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BaBa Express

1100 Government St Penticton BC V2A 4V1 · Restaurant - Food Service

Official record from Interior Health →View on Google Maps →

Details

Google rating
4.7 / 5 (18)

Opening hours

  • Friday11 AM–2 PM, 4–7 PM
  • MondayClosed
  • Saturday11 AM–2 PM, 4–7 PM
  • SundayClosed
  • Thursday11 AM–2 PM, 4–7 PM
  • Tuesday11 AM–2 PM, 4–7 PM
  • Wednesday11 AM–2 PM, 4–7 PM

Contact details, hours and reviews from Google Maps

Inspection summary

BaBa Express has been inspected 3 times by Interior Health Authority since February 8, 2022. The most recent inspection, on May 8, 2025, recorded 3 infractions.

None of the 3 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food temperature control.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 8, 2025. For example: 7 Are foods protected from contamination?

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 8, 2025. For example: 7 Are there handwashing stations available and properly supplied?

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded 2 times on February 8, 2022. For example: 2 Are proper temperature controls maintained to ensure safe storage and display of foods?

  • Permits, records and postingLower risk

    Operating permits, required signage, written procedures and logs. These findings are administrative: the documentation was missing or out of date at the time of inspection.

    Recorded 5 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 9, 2024. For example: 1 Does the operator have a valid operating permit or approval to operate?

  • Other findingsLower risk

    Findings that do not fit the categories above, such as follow-ups that confirm an earlier violation was corrected, or requirements specific to this type of facility.

    Recorded once on May 8, 2025. For example: 1 Does the facility have proper monitoring supplies?

About this data

These results come from Interior Health Authority, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

3 inspections

  1. Monitoring

    3 infractions

    • F1.7 Are foods protected from contamination?
      • Observation(s): At the time of inspection, scoops were observed submerged inside food products. Improper storage of scoops can lead to cross-contamination and transfer pathogens or allergens from staff to the food product. Ensure that proper scoops are stored in a sanitary manner that prevents cross-contamination.
    • F2.1 Does the facility have proper monitoring supplies?
      • Observation(s): At the time of inspection, quaternary ammonium and chlorine test strips were observed expired. Sanitizer test strips must be accurate and frequently used to monitor for adequate sanitizer concentration strength. Ensure new quaternary ammonium and chlorine test strips are purchased.
      • F2.1A Sanitizer test strips must be available for each chemical sanitizer used at the premises.
    • F2.7 Are there handwashing stations available and properly supplied?
      • Observation(s): At the time of inspection, utensils were observed inside the hand basin. An inaccessible hand basin prevents staff from adequate handwashing which may increase the likelihood of contamination of food due to infrequent handwashing. Ensure that handwashing stations are only used for handwashing and remain accessible at all times.
      • F2.7E Handwashing stations must remain accessible at all times.
  2. Monitoring

    5 infractions

    • F2.5 Are the premises and equipment properly maintained and operated in a sanitary manner (i.e. ongoing maintenance)?
      • Observation(s): - grease hood filters need cleaning, and grease hood steam cleaning due Feb 2024. Please clean filters and have system serviced.
    • F2.7 Are there handwashing stations available and properly supplied?
      • Observation(s): - soap dispensers at hand sinks in kitchen and front service counter empty
    • F3.1 Does the operator have a valid operating permit or approval to operate?
      • Observation(s): - please ensure your operating permit is posted in a visible location and the annual validation decal is attached to it
    • F3.3 Are written food handling procedures (Food Safety Plan) current and available on site?
      • Observation(s): - please ensure your food safety plan is current and readily available for review
    • F3.4 Are written sanitation procedures (Sanitation Plan) current and available on site?
      • Observation(s): - please ensure your sanitation plan is current and readily available for review
  3. Monitoring

    4 infractions

    • F1.2 Are proper temperature controls maintained to ensure safe storage and display of foods?
      • Observation(s): - upright double door cooler in kitchen reading 7C - must be 4C or colder - follow-up Feb 22/22
    • F1.3 Are proper cooling and reheating procedures followed?
      • Observation(s): - please log your cooling method(s) to confirm that your foods stay within safe time-temp limits - follow-up Feb 22/22
    • F3.3 Are written food handling procedures (Food Safety Plan) current and available on site?
      • Observation(s): - food safety plan needs to be readily available for review
    • F3.4 Are written sanitation procedures (Sanitation Plan) current and available on site?
      • Observation(s): - sanitation plan needs to be readily available for review

Nearby inspected facilities

Reviews

Reviews provided by Google Maps
  • Gary Richardson

    well i have been looking for a bowl of Pho and there's not to many around and then i found BABA and im like yummers !!! highly recommend BaBa express Pho and the salad rolls were super fresh and crunchy i had the Pho Special Raw beef and it was perfect noodles and beef love noodle's !!!! toss a bit of chili sauce in there and nommers !!! i topped it off with a iced Coffee for the drive home and yea its so far the only Pho shop i had been to in the area and well now it'll be my fav for sure ...!!

  • Madison Savoie

    Baba express is the best hidden gem in Penticton!! I can’t believe it took me years to finally find such amazing Vietnamese food. Their service and staff are some of the sweetest people you’ll meet, and their food truly speaks for itself. Do yourself a favour and try their salad rolls, they are truly the best I’ve ever had… and I really like salad rolls. The pho broth is perfectly flavoured and their Bahn Mi’s are perfectly toasted 👌🏻

  • Ayrton Gratto

    I've lived in Penticton for two years, and this is literally the best meal i've had in this city. I had the Special Vietnamese Dry Noodle Bowl and everything was ultra fresh and tasted incredible! I literally might go tomorrow for more!

  • cher doolan

    Absolutely delicious! I had the beef Pho and spring rolls! Broth is to die for and everything tastes delicious. I picked up and they called me when it was going to be ready. Took under 30min! Everything was very fresh! Thank you

  • Maidelin G Mora

    I often order take out from Baba express, and every time is so good! I love the Phó special brisket, I have them usually with an orden of spring rolls and their tea with pearls is so good, my favorite is the earl grey, definitely a place I like to go often, the lady that’s usually at the front is the nicest and sweet ever I love the service and of course the food!

  • Brandon W

    We ordered the lemon grass chicken on rice, lemon grass chicken on vermicelli, and a banh mi sandwich. The food was tasty but for the price the portions were small. I am used to seeing banh mi sandwhiches for under $6 and these were double the price. The rice and noodle bowls were average price but the portion was about half the size. The girl at the cashier was super friendly and nice. Clean restaurant with friendly staff but I wish their portions were bigger.

  • M.S.

    After reading other reviews i was unsure about trying this place but very glad I did. Portions and price are on point with any other Pho I have had. Ordered the beef brisket pho and the salad rolls and couldn't finish all of it. Fantastic flavors in the broth and the salad rolls were great. Very happy with everything, will be regulars for sure.

  • Ace

    Favourite place to eat! Greta food, amazing service, and they are super quick! Only downside is that there isn’t very much,Cush seating since it’s mostly take out but it still one of the best place in town! Love it there and will always go back I’ve never had a bad experience at baba!

  • Gary Richardson

    well i have been looking for a bowl of Pho and there's not to many around and then i found BABA and im like yummers !!! highly recommend BaBa express Pho and the salad rolls were super fresh and crunchy i had the Pho Special Raw beef and it …

  • Madison Savoie

    Baba express is the best hidden gem in Penticton!! I can’t believe it took me years to finally find such amazing Vietnamese food. Their service and staff are some of the sweetest people you’ll meet, and their food truly speaks for itself. …

  • Ayrton Gratto

    I've lived in Penticton for two years, and this is literally the best meal i've had in this city. I had the Special Vietnamese Dry Noodle Bowl and everything was ultra fresh and tasted incredible! I literally might go tomorrow for more!

  • cher doolan

    Absolutely delicious! I had the beef Pho and spring rolls! Broth is to die for and everything tastes delicious. I picked up and they called me when it was going to be ready. Took under 30min! Everything was very fresh! Thank you

  • Maidelin G Mora

    I often order take out from Baba express, and every time is so good! I love the Phó special brisket, I have them usually with an orden of spring rolls and their tea with pearls is so good, my favorite is the earl grey, definitely a place I …

  • Brandon W

    We ordered the lemon grass chicken on rice, lemon grass chicken on vermicelli, and a banh mi sandwich. The food was tasty but for the price the portions were small. …

  • M.S.

    After reading other reviews i was unsure about trying this place but very glad I did. Portions and price are on point with any other Pho I have had. Ordered the beef brisket pho and the salad rolls and couldn't finish all of it. Fantastic …

  • Ace

    Favourite place to eat! Greta food, amazing service, and they are super quick! Only downside is that there isn’t very much,Cush seating since it’s mostly take out but it still one of the best place in town! Love it there and will always go back I’ve never had a bad experience at baba!

  • Bailey Sutton

    Cute low key spot for quick, easy, delicious, and reasonably priced Vietnamese food. …

  • Holy Moly

    I ordered the classic Bánh mì sandwich. It is good. A little pricey. Considering they are the first to do Bánh mì in Penticton as far as I know, I give them 5★. …

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