Eating Spots You Must Try in Cabramatta! (UPDATED!)

Cabramatta, a suburb in Southwestern Sydney that should be visited if you are looking for some of Sydney's best food spots.. It's quite far from where I live but the thoughts of going there always light the spark in me! 

As soon as you step into the main food street (John St).. You'll find a vast array of restaurants and cafes offering many choices of mouthwatering authentic Vietnamese cuisine, be it in the form of Pho, Bahn Mi and others.. 

With each places specialising in a particular type of dish.. Here are some eating spots we recommend you to visit!

Majestic Harvest - Petersham

From a cinema theater to a skating rink, this Petersham's 1912 iconic building is now called as Majestic Gourmet Grocers, a foodies paradise where you can find European-style gourmet grocer, a florist, and Majestic Harvest all in one place. 

Delicious Journey accross MEKONG on Kensington Street - Chippendale

If my school memory serves me right, Mekong is actually one of the longest river in Asia that flows and forms the border between Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and even Vietnam! But I guess enough of the geography lesson for now and let's talk more about this latest addition to Kensington Street and the food they offer~

When Street Food Became Trendy @ Hem Nine Nine - Glebe [ Closed ]

Hem Nine Nine, Mama Linh’s new establishment has found a permanent place in Glebe area. Serving Vietnamese food with Mama’s own recipe, you can still taste the authentic flavour but this time they differentiate themselves with a modern touch on every dish.

I bet you have heard about Mama Linh’s Food Truck before, haven’t you? Talking about their Beef Pho Roll (I bet you can’t simply find it anywhere) – the tender, juicy and richly flavoured beef in a soft Vietnamese bread roll – well, they don’t have the roll here but don’t fret as they have the Special Bone Marrow Pho which I’m gonna talk more about it if you still keep on reading~

Hem Nine Nine is nicely decorated with a bold color choices and somehow resembles a hidden gem you can find in a laneway in Vietnam.  It might look small from the outside but they do have more seatings at the back courtyard. 

I always believe double deep fried means double goodness and not double badness (ps: I'm not lying to myself). So, when I see this Lemongrass Pork Chop Bun on the menu, there is no way I'd miss it~ Tender pork chop with a caramel-lemongrass marinade, fried to perfection and served with pickled cucumber, baby radish and chili mayo. The mantou bun is also flash-fried, so you'll get the soft, fluffy and yet crispy bun with flavorful and juicy meat on the inside all in every bite!

Char-grilled Bo Lu Lac aka Black Pepper Beef Skewers is another favorite! The wagyu marble score +9 shines here as each bite of the beef cubes is so tender, juicy and peppery. I imagine putting these cubes over the top of lettuce with a little bit of tangy vinegar dressing will definitely become my must-eat salad combination ever!

Make sure you don't miss this Hem Special Pho every time you visit this place! Bone marrow is packed with rich flavor that is undeniable for pho broth. Simmered for 18 hours, the broth has intense beefy flavor with warm aroma of herbs and the gelatine gives extra richness and mouth-coating texture! Served with tender Rare Wagyu Beef (9+ marble score), sliced brisket,and oven roasted bone marrow.. There's always room for a second bowl!

Another thing you can't miss is this Bun Rieu! This place is doing a great makeover to the traditional look of Bun Rieu by adding squid ink into the soup. Served with crispy Banh Hoi noodles as the base and topped with soft shell crab for extra crunch, the soup gets my attention the most with its comforting and rich taste like it's been simmered for hours.

Hem Nine Nine

Address:

99 Glebe Point Road, Glebe

Opening Hours:

Tuesday - Friday 12pm - 3pm for LUNCH 

Tuesday - Sunday 5pm - 10pm for DINNER

Vietnamese Through Parisian Lense at Grand Duk - CBD

Grand Duk firstly opened its door as a sleek bistro in the heart of the CBD serving modern Vietnamese dishes with a French twist. I heard at first the menu focuses more on the slow cooked dishes like its sibling, the Naked Duck, but then Amy Lee, the owner, has decided to launch a new all day menu with some seasonal specials alongside their signature Grand Duk coffee blend supplied by Toby's Estate.

Breakfast is the most important meal and if you don't have time to prepare your own - get this Trifle and refuel on your way to work. Layers of fruits and nutty muesli topped with natural yoghurt and fresh berries, this kind of breakfast is not only yummy but also healthy and definitely rich in antioxidants. 

One thing that shouldn't be missed when talking about Vietnamese food is this Goi Cuon aka Rice Paper Roll. Freshly rolled with the right proportion of meat, vermicelli, lettuce, and served with hoisin peanut dip - they are sold individually and you can choose to have it with Sichuan Duck (my fave!) or Tiger Prawn or 5 Spice Tofu or simply one each if you can't decide!

I rarely eat salad for breakfast but I guess this Breakfast Bowl might change the way I think and plan for my next meal. Served with poached eggs, green leaves, mashed avocado, mixed nuts and seeds, and Vietnamese daikon & carrot pickles - this light and refreshing combination is bursting with sweet and tangy taste as well as extra crunchy texture from the pickles and the nuts. 

5 SPICE TOFU SALAD - bean sprouts, pickles, enoki, snowpeas, water chestnuts, herbs, peanuts & sesame vinaigrette

I always have a soft spot for Vietnamese food in my heart more because I feel healthy knowing that they use mostly herbs and fresh vegetables (with less oil too) - like this 5 Spice Tofu Salad, the peanut and sesame vinaigrette gives extra tangy kick to the combination of fresh veggies and Vietnamese pickles. 

Who will give the Salt and Pepper Squid a miss when it's served straight out of the fryer, fried to a light and golden crunch? For me personally, the refreshing green papaya salad is actually the attention-stealer with its tangy, sweet, sour and spicy flavours although I usually can't live without this tender, nicely spiced and deep-fried glory!

Duck Meatballs Bahn Mi 

Sticky Master Stock Pork Belly (on the right)

Ginger Baked King Salmon

I'd say out of these three, my favorite is their Ginger Baked King Salmon! The salmon gives a very nice Asian flare with a hint of ginger and garlic. Every bite with the pho duck broth is so flakey, moist and flavourful that leaves me craving the more I eat it. The Duck Meatball is another interesting approach to the usual Bahn Mi, it is juicy and tender but unfortunately a bit too salty for my liking. Another everyone's favorite, the Sticky Pork Belly is slow-cooked till flavorful (definitely has strong lemongrass taste) and served Asian style with steamed brown rice on the side.

Grand Duk creates the humble Mango Pudding and Deep Fried Ice Cream into something extraordinary! At a glance, their Coconut Crumble Deep Fried Ice Cream looks like a crispy golden brown lamington with smooth vanila bean ice cream awaits within the hot crispy shell. Served chilled with the addition of ginger sago and kaffir lime caramel, the Mango Pudding has smooth and creamy texture with rich mango and gingery taste and a hint of citrusy fragrant.

Grand Duk

Address:

225 George Street, CBD

Opening Hours:

Monday - Friday 7am - 4.30pm

-Let's Nomnom dined as guest of Grand Duk. Thanks Amy for the warm service and hospitality. All opinions here are our own and independent-

10 William Street - Paddington

From the same team behind Fratelli Paradiso in Potts Point, a storefront nestled in the boutique shopping strips in Paddington area has been converted into a small but compact bistro with impressive selection of wine list and interesting Italian touch on the menu. 

Salmon Party at Salmon and Bear - Zetland

If you're asked to choose salmon or bacon, which one is your pick? For us, it'll be salmon! Be it in the form of sashimi, smoked, cooked, you name it - salmon has its own charm and always tastes so good!

The Rice Den - St Leonards

This place came into my mind when I was planning for a dinner catch up with our long lost friend. Serving modern Cantonese-inspired dishes, The Rice Den was previously located in Chatswood but now they have moved to a larger and more sophisticated place in St Leonards. 

Taste of Shanghai - CBD

I love dumplings, Mr. Nomnom loves dumplings, and I certainly believe everyone loves dumplings! There's no reason not to like this soul-satisfying comfort food and they're easily found anywhere you go around the world. 

Khao Pla - Chatswood

Khao Pla has won people's heart as one of the best Thai eateries in Chatswood area since the day they opened back in 2013. Coming from Bangkok, Chef Pla Rojratanavichai, having worked with Spice I am, Ms. G's and Mr Wong brings his idea of authentic flavour and classic Thai dishes into an innovative menu for his first Thai restaurant.

(Read more about his second Thai restaurant, Chum Tang here)

Ramen Zundo - CBD

As the weather finally warms up and just about the right time to answer Mr. Nomnom's ramen craving, I start paying attention to Ramen Zundo after hearing some recommendations to try their Tsukemen.

Little Hutong - Little Bay

"What does Hutong mean?" - That's the first question Mr. Nomnom asked when I told him there's a relatively new place in Eastern suburb called Little Hutong.

I started googling and found it actually means a type of narrow lane or alleyway in a traditional residential area in China where many of the Chinese cooking styles and tastes we know now emerged from those small back lanes. Little Hutong hold this concept close as they combine the authentic flavours from Penang, Japanese, Chinese and Peranakan food with high quality of raw ingredients and thus create a high standard for their own authentic taste!

Best Tofu Soup at BCD Tofu House - Epping

There's nothing better than a bowl (or bowls) of piping hot soup to warm and fill me up on a cold winter's day! As I can't handle cold weather, it definitely leaves me feeling chilled to the bone, constantly hungry and longing for a good Soondubu (Tofu Soup) all the time!

BCD Tofu House is truly a hidden gem (it's quite hidden from the main road) in Epping and as the name says, you're going to be here for their Korean Soondubu! 

Orto Trading Co - Surry Hills

Who doesn't love Eggs Benedict for breakfast? Usually topped with ham or bacon or salmon, this tasty dish is super easy to be found in every place you go.. If you ask me which place makes the best or shall I say the one that has left a deep impression on me? I'll answer Orto Trading is one of them!

Thy Vietnamese Eatery - Bankstown

Vietnamese food has a definite spot in my heart with its light flavour and freshness. Fresh herbs and vegetables are essential to many Vietnamese dishes and mostly served as condiments..

Last weekend Mr. Nomnom and I decided to visit Bankstown as it's been ages since the last time we went there.. With Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Roll) set in our mind, we know there's no other place we'd rather be than Thy Vietnamese Eatery..

Let's Nomnom Top Healthy Eats in Sydney!

Yap! As much as I love to please my eyes and stuff my tummy with all the decadent foods we often see.. Sometimes all I really want is a healthy (and also yummy) meal especially during this winter season.. The colder it gets, the more I crave for comfort foods!

Healthy foods are not limited to mere salad bowls or raw fruits and not having desserts at all.. There is no need to eat bland and boring dishes since there are so many healthy eateries nowadays..

So, we've gathered the 12 best healthy eats in Sydney and here's what we've got for you..

Indulge in Lao-Thai's dishes at Green Peppercorn - CBD [ Closed ]

I always think that Thai cuisine offers unusual and intriguing treats.. The way it looks, how it smells and the unique blend of spicy, sour, sweet, salty and citrus tastes.. All those different elements and complexity bring a harmonious finish on our palate..

Pu'er - Waterloo

We once heard about Pu'er from a news we read when they first opened to the public around 2 years ago.. I learnt that Siev Gour, its owner, travelled extensively over the last 4 years to China and Hong Kong in search for the perfect dim sum..

It's actually fascinating for us to see a dim sum house that really provides a unique tea experience from their extensive selections while pairing it with the unique dim sum and tasty dishes..

Khaybar Restaurant - Auburn

We love trying new food and exploring new places.. But! It never crossed our mind that we would one day try and actually fall in love with Afghan Cuisine.. =D

Yasaka Ramen - CBD

Lately the weather has gone wild! Non-stop heavy rain plus the gusty winds and broken umbrella have successfully convinced me to postpone all plans.. I'm left with nothing but cleaning our camera.. As I go through the old photos I realise I have forgotten to post this ramen joint.. LOL!

With the cold weather start dampening our spirits.. We're all in the mood for a comfort food.. What would make it even better to have a hot bowl of ramen and some deep fried chicken to warm our belly?