Hi @Ns1,
Thanks! Which combo(s) do you recommend there? 
#2 or #3
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I went to Ba Le today based on your post and my goodness, this is so much better than the SGV location it isnāt even funny. I am not even sure they are related because of how much of a different experience this was. I grabbed a Dac Biet and it was amazing. The bread is some of the best Iāve had and the mayo they use/make is just awesome.
Does anyone know what mayo they use or if they make it?
I tasted some on my finger and it has a nice garlic flavor, and the color is very yellow.
You were right! I should have gone sooner.
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@A5KOBE they make the mayo themselves and sell it in the fridge for folks who want to DIY banh mi at home. It does have garlic and itās amazing.
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Hi @A5KOBE,
Ba Le Sandwiches (Westminster)! So good, right? 
Glad you were able to finally make it.
Totally agree this is so much better than the āBa Leā in the San Gabriel Valley, thereās no way they are related considering how bad that one is.
The bread, the housemade mayo (thanks for the info @attran99!) and fillings, balance.
Oh! I forgot to mention for those considering stopping by but needing more incentive:
- Ba Le Sandwiches (Westminster) is across the street from New Duong Son BBQ (@Dommy @PorkyBelly and others).
And itās just a few minutes away from the legendary @JeetKuneBaoās Cococane, and you can then bang x bang Ngu Binh for incredible Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (Bun Bo Hue). 
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There is Ba Le in a lot of major metro areas. I believe the original is in San Jose. They are all separate but almost all are related (Uncle, Aunt, Cousin, etc) to each other
Everything at Ba Le Little Saigon is made in house. I suggest buying some of their mayo and pate to go!
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- Banh Mi at Ba Le
- Original at Cococane
- Vietnamese Coffee at Phin Smith
- Bun Bo Hue at Ngu Binh
- Hu Tieu Nam Vang at Trieu Chau
- Com Tam at Thanh Restaurant
- Shaking Beef at Khoi Hung
- Pho Bo at Pho Akaushi
- Canh Chua at Maiās Kitchen
- Banh Cuon at Pho Tau Bay
- Crab Egg Rolls at Hanoi Avenue
- Grilled Pork Spring Rolls at Brodard
- Chao Long at Cho Tam Bien
- Fruit Tart at Le Croissant Dore
- Bo Kho at Song Long
- Hu Tieu My Tho Dac Biet at Phuongs
- Banh Canh Tom Cua at Mai Phung
- Fried Catfish at Favori
- Chao Ca at Canton Restaurant
- Pho Ga at Pho Ga Hai Van
- Coconut Snails and Vietnamese Salad at Oc and Lau
- Banh Xeo at Vanās
- Oxtail Side at Pho 79
- Banh Xeo Rolls at Quan Mii
Here is 25 reasons to come down in no particular order
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Any bun cha recs?
Bun Cha Hanoi should be grilled over charcoal! Too bad we have yet to see it done proper.
So you gotta lower your expectations slightly. I like Hanoi Avenue with that said. I donāt get Hanoi Corner, I personally would avoid
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Strangely enough, if you need an LA rec Button Mash in Echo Park.
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Fresh Canes is a rebranding of the old favorite Dr. Jolly. Excellent sugarcane juice, by itself or with ginger and lemon.
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Damn for real. I need to try. Never got to try Starry Kitchen too
Hi @JeetKuneBao,
Aah! I just saw that Cho Tam Bien is only a couple blocks away from Ba Le Sandwiches! 
Darn it! I need to bookmark all of these places into 1 Google Maps for next time. 
Then again I shouldāve realized that all of the Little Saigon recs are all close / minutes from each other.
Great list! 
Have you tried Pho Akaushi recently? We felt they were on downhill alert after our 3rd and 4th visits last year. If theyāve back to their early days form, then I canāt wait to return.
Bun Cha Hanoi is the ONE vietnamese dish I really crave because of my fond memories in Hanoi. So on my last visit to Westminster which happens once every 15 years or so, I got it from Hanoi Corner and letās just say that I will keep searching.
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Iāve read that before (not sure if it was you), but just canāt imagine it. I will have to try it.
We went to Hanoi Corner the other night and got the Bun Cha. Didnāt have it fresh and rewarmed it the next day thought it was pretty good but not close to the iterations Iāve had in Vietnam. Broth was definitely tasty though and as a bonus for ordering 15 dollars or more they gave us a free drink which I have no idea how it is named but it tasted mildly passion fruit ish with other mixed tropical flavors was refreshing Iāll have to try Hanoi Avenue.
Definitely would avoid their nem nuong they were decent but nowhere near as good as compared to Brodards.
Also they were not practicing social distancing inside. Tables were all lined up back to back to back with patrons.
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Yeah I know itās unbelievable but the chef is Vietnamese and had his 15 minutes of fame slanging green tofu balls and a Vietnamese pop up. So itās not quite as unbelievable given that context.
The Chao Long at Cho Tam Bien is so good. Housemade sausagesā¦lemongrass/herb and a blood one, along with some offal and blood cake. It is absolutely one of my favorite porridges in all of So Cal!
I love my Canto/Taiwanese porridge but damn when you figure in the time and care to make 2 different sausages, preparing offal and blood cakeā¦(kinda like how Ba Le makes everything).
A Ba Le Banh Mi and Cho Tam Bien Chao Long would be a great bang bang with your choice of beverageā¦cococane, viet coffee at Phin Smith.
I have not been to Pho Akaushi in a while (I am actually on the other side of the country FYI lol but Iāll be back home in 1.5-2 years and Iāll try make some visits back home here and there)
When Tom at Pho Akaushi is on point, itās probably the best damn bowl of Pho in Little Saigon
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