Ba Le Sandwich And Bakery - Chicago

The restaurant from Chicago offers 21 different dishes and drinks on the menu at an average $4.2.

Ba Le, a Vietnamese bakery and sandwich shop, was founded by Le Vo in the early 1950s in Saigon. Initially starting as a small drink stand selling smoothies and various beverages, Vo expanded to include sandwiches after recognizing the need for a food item to complement his drinks. Inspired by the French occupation of Vietnam, Vo created the popular Vietnamese "banh mi" sandwich, incorporating pickled vegetables, savory meats, and French baguette. His unique meat preparation technique set him apart from other sandwich shops in Vietnam. Due to the war in 1972, Vo relocated to San Jose, California where he opened Ba Le Bakery in 1982. The success of his French-inspired sandwiches led to the opening of the Chicago Ba Le headquarters in 1989, where Vo's family continues to provide authentic Vietnamese food. Today, his children have expanded the business by opening more bakeries across the U.S.