BA LE
BANH MI
Story by Alexa Margarian, Photo by Vincent SooHoo
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ou may want to give yourself some extra time if you happen to stroll into Banh Mi Ba Le on your next lunch break, and not because the service is slow. You won’t want to miss anything. Banh Mi Ba Le, a Vietnamese sandwich shop and market, is a charming, colorful gem located in Dorchester, MA. The owner, Jennifer Nguyen, is as welcoming as she is dedicated to her business. Customers are treated to pleasant conversation, and leave filled with delicious food reminiscent of a home-cooked meal. Customers are not the only ones with something to be happy about. The community is also lucky to have Jennifer, who frequently gives back to her community with donations to such organizations as Boy Scouts of America. Established 15 years ago by her sister, Jennifer took over ownership in 2000. “I changed things little by little,” said Jennifer. She updated the store’s look by arranging displays in a way that customers can see everything easily. “I looked at other Vietnamese communities for ideas on how to make my business the way it is today.” She recently had a bakery built on the side of the market where the baguettes are made fresh daily. ASIAN BOSTON
A prepared-food section on one side has everything from to-go meals of beef and noodles to mangos pickled in vinegar and chili. Opposite stands a tropical fruit smoothie bar where you can also get bubble tea and refreshing iced coffee sweetened with condensed milk. At the front of the store, you can find a variety of pastries. Flavored puddings of bright green, pink, and yellow hues are sure to bring anyone inside.
“But the beef sandwich is really the business,” Jennifer explains, as she points to the counter where they assemble everything. Customers can also choose chicken, cured pork, tofu and meatballs.
To start, Jennifer splits a fresh baguette, spreads butter on both sides and adds thinly sliced strips of beef, cucumber, carrots, cilantro and onion. The result is simple, yet so satisfying. The crunchy vegetables combined with the tangy BBQ beef complement one another so well; it’s no surprise that some customers travel all the way from New York and Connecticut to eat there. Keeping the customers in mind, she strives to maintain low prices so everyone can try new menu items. For a $3 sandwich, you can’t go wrong. Jennifer was kind enough to show me how she prepares the BBQ beef every day by marinating it in sauce. When I asked Jennifer how she makes the sauce, she respectfully declined to reveal her secret recipe. But her secret to success is one that she is proud to share: “I treat my customers like family…they support me, so I have to work hard for them.” What a great deal…friendly service and affordable prices.
Banh Mi Ba Le
1449 Dorchester Avenue Boston, MA 02122 (617) 287-9988 inform. entertain. relate.
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