If you ever want to travel to Vietnam without actually leaving Sydney, head to Hai Au Lan Nuong, an OG restaurant in Canley Vale that teleports all patrons to this bizarre Vietnamese world. And one of the best places in Sydney for traditional Vietnamese street and BBQ food 👌🏻.
The photo above is one of many water fronts and displays inside the restaurant LOL.
The photo above is one of many water fronts and displays inside the restaurant LOL.
Food
This is a classic entrée: lotus stem with prawn and pork salad for $25. Normally I get the jellyfish option because I enjoy the wriggly cold and chewy mouthfeel but this time, Mick wanted crunchy lotus stems. The umami and savoury flavours of prawn and pork, mixed with purple onions, fried shallots, lettuce and fish sauce go really well together, especially on top of the flavourful prawn cracker.
Order in Vietnamese: gỏi ngó sen
Order in Vietnamese: gỏi ngó sen
This is sliced rare beef with lemongrass and herb dipping broth, served with fresh salad and rice paper for $35. We only eat this when we’re drinking because it’s a dish often served on a late-night to drunk people. The broth is very concentrated, with a sweet and sour taste so we do not recommend slurping it – unless you love it then go for it 😆.
Order in Vietnamese: bò nhúng dấm
Order in Vietnamese: bò nhúng dấm
This is their most popular dish: organic grilled chicken wrapped in fresh banana leaf, served with sticky rice and signature sauce for $25 (half) or $45 (whole). This slow-grilled rotisserie-style chicken cooked over mangrove charcoal is sooo delicious 🤤. The combination of charred, savoury skin with juicy meat and sticky textured rice is a match made in heaven.
Order in Vietnamese: gà nướng xôi nếp
Order in Vietnamese: gà nướng xôi nếp
This is a poor man’s food called crispy crackling clay pot rice for $8. We asked for diced minced pork stew with black pepper and steamed vegetables $20 on top and ooft, so flavourful. They used a lot of pork fat in the minced pork stew, giving it that addicting, fattening feel. As bad as this dish was for our health, we both couldn’t stop eating it 😍.
Order in Vietnamese:
Order in Vietnamese:
- rice – cơm cháy
- pork – kho quẹt & rau luộc
This is not a dish younger generations enjoy but the oldies (35+ year olds) love this with a glass of beer. This is goat stew with combination of spices and coconut for $40. It has a very gamey stench. Some of the pieces still have bones inside so you have to be careful when eating this. Otherwise a nice balance of savoury notes, soy and herbs on top of crispy bread rolls.
Order in Vietnamese: dê chấm múc
Order in Vietnamese: dê chấm múc
Service
All the staff speak predominantly Vietnamese with some broken English. Service is fast if you can grab their attention amongst this colourful whimsical restaurant background.
They do have an arcade and a dedicated children’s play area but it was a little annoying sitting next to it because the kids enjoyed smashing their bodies against the glass panel as a game 🤨 like why…? Also they have a piano upstairs and live karaoke downstairs so the noise level is a lot louder than normal restaurants LOL.
They do have an arcade and a dedicated children’s play area but it was a little annoying sitting next to it because the kids enjoyed smashing their bodies against the glass panel as a game 🤨 like why…? Also they have a piano upstairs and live karaoke downstairs so the noise level is a lot louder than normal restaurants LOL.
Review
We love Hai Au Lan Nuong because we think it’s the best Vietnamese restaurant in Sydney for the food and experience. They have such a wide variety of items 40+, catered to all ages and designed for sharing and drinking. All dishes are cooked and seasoned perfectly. And every time we go, the decor and music teleports us back to Vietnam. Highly recommend this OG spot 😎.
Thanks for reading! Happy eating!!
Thanks for reading! Happy eating!!
