Vietnamese
Mum’s Table
“Pho is a beef noodle broth,” says Mylisa Nguyen (ex-LuMi Dining) emphatically, before continuing: “there’s nothing vegetarian in Vietnamese food.”
Mama’s Buoi
Salty, sweet, sour and... not. Fried Chicken Ribs ($10) with chilli-lime glaze were touted as the entrée to choose if you like it hot, but they lack any sort of real chilli kick.
Food News – Fairfield RSL
In the week that former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam died, I spent time in his old electorate, Werriwa. I was there visiting Fairfield RSL, touted as the gastronomic destination of the West.
Food News – Bánh mì
Bánh mì – these tasty Vietnamese baguettes continue to roll out across town. This means you no longer have to take the trek down to that ever-popular hole in the wall, Marrickville Pork Roll, for your crusty French bread, pork, pate and pickled vegetable fix.
Bay Tinh
Dining at Bay Tinh is like a trip down memory lane. While I can’t claim to have been dining here for all of its twenty-eight year history, I have spent many an evening in the (previously putrid pink) space, albeit mostly when it was in the hands of predecessor and founder, Tinh Tran.
Bau Truong *UPDATED*
This spot has rapidly become my go-to spot when I’m sick, hung-over or otherwise avoiding scoping new restaurants. Though their menu is monumental, I feel like my last four visits have given me a good overview. My go-to dishes on a hot day are the Smoked Duck ($20) slices accompanied by seasonal fruit salad, or the same bird cooked in five spice then served in a Pickled Lotus Stem Salad ($20). They’re awfully good at knowing when to stop whilst cooking squid – it’s best grilled Fishing Village-Style with Chilli and Garlic ($24) against the honey/toffee pleasure of Murray’s Angry Men Pale Ale ($9). Half the fun of Vietnamese is wrapping stuff with fresh greens and lightly pickled carrot.
Potato Ghetto
Only in Bondi could you get away with ironically calling your restaurant the ghetto. Hats off to Nahji Chu of Misschu fame for parking her new project next door to her Bondi Tuckshop. (Just look for the hipster bike.) I’m confident that even those without Irish blood will be converted by the Vietnamese-spud fusion.
Bay Tinh Crows Nest
Taking over a successful restaurant is a scary proposition. You’re certain to get a backlash from diners who miss the old ways. For Harry Hoang, who took over Marrickville’s famous pink palace, Bay Tinh, I was one of those haters!
