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Both the beef and chicken Pho are equally delicious.
The BBQ pork rice bowl was so good, I had it twice last week.
There's THREE fish options on the menu.
And if that's not enough check out what epicurean Erik Glass blurted out, "I bet we could eat here every day."
I've been told by multiple sources to stay away from their bland-ass spring rolls, but the bar has been set so low (by the only other Loop Vietnamese place Saigon Sisters) that I might give them a shot.
Rating, each category out of 5:
Taste * * * *
Value * * *
Atmosphere * *
Service * * * *
Links: Ba Le Website, Yelp
Jen's thorough comment: Meg, did I approve of Ba Le in totality? I can't recall. However, you nailed it in that it gets a reluctant thumbs up given how low the bar has been set for Viet cuisine anywhere in Chicago, especially in the Loop. Overall, I think Ba Le is a welcome option for LITL (oops, minor ref to that other blog about lunch in the Loop!). The menu items do the job well enough with standouts being what you already mentioned in your post. I didn't have their pho, but I would not bet the farm on it being satisfying and/or authentic. It is a deceptively simple dish that is hard to master especially in a grab-n-go environment like this. The cooler at the front with takeaways of spring rolls, headcheese and Vietnamese jelly desserts is a nice touch and the free samples of rice pudding in tropical flavors is a moocher's delight. My lemongrass pork banh mi was alright. The pork could use more flavor and there weren't enough pickled veggies in mine. I guess the sheer size of it (~12") made up for all of that as did the cup of stripped down pho ca that came with my lunch special. I'll need to try the standard banh mi with headcheese next time and compare to the version my family has made since I was a kid. (NOTE: Suspiciously, there were no packets of Sriracha to be found anywhere and when I asked the cashier for some she looked at me like I was crazy.) Decor: Asian restaurants of this size and budget typically don't do interiors right, but they managed to hit all the right trends without going overboard or just looking plain weird (e.g. Lao Sze Chuan). I especially enjoy the two, long bars for standing only eating. So urban! Also, having iced Vietnamese coffee within a block from our respective office's is pretty great. I'll definitely remember this when in need of that 2nd wind before heading to a hot & humid Free Music Monday's at Millenium Park this year. Next time, I gotta remember to nab a bunch of those disposable Asian soup spoons - they're so freakin' adorable. -- Your favorite (and only?) Vietnamese friend.
ReplyDeleteBa Le in the Loop? Cool! It looks like they have a bigger menu than the one in Uptown. No phó there but plenty in the area. I'll have to check them out downtown!
ReplyDeleteYeah! Let me know and I'll meet you. I'm right across the street.
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