Ba-le Kona Restaurant

4.4 ( 160 reviews )
$10–20
74-5588 Palani Rd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, United States
+1 808-327-1212

Ba-le Kona Restaurant, a beloved Vietnamese eatery nestled in Kailua-Kona, offers a delightful culinary experience that has captured the hearts of both locals and visitors alike. The standout dishes include their renowned banh mi sandwiches, praised for their exceptional homemade bread and vibrant flavors. Customers like Denise Robichaud highlight the casual atmosphere and the friendly service, making every visit feel like home.

Vegetarians and vegans will appreciate the diverse menu, featuring a vegan pho that Joyce Lee describes as “delicious.” In addition to pho, the restaurant serves a variety of dishes, including savory Bun noodle salads and excellent meat options, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Marc-Henri Progin regards Ba-le's pho as among the best, proving that quality prevails in both taste and authenticity.

Patrons rave about the Thai tea boba and ube tapioca pudding, showcasing the restaurant's versatility. With a commitment to great prices and a familial touch, Ba-le Kona Restaurant has earned a place in the hearts of many. However, with an impending closure in mid-May after over two decades of serving the community, there's no better time to support this cherished establishment and savor the flavors of Vietnam. Mahalo, Ba-le!

Amenities and More

  • Accessibility
    • Has wheelchair-accessible car park
    • Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Service options
    • Offers delivery
    • Offers takeaway
    • Serves dine-in
  • Offerings
    • Serves vegetarian dishes
  • Dining options
    • Serves lunch
    • Serves dinner
    • Serves dessert
    • Has seating
  • Amenities
    • Has toilet
  • Crowd
    • Family friendly
  • Planning
    • Doesn't accept reservations
  • Payments
    • Accepts debit cards
    • Accepts NFC mobile payments
    • Credit cards
  • Children
    • Good for kids
    • High chairs available
  • Parking
    • Free parking lot
    • Plenty of parking

Reviews For Ba-le Kona Restaurant

Denise Robichaud
Jun 13,2025
Awesome bhanmis and Vietnamese iced coffee. The bread is amazing, homemade. We usually eat there, nice casual atmosphere and very friendly owners. Sometimes, when we're having friends over for dinner, we order ahead - they pack up all the ingredients separately and we just heat up and construct the bhanmis for dinner
Joyce Lee
May 5,2025
They make a vegan pho which is DELICIOUS. Their meat items are also excellent. Other Vietnamese options like sandwiches, Bun (noodle salad) and regular pho also available. Good prices. Unassuming local family business
Marc-Henri Progin
Apr 29,2025
Very good pho! I’ve eaten many pho in many restaurants and this one definitely belongs to the best ones! Don’t be afraid from the decoration, just order a pho and enjoy!
Livia
Apr 19,2025
So delicious that we went back a second time during our trip. Loved their pho, banh mi, thai tea boba and ube tapioca pudding! Omnivore friendly and for vegans - this is also a vegan friendly spot with tofu, mushroom broth and non-dairy as options. Thought would mention given the limited number of vegan options on the Big Island. Sad to learn they will be closing in Mid May after 23 years in business due to the strip mall space being developed. Highly recommend going to have a meal there while it’s still open supporting a family business and enjoying delicious Vietnamese food! Mahalo to Ba-le.
Ryan Fielding Garrett
Apr 10,2025
This place is AMAZING! The best Banh Mi sandwich I’ve ever had....so much so that we came back for dinner to try the Pho. (Which was also unbelievable!) The loveliest staff and no frills atmosphere, which I loved. I recommend this place wholeheartedly. Thanks for TWO delicious meals....a great way to end our trip to the big island!
Liz Chock
Apr 8,2025
Always delicious food - beef pho, special sandwich, pork chops, Vietnamese Iced coffee - yum! And friendly service too, w/ COVID safety!
Mike Tarsa
Apr 7,2025
Wow! What delicious, authentic Pho. The owner was very accommodating to my request to combine the tofu and vegetable versions. Hot. Fresh. Ample portion size. I wish I lived here so I could come back regularly. The BanMi sandwiches looked huge, too.
Philip & Lily Lin (P&L Lin)
Mar 30,2025
I will live in Kona for 12 years and been to this restaurant multiple times. But recently, I tried to Kalbi ribs for the first time and it was oh my gosh amazing! The whole thing melted in your mouth but at the same time it was an over salty. The flavor was so wonderful And then I had the spicy lemon grass chicken Vietnamese sandwich. The bread was so fresh. From my understanding, they make it every morning. It was a little small for me as a 6’1 guy but for normal people it would be a satisfying size. Lastly, I just really love their spring rolls. Again, because they wrap it and make it every day in the morning so it tasted really fresh. It wasn’t super salty but flavorful and crispy. So yummy!! I actually crave these things now

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