Thanks again @JeetKuneBao for the recommendations. 
On a side note, do you have a recommendation for great Com Tam (Vietnamese Broken Rice) specialists these days? (and @attran99 @Ns1 and others.) Thanks.
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I like Thanh Restaurant on Bolsa x Brookhurst. The bean curd wrapped shrimp paste is great my favorite thing on a plate of com tam
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https://m.yelp.com/biz/com-tam-tran-quy-cap-fountain-valley
Same rec I always have.
Is it the best? probably not by Little Saigon standards. But it’s been in business 20+ years and I consider it a baseline. Think of it as the Santouka of com tam.
Every time I go somewhere else I regret it. I have found better pork chops but I have not found a better all in one combo.
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#2 or #3
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I went to Ba Le today based on your post and my goodness, this is so much better than the SGV location it isn’t even funny. I am not even sure they are related because of how much of a different experience this was. I grabbed a Dac Biet and it was amazing. The bread is some of the best I’ve had and the mayo they use/make is just awesome.
Does anyone know what mayo they use or if they make it?
I tasted some on my finger and it has a nice garlic flavor, and the color is very yellow.
You were right! I should have gone sooner.
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@A5KOBE they make the mayo themselves and sell it in the fridge for folks who want to DIY banh mi at home. It does have garlic and it’s amazing.
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Hi @A5KOBE,
Ba Le Sandwiches (Westminster)! So good, right? 
Glad you were able to finally make it.
Totally agree this is so much better than the “Ba Le” in the San Gabriel Valley, there’s no way they are related considering how bad that one is.
The bread, the housemade mayo (thanks for the info @attran99!) and fillings, balance.
Oh! I forgot to mention for those considering stopping by but needing more incentive:
- Ba Le Sandwiches (Westminster) is across the street from New Duong Son BBQ (@Dommy @PorkyBelly and others).
And it’s just a few minutes away from the legendary @JeetKuneBao’s Cococane, and you can then bang x bang Ngu Binh for incredible Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (Bun Bo Hue). 
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There is Ba Le in a lot of major metro areas. I believe the original is in San Jose. They are all separate but almost all are related (Uncle, Aunt, Cousin, etc) to each other
Everything at Ba Le Little Saigon is made in house. I suggest buying some of their mayo and pate to go!
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- Banh Mi at Ba Le
- Original at Cococane
- Vietnamese Coffee at Phin Smith
- Bun Bo Hue at Ngu Binh
- Hu Tieu Nam Vang at Trieu Chau
- Com Tam at Thanh Restaurant
- Shaking Beef at Khoi Hung
- Pho Bo at Pho Akaushi
- Canh Chua at Mai’s Kitchen
- Banh Cuon at Pho Tau Bay
- Crab Egg Rolls at Hanoi Avenue
- Grilled Pork Spring Rolls at Brodard
- Chao Long at Cho Tam Bien
- Fruit Tart at Le Croissant Dore
- Bo Kho at Song Long
- Hu Tieu My Tho Dac Biet at Phuongs
- Banh Canh Tom Cua at Mai Phung
- Fried Catfish at Favori
- Chao Ca at Canton Restaurant
- Pho Ga at Pho Ga Hai Van
- Coconut Snails and Vietnamese Salad at Oc and Lau
- Banh Xeo at Van’s
- Oxtail Side at Pho 79
- Banh Xeo Rolls at Quan Mii
Here is 25 reasons to come down in no particular order
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Any bun cha recs?
Bun Cha Hanoi should be grilled over charcoal! Too bad we have yet to see it done proper.
So you gotta lower your expectations slightly. I like Hanoi Avenue with that said. I don’t get Hanoi Corner, I personally would avoid
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Strangely enough, if you need an LA rec Button Mash in Echo Park.
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Fresh Canes is a rebranding of the old favorite Dr. Jolly. Excellent sugarcane juice, by itself or with ginger and lemon.
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Damn for real. I need to try. Never got to try Starry Kitchen too
Hi @JeetKuneBao,
Aah! I just saw that Cho Tam Bien is only a couple blocks away from Ba Le Sandwiches! 
Darn it! I need to bookmark all of these places into 1 Google Maps for next time. 
Then again I should’ve realized that all of the Little Saigon recs are all close / minutes from each other.
Great list! 
Have you tried Pho Akaushi recently? We felt they were on downhill alert after our 3rd and 4th visits last year. If they’ve back to their early days form, then I can’t wait to return.
Bun Cha Hanoi is the ONE vietnamese dish I really crave because of my fond memories in Hanoi. So on my last visit to Westminster which happens once every 15 years or so, I got it from Hanoi Corner and let’s just say that I will keep searching.
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I’ve read that before (not sure if it was you), but just can’t imagine it. I will have to try it.