If you like pho and rice paper rolls then you’re spoilt for choice in Footscray. But visit in Little Saigon market and you will experience the kind of Vietnamese food that I suspect you won’t find anywhere else in Melbourne.
is tucked away in a quiet nook inside crazy shouty Little Saigon market. There are only a handful of tables but guests turn over quickly as the restaurant is all about cheap and tasty street food.
The menu is relatively small and honestly I’d be happy to eat all of it. If you’re unsure of what you’re getting then there are helpful pictures for every dish. On my visits I’ve been ordering after surreptitiously checking out what my neighbours were eating.
What do I like to eat there? First off, the Banh Trang Cuon. These are mini rice paper wrappers stuffed with an intense mixture of fried shallots, beef jerky, sour mango and dried shrimp, ever-so-lightly fried to wafer crispness. It comes drizzled with kewpie mayonnaise which I think is a bit odd but the sweetness does help offset the strong flavours of the rolls.
Another popular starter is the Bap Xao – sauteed sweet corn with dried shrimp, fresh spring onions and butter ($5). A simple yet effective dish enhanced with an optional squirt of sriracha.
My favourite large dish so far has been the Com Am Phu, a feast for one featuring marinated freshwater baby crabs and a variety of exotic and unidentifiable side dishes ($10). Never before have I seen these crabs available and if you like soft-shelled crab then these crunchy little morsels will be right up your alley!
Their signature dish is bun dau mam tom. It’s a straw platter of three mounds of vermicelli, some slices of fatty steamed pork belly, fried tofu, a fried pork patty and herbs, all dipped into some intense fermented shrimp sauce. There’s a lot to eat for $10 and even an old Cantonese lady passing by was impressed by all the food.
Diners with less adventurous palates may like the Xoi Xa Xiu – Sticky rice featuring BBQ pork and Chinese sausage. It was not the best example of the dish as it was a little dry, but it will only set you back $5.
I have to admit I’m a bit confused by the drinks menu – there are fruits and ingredients that I’ve never heard of in there. Every time I’ve asked for a recommendation and depending on who you get they may or may not understand English.
Anyway, when faced with a confused waitress I revert to ordering Nuoc Dau Rang, a creamy drink made from five different roasted beans ($4). It’s like drinking nut milk but without the extra sweeteners and you can have it hot or cold.
The service at is always friendly, if somewhat confused at times due to the language barrier. I like the decor too – while the ubiquitous karaoke TV is still enshrined in the restaurant the mass of dangling conical hats create a striking ceiling feature.
is probably my favourite place to eat in Footscray and that’s a tough call. The food is unique, well-made and full of fresh and punchy flavours. Exploring the menu has been an exciting discovery of taste sensations and I drop in semi-regularly when I go grocery shopping at Little Saigon.
, Shop 22, 63 Nicholson Street, Footscray
Wow that looks like some authentic stuff, and different to the usual dishes typically served in Melbourne, as you say. Hope to check it out sometime!