It's surprising how frequently I find myself near 5018 N. Broadway and Banh Mi Ba Le at lunchtime. The allure of this take out place's terrific Vietnamese spring rolls is substantial because it's not quite on my usual errand route but in the heart of "little Viet Nam" at Broadway and Argyle.
Three thin rice pancakes (guoi cuon) are wrapped around a combination of pork, rice noodles and lettuce and are topped with shrimp. They're prepacked for the lunch crowd and come with a container of favorful dipping sauce for an astonishing $3.75 The French presence in Viet Nam (before ours) led to an interesting amalgam of cuisines. The baguette became the basis for a wide assortment of sandwiches. When we were in Hanoi we could never get past the marvelous pate which we bought at stalls on the street. No, we never got sick.
Here there is an assortment of sandwiches; meatball, steamed pork roll and pate, BBQ pork, vegetarian and lemongrass sausage. All are $2.75 but the steamed pork is $2.50. There's a buy 5, get one free standing offer and traditional-looking puddings and jellos in a refrigerator case along with Penny Worth Green Tea and Thai iced Tea and Coffee at $2.95.
I was told there will be a printed take out menu soon and it may have happened. 773.561.4424.
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