Ba-Le Sandwiches – Lahaina
Nothing shoos away a threatening cold better than a flavorful bowl of pho — Vietnam’s answer to mom’s chicken soup. Whether it’s piled with chicken, seafood, or slices of rare beef simmering in near-boiling broth, Ba-Le’s pho is rich and unctuous, the noodles wide and slippery. The kitchen doesn’t skimp on the fresh basil, bean sprouts, and jalapenos, all served on the side.
Add a squirt of sambal (chili sauce) and good health is guaranteed. Whether we go for the pho, the noodle dishes, or one of their hearty sandwiches, our wallets stay about the same weight, and our bellies thank us. Ba-Le means “Paris” in Vietnamese, and believe it or not, this company makes great French bread — for Hawaii. (It’s very hard to develop a good crust here, the clean air means less bacteria, which in turn means soft crusts.) You’ll often see Ba-Le bread and cakes sold in local grocery stores on Oahu, even at picky, upscale Whole Foods. These eateries feature a wide variety of hot and cold sandwiches made with their rolls and stuffed thick with ham, pate, or lemongrass chicken. Pickled daikon radish, slivered cucumbers, and carrots provide a crunchy, sour counterpoint. Most sandwiches cost under $7, which is a very good price on Maui.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese classics are also quite good. The noodle dishes feature well-seasoned grilled pork, lemongrass chicken, fried spring rolls, and many other fresh proteins that are prepared to order. For dessert, choose from a colorful selection of tapiocas — coconut or sweet potato. Skip the croissants, which tend to be limp. C’est la vie. While not fine dining, it is reliably good eats, and with several locations island-wide, they’re easy to find.
Address: 1221 Honoapiilani Highway, Lahaina, West Maui
Location: Food court, Lahaina Cannery Mall
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hours: Daily 10am-9pm
Parking: Lot
Phone: 808-661-5566
Website: www.ba-le.com
Address: 270 Dairy Rd., Kahului, Central Maui
Location: Food court, Maui Marketplace
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hours: M-Sa 9am-9pm; Su 9am-7pm
Parking: Lot
Phone: 808-877-2400
Address: 247 Pi’ikea Ave., Kihei, South Maui
Location: Pi’ilani Village Center, near Safeway
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Hours: M-Sa 9am-9pm; Su 9am-8pm
Parking: Lot
Phone: 808-875-6400
Address: 1824 Oihana St., Wailuku, Central Maui
Location: Close to the overpass.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Hours: Daily 9am-9pm
Parking: Lot
Phone: 808-249-8833