East Bay - Oakland Banh Mi duel

restaurants in question:


Banh Mi Ba Le
10174 San Pablo Avenue
El Cerrito, CA 94530
510-528-8882

Meathenge's review here

vs.

Cam Houng (Oakland Chinatown)
920 Webster St
Oakland 94607
510-444-8800

random SF Chowhound review here

:the roll:
Cam Houng is definitively larger, more fluffy & airy. Ba Le was lightly toasted with soft bread & slightly crunchy crust.
winner: Ba Le

:the meats:
cam houng - more pate (see the pile of pate next to the lady in pix); ba le - more vietnamese bacon, pork loaf and ham.
winner: Ba Le


:the fixings:
cam houng - pickled daikon / carrots had excellent flavor. ba le - came with cucumber and stuffed the sandwich with japalenos (per my request)
winner: Ba Le

:condiments:
cam houng - a touch of mayo mixed w/ pate provided perfect moisure. ba le - no mayo, but the abundant pickled daikon + cucumber provided wetness
winner: tie

environment:
cam houng - no dining space, long narrow corridor of a restaurant. heated food bar clear in sight. banh mi 'lady' prepare as you order. ba le - al fresco dining in late November (hallelujah California), serves pho , etc. in addition to banh mi.
winner: Ba Le because I saw a beautifl Vietnamese girl ripping her Boxster's tires out of the parking lot after eating her pho, and THEN i saw her again on the freeway:




L-R Cam Houng's Dac Biet, Ba Le's Dac Biet, Ba Le's grilled pork...
Total price of 3 sanwiches: < $8


now, let's compare the above sandwich to the measely offering at Tank:


nite and day folks. let's not even talk about the so-called 'banh mi' at Ba le Chicago and Vin Phat (which somehow made TOC's top 100 of '05)...