cheap eats (part 2)

The last time I was home, I wanted to eat at Ba-le Sandwich & Bakery, but didn't get around to doing so.

They are a local company, known for their Vietnamese sandwiches called "banh mi". These sandwiches are made with lots of pickled veggies--daikon (long white radish) and carrots, cucumber, your choice of filling, some cilantro and a warm, crusty french bread (for a little more (about 50 cents), you can have the same sandwich made in a croissant instead of the french bread).

Before moving to Japan, I would often order the vegetarian--which is just the crusty french bread and the veggies (daikon, carrots, cucumber).

Today, I tried the lemon grass chicken sandwich (US$4.71-tax included). The chicken was tender, juicy and very flavorful. And there were a lot of pickled veggies too.

This sandwich is definitely meant to be savored while sitting down somewhere and not on the run (and not while driving in your car!)--it can get a bit messy, as the veggies drop out while taking your bites.

Ba-le also serves plate lunches, summer rolls and sweet treats too!