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Banh Cuon Ba Oanh

Shopfront specialising in humble yet hearty banh cuon.

The namesake banh cuon ba oanh (steamed rice paper roll).
1 / 6The namesake banh cuon ba oanh (steamed rice paper roll).Cole Bennetts
Owner of Banh Cuon Ba Oanh, Minh Thuy Nguyen.
2 / 6Owner of Banh Cuon Ba Oanh, Minh Thuy Nguyen.Dominic Lorrimer
Chicken congee.
3 / 6Chicken congee.Dominic Lorrimer
Yellow sticky rice with chicken.
4 / 6Yellow sticky rice with chicken. Dominic Lorrimer
Steamed rice noodle roll with mixed pork.
5 / 6Steamed rice noodle roll with mixed pork.Dominic Lorrimer
The dining room.
6 / 6The dining room. Dominic Lorrimer

14.5/20

Vietnamese$

An unofficial rule to live by: when you see a long line on Illawarra Road, join the queue. This bustling spot is a case in point, and the four dishes offered tend to sell out regularly.

On almost every table, you’ll find banh cuon – northern Vietnam’s steamed rice noodle rolls dotted with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms. Team them with fresh herbs and your choice of grilled meat or cha (hunky, aromatic slices of sausage) and dip everything in a punchy nuoc mam.

Mixed and grilled pork is the best of both worlds, while the beef with fresh onion option is highly refreshing on a hot afternoon.

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Other menu items are far from support acts, though, especially a rich and nourishing chao ga, each bite of the rice porridge loaded with free-range chook, chopped cruller, minced pork, fried shallots and coriander.

Come early and come hungry.

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Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/nsw-good-food-guide/banh-cuon-ba-oanh-20241003-p5kfp9.html