LITTLE Saigon has only just opened on the corner of Ainslie Avenue and City Walk where the little French restaurant Ardeche lingered for many years.
Checking out their menu in the window I was thrilled to see they do multiple types of pho (pronounced “fur”) for $10.
Most places in Civic charge around $14 which is in my view too much.
Having only just opened they’re a little chaotic, but friendly and enthusiastic and a large proportion of the clientelle appeared to be Vietnamese.
I was shown a table and my order was taken swiftly, in a couple of minutes a bowl of pho appeared, but without the usual sauces and garnishes.
Was this what you get for a discount bowl of pho?
30 seconds later the chilli sauce and the brown sauce arrived. Interesting.
And then 30 seconds further on came the plate mounded with mung beans, mint, chopped chillis, and a wedge of lemon.
The full pho treatment!
The usual pleasurable shredding, juicing, adding and mixing followed and I was slurping my way through .
I honestly could not point to any qualitive difference with the more expensive competitors.
I also had a delightful coconut water for an extra $3.50.
A great little cheap lunch option and I will be going back.
[This article is the twenty fifth in a series on cheap lunches to be found in and around the city. If you have any suggestions leave them in the comments or email them to john@citynews.com.au . The complete series can be found on our cheap lunches tag]
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