Pho

There is a significant amount that has changed about the now Claremont Quarter since my childhood going to Big W, and my uni days going to The Conti/Red Rock/The Claremont, and of course, Club Bay View. There is certainly a different atmosphere about the whole Bay View Terrace strip which is accentuated over the Christmas break.

One thing I cannot remember having access to in those earlier days was a cheap (but tasty) option for a sit down meal. And no, Hungry Jacks does not count. Tonight we get to try one of the branches of Mama Tran, which is a Vietnamese hawker cafe.

There is nothing unusual or different about Mama Tran. It has the rice paper roll, bahn mi and pho options you would expect amongst a smattering of other dishes incorporating one of either rice or noodles. It is clean and tidy and there is a decent crowd eating for this time of year.

Catherine and I try the prawn rice paper rolls and a pho each; Catherine with her usual choice of chicken and me with the rare beef option. Everything is good with that freshness that you expect from Vietnamese food. The serves are generous and the beef broth I’ve tried has a good amount of flavour, along with rice noodles that have a nice firm texture. Really, for the price it is a very good feed.

This style of Vietnamese is one of the biggest trends in recent times with dozens of restaurants opening up across Australia. It is a trend I’m pleased with as the competition, both within the theme, and with similarly priced options, is only going to make everyday dining better for the consumer. Bring it on Mama Tran!

Shredded beef and brisket pho

There is a lot to love, and a lot to put up with, when dining on Victoria Street. At times the less appealing aspects (to put it lightly) ruin the whole experience.

Tonight we had walked for around 30 minutes to get here so it was only hunger, and the promise of some good pho, that meant we didn’t turn around and head back to safety. All I can say is that Victoria Street needs a dramatic clean-up, which I’m sure all the good businesses on the street have been asking for (for a long time). Luckily the unsavoury characters outside are not interested in soup, and the door of Pho Hung Vuong 2 provides a degree of separation.

Prawn spring rolls

While we are here for a soup, we begin with the prawn spring rolls. Wrapping in the lettuce as tradition dictates, and dipping in the sauce, there is nothing quite like a very good quality spring roll to get proceedings underway. These are thin and crisp, but the room inside is filled with delicious juicy prawn meat and nothing else.

Chicken pho

I go with the beef and brisket pho and Catherine with the chicken pho. Both have slightly different broths and we both add a good covering of bean shoots and Thai basil; in addition I add a decent splatter of chilli which packs a good punch. There is comfort in soup, but I find good pho has that bit more complexity; a taste I’m used to but still find as interesting as a new experience. Freshness from the additions, and filling satisfaction from the noodles and added meat.

Pho Hung Vuong 2 has a sister restaurant in Springvale too, which I’m told is just as good. There is nothing to note about the service or décor, except the fact that the restaurant is full and the reason is the soup. We will be back but one day I hope a lot of the unsavoury aspects outside are gone.

BLK's Food Blog

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Mama Tran – Claremont – Saturday 2 January 2016 – Dinner

Pho Hung Vuong 2 – Richmond – Friday 13 November 2015 – Dinner

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