Ever since the Ward Ba-Le sandwich shop closed, my parents and I have been occasionally seeking out a new banh mi spot. Yes, there are other Ba-Les on Oahu, but the Ward one was just better than others. I heard about Bella Banh Mi Cafe through coworkers and Yelp, and I finally got around to trying it earlier this month.
It's a very small, humble spot. No tables, all takeout. Hopefully you'll find parking on Liliha or the side street, as there's otherwise one parking spot in the back of the building.
Menu here is very simple. Four types of banh mi (all $10.99) and some drinks, including Vietnamese coffee. I also saw some summer rolls on the back table.
I got the BBQ Pork Banh Mi. Perfectly matchstick-cut pickled carrots/daikon, cilantro, jalapeƱo, cucumber, with pork and mayo inside a baguette. The baguette looks slightly hollowed out to fit more pork and veggies inside. To me, that's the only proper way to do this justice.
Awesome pork, smoky but not overly so, and clearly the star here. Even my dad raved about the pork, and he doesn't dish out the accolades every day. While this baguette seemed harder and tougher to eat than other baguettes I've had, that was my only drawback.
Excellent pickled veggies, and a lot of it. The jalapeƱos had a bit more kick than normal, but as longtime readers of this blog know, that's only a good thing. Fresh ingredients all around.
For those wondering, the Saigon Special Banh Mi has liver pate in it, which I'd definitely recommend if you're into that.
Friendly service, and not a bad move to stop by on a Monday for lunch. If you're seeking a good banh mi, I recommend Bella Banh Mi Cafe. 8.75/10
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