AMAZING!! Their bread roll is light and crispy, not heavy at all. There was the perfect amount of sauce and spice. They use crispy fresh radishes and cucumber and just a couple of sprigs of bright cilantro...... Oooooo....My mouth is watering just thinking about it. My hubby got the spicy lemongrass chicken sandwich and was also raving about it.
(5)Victoria T.
At Ba-Le, you order at the counter, get a number, and one of the staff will deliver your meal to you. They serve a variety of dishes - rice plates, pho, banh mi, and saimin. I fee like Hawaii likes to put its own touch on cultural foods - for example, the rice plates come with your choice of meat, rice, and macaroni & potato salad. I liked this menu because it had $5 "mini" plates. You could have a smaller portion of a rice dish, pho, saimin, or papaya salad for about half the cost of the regular, depending on which item. I liked having that option because I could try more than one item at a reasonable cost, and because I didn't really want to have a whole bowl of hot pho in standard Hawaiian weather. For beverages, they offer bottled drinks, boba drinks, and have a water dispenser on the counter for your convenience. Pho options were pretty straightforward: beef, chicken, tofu, combo, or seafood. There were three sizes: mini ($5), regular ($8.75), and large ($9.75). Combo and seafood pho in regular or large sizes were two extra dollars, which seemed excessive. I ordered a mini beef pho and a mini green papaya salad with shrimp. The food came out in just under ten minutes, and in the meantime, I took a look around the restaurant. It's kind of old- one of the staff told me that she thinks this place has been around for 12 or 13 years. The interior is not very attractive, though. The walls are white with red and blue trim, colors of the French flag. The Vietnamese decorations on the walls seem kind of slapped together. It's not very cohesive. The tables are in good condition, but the chairs have fabric upholstery and have retained stains over the years. But of course, the important thing is the food. The mini size of pho was actually a pretty good portion for me. Of course, it didn't fill me up, but it was the right amount to get a feel for Ba Le's pho and satisfy me. It had three or four pieces of meat, which were cooked through. They had good flavor and were nicely chewy, but not tough. The noodles weren't bad, and I thought the broth was well done. It was flavorful but light, and there was hardly a trace of oil on the surface. Vietnamese green papaya salad is served with fish sauce as a dressing. Today, I thought the fish sauce was kind of bland, which made the whole salad bland. It certainly could have been made stronger with more fish sauce and lime, but perhaps this is a taste more suited to a Hawaiian palate. Flavor-wise, it was disappointing, though I was glad to end the meal with something light, cool, and fresh. Ba-Le's food seems pretty good overall, and the prices are reasonable considering it's Hawaii, but I think that it really needs to step up its presentation. Well, it seems like they do good business, so they may not need to listen to my opinion, but I think it would be a much nicer place with some changes. I'd like to see a more developed image, with more cohesive decorating. The pho was served in a plastic bowl rather than ceramic, with a stained plastic spoon and disposable chopsticks. The garnishes came in a paper boat, and the goi on a styrofoam plate. These details kind of make me think I'm eating cheap food, which is why I'd kill someone if they tried to take me on a legitimate date here. That would not be chill. haha. Well, this Ba-Le location has been in business over ten years, so I doubt they'll overhaul their serving methods anytime soon. Since you order at the counter, it is kind of food court-like. After you finish, you throw away the items you can into the trash can along the wall. But the restaurant was kept pretty clean, in spite of some aging details. They have a single occupancy bathroom that was huge and spotless. I'd come back to try some other dishes, but I think I can find better pho in Chinatown next time. Read more at phoacrossamerica.com
(3)Cory H.
Overall a huge disappointed as far as the high prices for the amount & quality you get! You walk in, order & pay at the register! They do serve your order as you place the number they give you on your table. Paid $30 for two & that was without drinks..oh we did have 1 tapioca dessert
(1)Rocco C.
Love this "locals favorite" spot! Service is fast and super friendly. The food us fantastic! The Pho here is the best in Kona town. You have to try this great place.
(5)D S.
Been coming here for years and I always get the same thing, Lemon Grass Chicken Sandwich!!!! This sandwich is so amazing and delicious! Fresh baked bread roll, chicken, daikon and lemon grass with mayo. I always get mine without the cucumber. Its a huge sandwich and half the time i cant even finish it and get to take half home with me. Ambiance is a little plain. The restaurant is pretty bare, not that many colors or decorations. Tables and chairs are basic but its location is in a shopping center. Dont avoid eating here just because of the atmosphere, the food makes up for it!
(4)Janice I.
Good pho, just wished it had more selection for pho (hence docked off one star). I really missed tripe. Other ingredients recommended on the menu: tendon, beef ball. The broth was excellent. Flavorful with a slightly sweet taste. Pricey, though. I hail from Vancouver, BC, Canada, where there is an endless number of Viet places and high price tags for everything that is needed to sustain life (shelter, food, etc.), and I'm used to the price range of around $6-8 for a large. It's $12 here. Island prices, whew... Pho really satisfied my pho craving though. I had low expectations going in and was pleasantly surprised. And also ordered a Banh mi, which was pretty decent. Funny the guy at the counter didn't know what I meant when I said Banh mi though :P
(4)quyen v.
This place is ok. I got the seafood egg noodles bowl. The broth taste like it come from instant packet. If you are desperate and don't know what real Vietnamese food real taste like then come. Otherwise don't waste your time. The service here is really bad too. The forgot an out my niece wonton ordered and we asked them twice about it. Will I come back to this place?.. No. I'll wait to come back to SJ for real Vietnamese food instead.
(2)Rocco P.
Good. Although it is in a food court. I had the Beef Teri Bahn-mi which was quite good. Ham and Steam Pork Bahn-mi which was not that amazing. The ham was processed sliced deli meat. Price was quite good. For a quick meal to go its good.
(3)Sandy L.
SUNDAY SPECIAL: BAHN XEO - shrimp or pork I initially came here because someone said there was "turon," the Filipino banana dessert, but when we spoke with the owner, he said that his Mom used to make it years ago but since retirement, they no longer make it. I WAS SO SAD. But, we were still excited about their banh mi sandwiches and the bahn xeo. Both were quite delicious!! This is a no frills kind of place and it must be a popular spot for lunch because there was a constant line starting around noon. The bahn xeo is an egg like omelette with brussel sprouts and shrimp. You break the pancake into pieces and make a lettuce wrap. Quite ingenius and very delicious! I would order again and if you're planning to come here, possibly plan for SUNDAY so that you can order!! The Vietnamese sandwich was just OK. The bread was a bit dry and the lemongrass chicken was a little lacking in flavor, but they included a lot of meat and was very filling. I'm used to more oozing and juiciness of the sandwich but maybe that's just San Francisco style? I guess it's preference. The service is quick and it's family owned. They were all very helpful, quick, and patient with our group of 7 which looked like deer in headlights trying to figure out what to order. They even had their little grandson helping to deliver drink orders! SO CUTE! Overall, I recommend if you're craving Vietnamese food!
(3)Magnus S.
This is a great place to grab a fantastic cheap lunch in Kona. Their main clientele are all locals, a very good sign. Their kitchen is fast. There is nothing *fancy* about this joint - they serve their food on styrofoam plates, but for the budget conscience traveler, I could care less. Their Vietnamese sandwiches are amazing. The Pho is good too. SERVICE: 9/10 AMBIANCE: 6/10 FOOD: 10/10 PRICE: 10/10 UNIQUENESS: 8/10 OVERALL SCORE: 82 Service: Graded by the "Keep my cup full principle". Ambiance: Pretty self-explanatory Food: A high food score does not always indicate it is a place for foodies. It is weighted based upon the establishment - thus bar food can receive a high score Price: Price is graded based upon what I believe is fair value for the food you are receiving. A high score does not necessarily indicate the establishment is cheap. Uniqueness: Higher scores indicate desire to return.
(4)Jae C.
The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because the prices are a bit steep for vietnamese sandwiches and noodle dishes. The decor is what you would expect of a place like this that sells great sandwiches and noodles. The people were very friendly and treated us like family like offering to give our 14 mo. old daughter some noodles of her own. We went three times during our 6 day trip. We live in an area that has a hardcore chinatown with very authentic vietnamese joints and this one stacks up with them in terms of the grub. Just a little pricey from what we're used to, but probably more bc Hawai'i is just d*mn expensive. Go there and you will not be disappointe and will thank all the tope reviewers who persuaded you to check it out.
(4)Nina N.
The pho here was pretty good but it costs twice as much here compared to back home, so I wasn't too blown away. Their honeydew tapioca was like a slush which I didn't really care for either.
(2)R C.
If this place was in NY, it would rate a 2. Here in Kona, until very recently it was the only Vietnamese place. Prices are not cheap but average for Kona. Kinda cafeteria-style eat-in. Their Pho is pretty good and authentic. Their rolls for the bahn-mi sandwiches are fresh and good. Their sandwiches are tasty enough, I usually ask for extra veggies in mine. They have their version of cold vermicelli dishes which is kind of like the cold bun noodle dishes but for $9.95 the house special one which I forget the name of was unimpressive. Friendly service.
(4)Ron L.
Ba-Le is conveniently located in a shopping center next store to a KTA supermarket. If you are for looking for delicious, quick and inexpensive food. This is the perfect place for a casual lunch or dinner, with plenty of vegetarian options. The family who runs it is really friendly and there are always plenty of locals there, giving it a "real Hawaii" feeling. On our last trip to the big island in September 2005, I found this restaurant place in the ubiquitous tour book, Hawaii The Big Island Revealed. Everything I tried there was phenomenal. The vegetarian noodle soup and lemon grass tofu sandwiches (!) are top notch. After that amazing , we went back there at least once a day for the next three days. Don't forget to take away some of their light, sweet and pleasantly chewy french bread to snack on later. We took some rolls with us to Captain Cook Monument for a picnic. Some mongoose raided our kayak while we were snorkeling and also found them delicious. Fortunately, we had eaten some earlier with some laughing cow cheese. ONO. Apparently, this is a big Hawaii chain. So, you can have Ba-Le no matter what Island you decide to visit next. Visit their web site for locations.
(5)Jenna R.
As a very general rule, I don't give storefront/takeout restaurants five stars, but this place kicks massive ass. Seriously, in the week I was on the Big Island, I ate there five times -- even stopped in on my way to the airport for a sandwich for my flight. (Mmmm... lemongrass tofu on a french roll!) I really appreciated having so many vegetarian options, since most places in Hawaii have little -- if anything -- for me to choose from. This is the only restaurant I've ever been to that had a vegetarian option for pho -- and it was amazing. When I unwrapped my soup back in my condo, I was amazed how much there was, especially for the price.
(5)Emily Y.
Great Vietnamese hoagies! And Jamba Juice is almost next door!
(4)James B F.
I have a love affair with Pho so I like this place solely on the fact that I can get it here. Overall, I think the food is a little overpriced for what it is. However, you can say that about everything in Kona really. Their pork sandwich on a croissant is killer.
(4)Ariadne C.
i love ba-le. you can't go wrong with anything on the menu, and it is always on my list of yummy places to visit when i'm in kona. prices are insanely reasonable (especially their new $5 menu!). my recs: spicy lemograss chicken, their delicious french rolls and croissants, and the easily-overlooked tapioca pudding. the family that runs the place is great, and service is fast. the place is very casual, but so is kona ;)
(4)Jen B.
Ba-le is one of my favorite places to eat in Kona. I live for the beef and meatball pho which is always delicious and satisfying. I know it's a little more pricey than pho on the mainland, but then.....everything in Hawaii is pricier. The staff is always friendly and fast and the food fresh. I will return again and again!
(4)Jessica S.
It was great to find a Vietnamese restaurant that has many vegetarian options. We could even get the pho with mushroom broth instead of beef broth. We had the crispy noodles with vegetables, the lemongrass tofu, and the pho. We've had lemongrass tofu elsewhere that had a slightly stronger flavor, but this was still good. The place was hopping when we were there and the servers were very nice. They were happy to make recommendations and even stopped me when I tried to clean up our table.
(4)Dayle Y.
I refused to go for couple of years...but once I tried it.... I'm hooked- ate Roast beef on French Bread with Daikon for a week straight. Then, I tried the Spring Rolls with Chicken...very delicious. The Chili Sate sauce is a must with both. If it makes your nose run....its goooooood. People who work there are very nice and helpful.
(4)krystal p.
Bale, I absolutely love you BUT you do need to clean up your act a little -- literally. The banh mi is one of my favorite things to eat on the island BUT I have to get it to take out because the restaurant is just too dirty! I eat the pho there because it doesn't travel well and it is so good, but it would be much more pleasant if the place was cleaner. I am not a dirt prude, but I have my limits, and Bale is right on the line. The floors are dirty, the chairs are sticky, the trash can under the water container is usually filthy. PLEASE, Bale, clean up your act because I want to enjoy your wonderful food in a clean environment!
(3)Kahuku F.
Ba-Le is one of the few places in Kona that offers vegan items on their menu without the need to modify anything. It's become one of my favorite places to eat when in town. You can beat the lunch/mini prices either. I typically get the Tofu Pho with mushroom broth. If you're vegan or vegetarian make sure to ask for mushroom broth otherwise you will be served beef broth. The $5.00 mini bowl is plenty to fill me up. The spicy lemongrass tofu sandwich is also a great vegan option. Want desert? Try the tapioca. I really enjoyed the Mango tapioca, and I don't usually like tapioca. I've been told Ba-Le is more like fast food Pho by a pho connoisseur. I'll be honest I've never met a pho I didn't like. I find their broth to be quite tasty, add a bit of pepper sauce and I'm golden.
(5)Anabelle D.
THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I CAN GET VIETNAMESE FOOD. Sad life when I spent the summer in Kona. It's not legit Vietnamese but it's the closest thing to it. The special sandwich was okay and I got pho here too. Not a big fan of it but the beef stew was good. If you want legit VIET food. FLY TO VIETNAM even though I've never been there but I heard it's the best!
(2)P S.
Prices have increased since the last time I came here. For a regular beef pho it is $10.00 and, for a large it was $11.00. I ordered the large, and compared to some that I tried in Oahu, the amount of noodles you get are the amount for a regular. They didn't have the tapioca pearls for their bubble drinks. And they were also out of croissants for their sandwiches. Will go back for the pho since I do like the taste of the soup, and craving a bubble drink.
(3)T H.
OMG Where is the negative star when you need one? I was vacationing with friend last week and happened to stop at this shop. Boy, it was a big big mistake. The prices were outrageous. My friends ordered the "stir-fry seafood". Guess how many shrimp were in the plate? Three shrimps, yes, there were only three shrimps, the 50-60 count kind, bunch of cabbage and carrots cooked in water, chicken broth, and cornstarch. Does that sound like stir-fry to you? Probably not. That lousy plate cost $14. Three small shrimps, scoop of rice and badly cooked vegetables for $14. Don't believe me, order one and judge for yourself. Now, should go into details about a bowl of water combined with msg that is called "chicken pho". Do yourself a favor and stay away from this place. There are other eateries within very close walking distance in this area. You were warned.
(1)Jeanson D.
The only place for Banh Mi on this island so Automatic 4 stars from me. It's much pricier than I'd like but there's no other options. The manapuas are decent but again, small for the price. Unfortunately I loved them ever since I was a small kid so I always buy at least 10 to eat over the next week.
(4)Kat O.
Cheap quality food and desert. I picked up a tapioca pudding and it was disgusting! They basically added color and sugar which they claimed to be taro flavor. I often have different type of taro here in Northern CA so how know the desert well. I was going to order some other food but I changed my mind after watching them do the preparation. I browsed around for other items that were in packages and I walked out throwing my pudding away. Not recommend!
(2)Jess D.
Had a Seafood Pho, Some Egg Rolls & a BBQ Chicken Sandwich in a Croissant!! ITS AWESOME!! Best Restaurant in Kailua Kona!! Everything is ONO!!
(5)Joli W.
I was craving a Saigon Sandwich and my fellow Yelpers didn't disappoint. It's in a strip mall, but aren't some of the best places? Inexpensive, quick and tasty. Yumm.
(4)S D.
I've had my fair share of Vietnamese sandwiches, and give this one a "good" score. Got the spicy-chicken lemongrass samma. Wasn't too spicy, nor lemongrassy, but the flavor was great anyways. Bread was fresh, I believe. Cheap, dirty, delicious Vietnamese shop. Exactly what I expected.
(4)Dennis L.
Great mom and pop Vietnamese restaurant located in this strip mall. The place is constantly filled probably because they have an awesome $5 ALL DAY EVERY DAY VALUE MEAL. But we were craving a viet sandwich. We got a non-spicy lemongrass chicken bahn mi. We added imperial rolls and based on the picture of the bahn xeo (shrimp and pork pancake) we decided to order that as well. The sandwich seemed a little bland and dry. I remember thinking to myself whether there was a difference between regular chicken and lemongrass chicken. The imperial egg rolls reminded me more of lumpia than anything. The bahn xeo was served lettuce wrap style and was tasty, just a little oily. It was my first time eating bahn xeo and I'd order it again. The service was impeccable and the owners patiently took their time explaining the menu to us.
(3)Laurence W.
This is a super no-frills spot for banh mi, pho, and other vietnamese basics. It's located in a strip mall, not all that far from the airport, and is surprisingly packed with people getting their lunch on. The food is just fine -- good, even -- especially if you're looking for a non-fast food option in the area. Better yet: pick up a sandwich and take it to the beach!
(4)Tien L.
Terrible. I'm from Falls Church, VA where we have Ba Le. I tried the following: Pho w/ meatballs - the broth was sweet... Um, pho's not supposed to be sweet. The noodles were minimum portion, meat was just pain and small. Overprice for its portion and flavor. Garden / Summer rolls - um, so cheap. It was just plain lettuce and a lot of noodles. Where's the mint or cilantros or bean sprouts? No pork. Just 3 halves shrimp.
(1)Samantha D.
Loved it At first but one day was served old pot salad and got food poisoning, haven't gone back since.
(1)Christian B.
For about $6, you can get a delicious, filling sandwich on an enormous French roll or croissant (either or which are baked in-house). The spice level is flavorful, not overpowering. A friend had a soup bowl which was similarly excellent, and came with a basil branch for adding leaves to the soup. This place is actually a chain, but you'd never know it --it has all appearances of being a small, family-owned shop. Great place -- definitely recommended for a lunch in Kailua-Kona.
(4)Keiko S.
My obsession with banh mi was carried over to Hawaii. Seeing a Vietnamese restaurant, I HAD to give it a try. Over all, the sandwich wasn't as fragrant as I'd hoped, and the pickled veggies weren't so flavorful. But the baguette was reasonably crusty, and the meat was...somewhat tasty. Not bad, though it's about $4 more than what you'd pay in California. I was more impressed with the chicken rice noodle dish, which came with a TON of lemongrass. 3.5 stars generously ROUNDED to 4 stars, considering there's no other place to eat traditional Vietnamese fare on this island.
(4)JK C.
I picked up a fewe bahn mi sandwiches before we went to Kona Airport. Tasted very good and totally worth it.
(4)Lo N.
Disappointing! The Kalbi and lemon grass chicken dishes we ordered tasted ok. But, we ordered 2 Kalbis and received only 1. Turns out cashier wrote down only 1; she was too bored to listen to all our orders. The combos came with a strange mac & cheese. Strange that there's Mac & cheese as a side for a rice combo.
(2)Earl G.
Pretty decent banh mi sandwhich (cold pork roll). It was a little pricy at $5 bucks though, compared to $2.50 in the bay area. They also offer an alternate to the french roll for their banh mil, a croissant they say they bake fresh every day. Man, I guess I'm spoiled since I grew up on the $2.00 banh mi's in San Jose that are just the best. They also have daily dessert specials such as a taro cake and Filipino turon (banana wrapped in a pastry and deep fried).
(3)Tom L.
We often eat at Ba-Le and find their food to be a good value. Yes, the dining room is very cafeteria like and the presentation of the food is not fancy, but the staff is friendly, the food is good and is very reasonably priced. You order your food at the counter and they deliver it to your table or for take out. The sandwiches are delicious, their chicken curry is good (I usually add some hot pepper sauce), the pho is good and their happy pancakes, which are only served on Saturdays, is our favorite. Virtually anything on the menu is good. Great place for a good meal..
(4)Melanie L.
I came here two years ago when I was on vacation and apparently, this is the only pho place on the big island. I do recall this place being in a corner in the same center as a Ross store. I first noticed the Zagat ratings on the wall for their pho when I first walked in here. But since it was summer, I really wasn't in the mood for any pho. What my family and I did stop by for, though, was their banh mi since I heard they sold the best, freshest tasting French bread on the island. I ordered the banh mi thit kho (pork sandwich) and I must say, the bread really did taste fresh. It was amazing how soft and warm it was inside and crispy on the outside. The meat was soft and flavorful and the cilantro, cucumbers, and pickled carrots/daikon were so fresh that they complemented the whole sandwich very well. I actually found the banh mi here so much better than the ones back in Houston. My family and I frequented this place during our vacation here; the banh mi was so cheap and delicious! I miss it so. This isn't one of those super small Vietnamese cafes you see in Houston either; this one's actually pretty big (as in enough to fill up 3 large Vietnamese family parties). And I can see that this is a family-run business. The owners/chefs of the restaurant come out to the front every now and then to check up on their customers. They are the CUTEST old Vietnamese couple I've ever seen in my life! The cashiers at the front also happen to be their children and they're all just so welcoming and sincere. They even give you tips on where to go and what to see throughout your time on the island. Nice family business and their food and service shows for it. I definitely recommend you stop by this place on your visit to the big island!
(5)Nichole D.
THAI ICE TEA= awesome....coconut tapioca pudding= yummy..(although one time it didn't have the right consistency, these things happen). BF loves the lemongrass chicken sandwich. The egg rolls weren't very good, but the prices are fair and service is pretty good.
(3)Carol P.
BaLe is a no-frills Vietnamese restaurant with consistently excellent food. I always stop there when I'm in Kona. Their pho and saimin are flavorful and filling, and extra items (shrimp, roast pork, other dumplings or veggies) can be added for not much extra money. The green papaya salad is terrific. Nearly everything (with one exception, one time only) on BaLe's extensive menu is delicious, but my choice is their French-Vietnamese sandwiches -- of which the spicy lemongrass tofu or roast pork are my favorites -- on their fresh baked crispy-crusted French bread, with just the right amount of radish, carrot and other tasty ingredients and textures that delight your taste buds with every bite! In local parlance, it broke da mouth! For me, the spicy lemongrass tofu on french roll, with a bit of Sriracha sauce added at the table, is the best sandwich on the Big Island. When I'm indulging myself, I pair the sandwich with a Thai iced tea. So richly sweet and satisfying! On one visit only, in February 2009, my visiting uncle ordered their beef ribs and was disappointed. Other than that, dozens of local friends and many of my visitors have enjoyed this place enough to want to return many times. It's always a meeting point when friends get together in Kona. BaLe has an affordable menu offering a variety of well prepared, fresh, authentic food. Local folks who seek a delicious alternative to fast food fill this place up every day. It is located next to the KTA on Palani Road in Kona. For what it's worth, I eagerly visited a BaLe restaurant in Honolulu to have my favorite sandwiches, and their quality was far inferior. Unfortunately their sandwiches were less fresh -- they were pre-made and wrapped, thus quite disappointing compared to the freshly made food in the Kailua-Kona location.
(5)Jay P.
Not a lot of good asian food in the big island, this place is definitely a relieve, food is okay, we ordered Pho and its not so bad. For big island visitor that can't live with Asian food, this place is definitely a place to cure your craving.
(3)Brad P.
Every time I visit the big island I make sure to come by here and get the spicy lemongrass chicken sandwich. The french rolls they use aren't as good as the bahn mi places back home in the SGV, but they're ok. I tried something new this most recent visit, the vietnamese style saimin (ramen) noodles. It was pretty good... I'd stick with the sandwiches though next time. I haven't tried their pho, mostly because I'm loyal to Golden Deli for my pho.
(4)Aj D.
Man did we get our Vietnamese sandwich on here!!! It was just a good as the places we like at home. Tasty, fresh, and great service! It can get busy but it's worth it. we went here multiple times!
(5)SacBelle S.
This place was dirty. We ordered but by the time our food arrived we had had too long to look a the place and no longer wanted to eat. Wasted money. $18 for shrimp rolls and Lemongrass Chicken served on a Styrofoam plate.
(1)Martin L.
We ordered the shrimp roll, papaya salad and the special sandwich. The sandwich was by far the best dish. The shrimp roll Had too much rice noodle. The papaya salad was pretty boring.... The special sandwich was filled with yummy pate and assorted meat.
(3)Bobby D.
Ba Le has always been our go to place for Bahn Mi sandwiches when in Kona--the spicy lemongrass chicken always was awesome. But last few times there Ba Le has been maddeningly inconsistent. Some times the spicy lemongrass comes out not very spicy at all and with little flavor, just mediocre, and some times it comes out like it used to in all its awesomeness. Not sure if there is an issue in kitchen turnover and haven't sampled their other food, but the quality of the Bahn Mi is not what it used to be here. They are no longer making it on croissant either, which is a shame since that was a major part of the experience. Hope Ba Le can come back strong.....
(2)Victoria K.
Food is consistantly great... Healthy and light choices for a great price.
(5)Leo M.
Best food on Kona side - saimin and banh mi to die for Counter service and no decor to speak of...but the best food we had Kona side this trip. My wife has been a saimin devotee since she lived in Hawaii and was ecstatic - BaLe serves some of the best saimin she has ever tasted...if not THE best. The banh mi was delicious with tasty, crusty bread and the proper 'exotic' ingredients. The pho was also good - though not quite as exceptional as the first two dishes. Other than that there is not much to say - you get a cold drink out of the fridge, order your food at the counter, and wait for someone to deliver a miracle to your table. A classic 25/10/15 kind of place.
(5)Kimthy D.
I mean, for the only Kona vietnamese spot, it works. Nothing like Cali but when you're desperate... it's a go. If it was in Cali, it would probably be a 2 1/2 star tops. Their pho is mediocre, and the lemongrass tofu was delicious. It's weird because you pay and then sit.
(4)M H.
I LOVE the spicy lemongrass tofu sandwich on the french roll. It is so unique and delicious, and I haven't found anything anywhere else that satisfies my craving for it quite like Bale. If you don't like tofu, there is also a chicken version, but if you are on the verge, just take the leap and try the tofu, it is awesome and you won't be disappointed. Then to wash it all down I have a vietnamese coffee...double yum!
(5)Yumer Y.
update from last review... the Pho is tasty. its sweeter than the pho soups i'm used to but it's pretty yummy. The lemon grass chicken is good too. The vietnamese curry is reallllllly yummy! I actually got addicted to this place while living in Kona for few months!
(5)Robert H.
Consistent food for good price. The lemongrass chicken sandwich is good as are the noodle bowls. Convenient location off Mamalahoa.
(4)E M.
I would seriously go back to Kona just to eat at this restaurant. This is the best, cheapest, most delicious Vietnamese food we've ever had. The pho is amazing, the sandwiches are also great. You won't find a better deal than the mini menu, which has reasonable portions for cheap. LOVE this place.
(5)Forrest S.
So I went back and tried the bahn mi, and was it worth the price? Oh yes indeed it was. One of the best bahn mi I have had thus far. No skimping on meatballs, and fresh, crispy, chewy baguette. Mmmmmmm.
(4)Vicky J.
This is one of my most go-to places when I'm in Kona. It may partly be because I have a few lovely memories from high school here, but it's also partly because I just love the turkey sandwich and chocolate tapioca here. The veggies are fresh, the bread is wonderful, and everything about it just makes my taste buds happy. I'm not a huge pho fan, so this totally makes up for it.
(4)D A.
People who give this place 4 or 5 stars have to be kidding. I might give someone a pass with a 3 star rating but a 1-2 star is appropriate. The place is filthy dirty. The tables are sticky, the spice bottles on the table are filthy and sticky, the windows are dirty, the floors are dirty, the walls are dirty, the trash cans are absolutly disgusting and probably havne't been cleaned in 6 months based on the amount of accumulated filth. The place didn't stink and I didn't see bugs but am surprised I didn't experience that. On the food, I ordered the shrimp rolls and lemon grass chicken. The shrimp rolls were a disappointment. They were noodles, lettuce and shrimp and they were overstuffed with lettuce. They didn't have any flavor to speak of. Most places make them with some mix of mint, sprouts, basil, cilantro, etc. in them for flavor but not here. You get noodles and lettuce (not much flavor here). The lemon grass chicken was chicken and a little bit of white onion and I really mean little. So, I guess the plus is that they don't short change you on the protein. But I'm expecting some more flavors in my lemon grass chicken like maybe lemon grass? A little bit of color and flavor would also be nice like maybe some cilantro, shallots, green onion, etc.. The rice was clumpy with parts I had to use a knife to break up because it was stuck together so well. These unintentional rice balls were not cooked all the way through as the rice in them was still a little uncooked. So, big question, would I go back? I guess if I was starving and it was the only restaurant left in Kona I would go. As it is I'm sitting here writing this review wondering if I'm going to get sick.
(1)Steve T.
The sandwich is the worst I ever ate!!! It costs $7 a sandwich and smelled like a dead fish in between a two pieces of lava.
(1)Pismole T.
love their food , regular customer, missed their meat ball soup , overall I enjoy most of the menus, my one suggestion the restaurant need a facelift , tables and chairs look dirty and sticky
(3)Rebekah G.
The food here is fresh, delicious, vegetaria/vegan friendly, and affordable! We love the spicy lemongrass tofu, either on the rice plate or the sandwich. The Pho soup is the best! They offer small portions of many of their dishes for only $5!!! Good luck finding decent food at that price anywhere else in Kona!! Also, the tapiocas and tapioca pearl drinks are a delicious sweet treat you must try, and non dairy!!
(5)Hue M.
Not bad for being in Hawaii. The owners are Vietnamese. But the front wait staff are not. So don't start spewing out your Vietnamese cause they'll tell you they don't understand. Basically, don't be like me. Ha! The menu is big. There's lots to choose from and something for everyone. The iced coffee is good, but it's made too sweet for my taste. I know it's made this way to account for the average American patron, not for the Vietnamese community. The place is clean. Friendly. Food is tasty. Some of the sandwiches run a little high in price, but so what? Where else are you going to get this kind of food on an island!
(4)Mark K.
We were recommended this place by a friend and we ate there for lunch. We liked it so much that we went back there for dinner. The food is pricey for vietnamese food but this is the Big Island and everything is a little more expensive in Hawaii. I thought it was well worth it and with everything else closing down with the recession I don't mind paying extra for good food. The service staff is very good and helpful in recommending items on the menu. The menu is large and expansive. Plenty of things to choose from. Since I'm a sucker for good vietnamese sandwiches I ordered the pork and it was worth it.
(4)May T.
Woo hoo! We touched down in the afternoon on the Big Island, and were starving by 6pm. There was an abundant amount of cheesy tourist restaurants on the main strip, but we made our way over to the locals' strip mall and found this little gem. They've got a huge selection of banh mi with your choice of french rolls or croissants. They've got a myriad of rice plates, salads, pho and bun. The best part is the homemade tapioca with coconut, taro, chocolate, etc. They come in individual cups and have yummy chunks of whatever ingredient is featured.
(3)jaron s.
We have friends in Kona and manage to visit this delightful area a couple of times a year. About four years ago we discovered Ba-Le. We have probably eaten there a dozen times. And recommended it to many friends. We went yesterday and ordered bassa fish for lunch. ($11.71) It was okay. Then I noticed there was a lunch special. Five bucks. So I ordered the Korean ribs. The ribs were so tough I broke two plastic forks trying to cut them from the bone. I have pretty good teeth but I could not chew them. Very stringy. What the heck? Five bucks, no big deal and the bassa as I said was not bad. Alas, I was charged $14.06 for these deplorable ribs. ". But," I said, ". I thought it was only five bucks." No, no, you ordered the large meal. That ends our visits to that pho place.
(2)Franck M.
The roast pork sandwich was good, a nice option to have lunch in Kona. It was on the average side though as far as vietnamese sandwiches go. Disappointed the vietnamese coffee was made from drip coffee instead of using the common individual metal filter. The service was super friendly though.
(3)Jenny M.
I really liked their spicy curry sandwich and their pho was pretty decent as well. The bread was really good and soft, as if it was baked the same day. (it probably was!) While I was flying on Hawaiian Airlines, I bought one of their snacks which was a cranberry toast, only to find out that the brand of the toast was Ba-Le. I was disappointed that the restaurant didn't sell that same toast, because it was really good! Overall, I give this place 4 stars and I would definitely go back!
(4)Ken A.
Ba-Le has awesome food every time. Try the Spicy Lemon Grass Basa Fish or the Spicy Lemongrass Chicken on a Croissant. Also, you can't go wrong with their Veggie Sumner Rolls. Easy to find easy to park.
(4)Tim O.
Great food, good pho
(4)thb t.
when i first walked into the restaurant i was surprised. i guess it is because i never thought of Vietnamese food as pricey food. The sandwiches were around $5 and the pho was around $9. since we skipped breakfast, we had decided to give this place a try since i saw good reviews on yelp. we ordered one beef ball+meat pho bowl and one kalbi rice plate. I was very disappointed with the pho. The soup had absolutely no flavor and the noodles didn't even look like real pho noodles and i only got 2 beef balls that were cut in half to give the illusion that i had more. The Kalbi was nothing special either. Obviously the bay area has spoiled me once again, with their reasonable prices and well cooked food. But seeing as there aren't that many Vietnamese places in the area, i guess there really isn't a motivation to make the best pho you can
(2)Van D.
Came here with the family after arriving at the airport. Got take out to eat in our vacation rental house. We tried a variety of things including sandwiches, bun thit nuong, and pho. I tried a little bit of everything (fat kid), but everything was pretty average. Prices are a bit high but so is everything else in hawaii. Would not have high expectations for this place if you do eat here.
(3)Truong N.
The food here was surprisingly good because I'm from the oc which is full of Vietnamese restaurants. They did the best they could with the ingredients they had and everything turned out to be very authentic and delicious. It also helps that they had native vietnamese cooks instead of Mexican ones like Orange County. The one thing I found most amusing was the fact that the owner loved Vietnamese customers because she doesnt get them often so it was really awesome to be able to chat with her and have her serve us personally. Bust out some Viet! It might buy you points with her. Overall the experience was very authentic and delicious.
(4)Karen N.
Good food! Order the Spicy Lemongrass Chicken sandwich and have some tapioca pudding for desert.
(3)Jesse W.
1/1/6/10: Great, consistent Vietnamese foods that is a nice treat from the local takeout routine. Somehow, on trips to the west side, we usually end up here to grab a quick lunch, very reliable and delish tasting sandwiches. We usually stick with the french bread (not upgrading to the croissant roll) and almost always pick up the lemongrass chix sandwich with summer rolls! Its too bad that there isn't one in Hilo...
(4)Sophia Y.
Kid friendly b/c they have books for kids to read, a changing table! and a huge clean bathroom free water. LOVE the bread, though interesting that it is 90 cents for a loaf but like 1.85 if you get it with butter... so save yourself the extra$$ and don't do butter. though I do love butter. so perhaps get butter with one loaf and not with other(s) =) the "vietnamese sandwich" is good. though the turkey one didn't have high quality turkey (just your cheap cafeteria round sliced stuff). the chicken one was good. the pho was good. i like the orange colored lime! almond tofu - minimal but yum grass jelly in can drink - how could it not be good. expensive compared to CA prices, but this is Hawaii. They have to bring everything here by boat/plane... so good price for Hawaii!
(4)Emily P.
Nice and friendly service, the furniture was not so clean, however.
(3)Lynda S.
So, usually the normal vietnamese sandwich places open quite early say 5AM in the Bay Area as poeple grab lunch or coffee before going to work. To my surprise, this location opens at 11AM...a much more mellow, sleep in relaxing island, so that can be forgiven...lolz. Shocking so I had to go to Buns in the Oven for a sandwiche as we are 3 hours ahead our time making us grab breakfast to fill our time's lunch cycle. We did however stop by and grab Pho later on that evening as my husband was craving Pho on the islands. To our shock, it was $9 to start for a regular bowl of Pho! Kinda steep if you ask us, as we are used to asking for the special costing $5.50-$6.50 at max. Nevertheless, tried it and it was quite disappointing in taste. Wouldn't recommend coming here for Pho if your craving it. Doesn't satisfy.
(2)Michelann Q.
Finding cheap food in Kona has proved to be a challenge. Ba Le is a bit more expensive than I'm used to for Vietnamese food, but they make up for it in portion size and flavor. We had the grilled pork sandwich (bahn mi) and shrimp spring rolls (goi cuon). Both were excellent, but the roll that the sandwich was on was incredible. Fresh, crusty, flavorful. Very tasty.
(4)Ceci G.
I'm from LA and go to the Nom Nom truck every chance I get, and I used to think it was the best Bahn Mi I'd ever had. Used to! This spicy lemongrass sandwich was perfect, can't recommend it more. If you're a meat eater, the spicy pork meatball sandwich totally hits the spot. The bread, the bread, the bread. YUM. We ate dinner for less than $20, and that's with spicy lemongrass tofu noodles that we will be eating tomorrow because the sandwiches were so filling. Awesome find!
(5)Claire B.
Ba-Le Restaurant has the best Barbequed Pork Sandwich ever! Served on a crispy French Roll, you get nice pieces of pork in Ba-Le special sauce, along with pickled cucumber & carrot strips in the sandwich - which really add to the whole exotic Vietnamese experience of tastes and textures.. I will order that with their thai tea in the can, and a sweet potato tapioca.. it's so pretty! [purple] ..and what i really love about this restaurant, is their shrine in the corner.. it's always fresh.. so they give to their deity daily.. that is good karma & gratitude!
(4)Chris C.
For being the only Vietnamese choice in Kailua-Kona (and possibly the entire island), it's pretty decent if I were very desperate but living near San Jose CA, our standards are rather high. I must say, it's a great asian variation of the typical Hawaiian plate lunch. The mixed plate was great. As banh mi aficionados though, the pate, bread and pickles were not quite up to par. If I had a say, I'd ask for more jalapenos and cilantro. Couldn't quite finish the roll. Overall, average. Improve the banh mi and we'd bump them up a star or two.
(3)Amy K.
French/Vietnamese place: you can get sandwiches on croissants as well as noodles, or rice and taro in a banana leaf. They also serve boba and various canned drinks with chunks in them. It's a very informal little restaurant with menus in English and Japanese. My family mostly ordered lemongrass sandwiches in both tofu and chicken; I thought mine was alright, nothing special. I'd go get another sandwich, and I liked that I could get tofu sandwiches, but it wasn't memorable as a whole. Wouldn't say no if someone suggested a stop there, though.
(3)Sherron B.
We've been here three times, once just to try their croissants as I am dying for a good croissant. Still haven't found one ... We had good friends visit us the last time and they had a guidebook and wanted to try several places. Hey, we're game and they're good friends, so why not? They really wanted to try the Ba-Le pho, so off we went. They are both carnivores, and they did both like their multi-meat pho. She wasn't real fond of the quality of the meat (it did look kind of weird), but they agreed that the taste was good. My husband and I, on the other hand, swore off red meat some years ago, so we tried their mushroom pho and found it truly lacking. The broth was as close to tasteless as it could be and you had to search for any mushrooms. The noodles weren't quite right, either. Worse, there were so few vegetables in it that I couldn't even console myself with those. Now I like tasty, spicy food. I can buy a package of udon noodles mix at the local Long's Drugs, add my own seasonings and vegetables, add water & microwave for 3 minutes, and have a tastier version of "pho" than what we paid over $8 (extra for the mushroom broth) at Ba-Le. Maybe they just don't do vegetarian well ... there don't seem to be a lot of local people who aren't into meat. And most of them we've talked to do like Ba-Le ... but I have always been a foodie. All my memories tend to be food related and I really love food. And this place just isn't it. Now if you want to taste good food, mosey on over to Rapanui ... ;)
(2)Harold M.
they have the best pho.
(4)Holly N.
I am from Socal where you can find the best Vietnamese food therefore I usually have to lower my expectation when I travel elsewhere and I was quite impressed to taste the rare beef noodle soup or pho that is so tasty. Also try the house special sandwich or Vietnamese pancake Aka banh xeo that's only availabe on Sunday.
(4)Ray L.
This restaurant is overpriced, has no service, and is not authentic Vietnamese food.. Being overpriced wouldn't be a problem if it tastes good but it doesn't. If you never had Vietnamese food then you might say this restaurant is okay/good but if you are from the bay area and is not your first time eating Vietnamese food, I wouldn't bother stepping foot in this restaurant...
(1)Amy M.
Great everything. The food is absolutely special. It has great pho and rolls. Everything on the menu is delicious in it's own way. Relatively fast and good service.
(5)Daniela A.
This is a Hawaiian Vietnamese chain. They have a large variety of spring rolls, Vietnamese sandwiches made with fresh French bread and, of course, pho. I've eaten there on several occasions and never had a bad experience, although I have to say that the sandwiches are the stand-out item on the menu. You can find this restaurant at malls in Hilo and Kona.
(4)Kim K.
We grabbed a quick lunch here before our flight home. It was weird to see so many Ba-Les on the island as I used to frequent a Ba-Le growing up in the city. (That one has since moved to Oakland.) I wonder if there's any correlation... I tried the pork sandwich which wasn't bad for a Vietnamese sandwich in Hawaii. The processed pork was an odd gray color and the sandwich lacked substance; no jalapenos, parsley, or cucumbers. Doesn't compare to a Vietnamese sandwich from the TL but you shouldn't be comparing it anyway. I'd come back though, cheap meal.
(3)Tella D.
Excellent Vietnamese food: the pho' beef had a flavorful, subtly spiced broth, and both the beef and the noodles were cooked just right. The bean sprouts that came with the pho' were the biggest, whitest, crunchiest, and sweetest we've had -- and one of us grew up on them. The cucumbers in the salad were the best ever, too. Exceptionally high standards for a restaurant with no competition! The decor is simple and the restaurant, busy, but the server was very cheerful and helpful.
(5)Havana H.
Good pho and excellent green papaya salad. Try the tapioca pudding- sweet potato flavor was delicious!
(3)