Authentic Vietnamese rolls by a husband and wife duo.
There’s certainly no shortage of banh mi joints on Bridge Road, but this tiny shop could contend for the top gong. It first opened its doors in 2021 when, in the throes of lockdown and missing their hometown, husband and wife duo Diem Ngo and Vu Tran wanted to bring the flavours and essence of Hoi An to Richmond.
Since then, the couple haven’t spent a cent on marketing their business – word of mouth from loyal customers singing the praises of their authentic rolls has solely kept them afloat.
It’s hard to miss the Bridge Road shopfront with its facade and interiors painted a vibrant yellow and adorned with illustrations by Vietnamese artist Dao Thanh Dat, while glowing overhead lanterns transport you to the buzzing markets along the Thu Bon River.
The warm, foot-long baguettes are packed with the usual suspects – pate, mayo, and your choice of salad and protein – in a longer, crispier style of roll than might be seen in other areas of Vietnam.
Go for the lemongrass pork baguette for a banh mi near identical to one you might find on the streets of Hoi An. Other fillings include crispy roast pork, chicken floss, and a vegan mushroom and tofu number. Can’t decide? There’s a mixed roll titled as such just for the occasion.
Emily Holgate – Emily is the Assistant Producer for the Good Food App at The Age. She previously wrote for the likes of Broadsheet and Urban List.Connect via email.
