I love the Banh Mi at Hong Cuc, but Lowell is a trek. I keep trying more local Banh Mi places, but none have come close. Dorchester has a large Vietnamese community and
word has it that Ba Le has an excellent version. It was a quick detour off of 93, and after I fought my way through the throngs of Asians, I paid $3 and got a sandwich that looked very promising.
It was close, very close, but not quite as good. I think the bread was the biggest difference; Hong Cuc’s bread is just so shatteringly crisp, where as this had some chew to it. That said, if I’m craving a Banh Mi in Boston, this is where I’m going.