MELBOURNE | A restaurant makes a statement when it names itself after a dish. At Ngon Banh Cuon, located in the space formerly home to long-standing favourite Mook Ji Bar, that dish is bánh cuốn. I was recently invited in to check it out.
Ngon Banh Cuon is owned by siblings Khoa and Anh La, who immigrated to Melbourne from Hai Phong in 2012. You might be familiar with their previous spot, Footscray Market’s Xuan Anh Banh Cuon. Like that space, the kitchen is staffed by family and friends who, while not trained chefs, bring to the table years of experience cooking in kitchens in Vietnam and Australia.
The menu is centered around Northern Vietnamese cuisine. Vibrant flavours and market fresh produce, with as much as possible made in house from scratch. The namesake bánh cuốn consists of thin and delicate fermented rice batter filled with seasoned pork mince, minced wood ear mushroom, and finely diced shallots. Each sheet is made to order, hand-steamed over a cloth-covered drum before being filled and rolled. Topped with crispy fried shallots and served with nước chấm and salad, it’s a must order. You can get them with things like pork loaf, squid cakes, and eggs. There’s also a pork and prawn mince version, and a vegetarian option.
Other dishes on the menu include a great version of bún chả Hà Nội, with all of the different kinds of grilled pork to enjoy with vermicelli and herbs; and a selection of soups. Think classic beef phở bò; and one of my favourite Vietnamese dishes, bún riêu ốc, featuring marinated snails, house-made crab paste, and vermicelli.
For sides, chả giò giòn, crispy fried rolls, are a must. There’s also things like chả heo quế (cinnamon pork sausage), and chả cá chiên (fried fish cake). It’s all very tasty.
To drink, it’s things like Vietnamese coffee, coconut water, and Hanoi-style lemon iced tea. I recommend the coco matcha. It’s a blend of coconut water with a creamy, whipped layer of high quality ceremonial grade matcha. If you want something alcoholic, there’s Bia Sài Gòn, 333, and a rotating selection of local craft beers.
Ngon Banh Cuon
404-406 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: 0452 439 399
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Mon – Sun: 10:30am to 9:00pm