Five of the best rice paper rolls

PATRICK GEE: Fresh and fast, light but filling, Vietnamese rice paper rolls are the ultimate feed for an active summer. From the fiercely traditional to “Aussie-fied” innovations, here are five of the best rice paper rolls.

Tien Ho with some of the rice paper rolls available from Saigon Express in Hobart. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

Fresh and fast, light but filling, Vietnamese rice paper rolls are the ultimate feed for an active summer. From the fiercely traditional to “Aussie-fied” innovations, here are five of the best rice paper rolls.

Saigon Express, 335 Elizabeth St, Hobart

There are a massive 12 rice paper roll options available at Saigon Express in North Hobart. Each contains rice vermicelli, fresh lettuce, mint, spring onion, daikon and carrot. Protein options include tofu, avocado, chicken, steamed pork, barbecue pork, prawn, pork and prawn, chicken and prawn, salmon and avocado, prawn and avocado, crackling and roast pork, and the newly added roast duck. Rice paper rolls can also be tailor-made by request. Dipping sauces include fish sauce, peanut sauce and soy sauce. There are also gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options available.

Mint Fresh Fast Food, 44 Elizabeth St, Hobart

The fresh rice paper rolls here are made daily from Tasmanian produce (all $4). Of the seven options available, all are gluten-free apart from the popular pork roll. For vegetarians there is the golden free-range omelette roll or the caramelised onion and avocado. Vegans can dig into the tofu and braised shiitake mushroom. Sate chicken with toasted coconut, Petuna smoked trout with Tasmanian apple, and sweet chilli beef round out the menu. Each option contains rice vermicelli, shredded carrot, mesclun and iceberg lettuce. Sauce options include peanut, hoisin, sweet chilli lime and sesame mayo.

Some of the rice paper rolls available from Saigon Express in Hobart. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

Cyclo Vietnamese Restaurant, 249A Elizabeth St, North Hobart

These affordable rolls are not only healthy, fresh and light, but also filling (from $6 to $7). Each contains rice vermicelli, lettuce, mint and pickled onion. The clear crowd favourite is roast pork with crackling. Other available protein options include lemongrass tofu, duck star anise, barbecue chicken, turmeric and dill barramundi, chilli lemongrass beef, prawn and pork. Each option comes with hoisin peanut sauce.

Sapa Rose, 77-81 Harrington St, Hobart

The main rice paper roll available on the lunch ($8) and the a la carte menu ($9.80) at Sapa Rose is a traditional prawn roll with pork, lettuce, mint and rice vermicelli. The dish includes two large rolls cut in half and could be shared as an entree between four people. Two new additions to the menu are more contemporary creations avocado and crab, and grilled pork. They are currently available on the specials board at lunch time only. All rice paper rolls are served with a peanut butter sauce.

UnPhogettable, 147 Collins St, Hobart

It is all about tradition and authenticity when it comes to the rice paper rolls at UnPhogettable. They steer clear of Aussie innovations and additions such as avocado and salmon. The rolls make a quick, filling and affordable meal, with three large rolls for $8.50. The rolled and wrapped rice sheets contain pork belly, prawn, rice vermicelli and mixed lettuce and vegies. The vegetables are grown in the owners’ own vegie garden over summer and are completely organic. The crushed peanut and ground chilli sauce is a family recipe.