Pho Ann, Cabramatta

If there's one thing I know about Cabramatta (in relation to food of course!), it's that they do have their fair share of best kept secrets. Pho Ann is one of those places. While there are barely any coverage about this pho joint on Urbanspoon and even Google, it still gets incredibly busy during the weekend peak lunchtimes. Although the address said that it's on John Street, it's actually located on the further end of the Belvedere Arcade alleyway across from Cafe Nho. Pho Ann is a relatively newer establishment having only been around for about 5 years or less (I remember seeing the opening deals during my uni years) compared to the long standing Vietnamese eateries like Pho Tau Bay, Pho 54, Pho Viet, Pho Minh, Tan Viet and Bau Truong which have all been around for decades. 

It's easy to confuse yourself between this establishment and the much more famous An Restaurant in Bankstown from the similar names to the way the pho is made. The main difference is the price. While Bankstown's An Restaurant serves up a small bowl of Pho Tai for $13.00 and a large bowl for $14.00, Pho Ann does the same but for $8.50 - small and $11.00 - large. If you want a bowl of Pho Dac Biet (Combination Noodle Soup), you can get a small bowl for $9.50 and a large bowl for $12.00. That is the most expensive item on this menu.

While most Vietnamese restaurants serve a variety of different food from fresh spring rolls to bun bo hue and egg noodle dishes; Pho Ann concentrates on pho noodles with its limited food menu displaying only beef noodle soups (Pho Bo), chicken noodle soups (Pho Ga) and a selection of drinks.

In all of my visits at Pho Ann, I often have the waiter asking if I would like to have my bean sprouts cooked or fresh. Decisions decisions!!! Definitely something I don't encounter at any other Vietnamese restaurant but it's good to know that you get those options.

Personally, I like them fresh

As part of Good Food Month, the restaurants in Cabramatta and the Canley region are showcasing their signature dishes. Pho Ann's signature is their Pho Bo Dac Biet (Combination Beef Noodle Soup). That is pretty damn special when there is so much competition in the area. Pho Ann's version uses a generous combination of various meats from their pho-focused menu including rare beef, cooked beef, brisket beef, tendon, tripe and even thick slices of spicy beef roll...to name a few! The broth was rich that it was quite hard to finish the entire bowl. It wasn't too sweet so I did had to rely on the usual condiments like the lemon and mint. The noodles that Pho Ann restaurant uses was slightly thinner than what I often see at most Vietnamese restaurants around Sydney. It gets you incredibly full but it satisfies the pho cravings. 

Pho Bo Dac Biet - small ($9.50)

Food porn!

I also tried the Pho Tai (rare beef) on another visit here. Again, the broth was rich and the serving size was generous for a small bowl. I loved how soft and tender the beef was once it was cooked in the broth. Add the usual crunchy onions, coriander, spring onion, Vietnamese mint and a dab of lemon and you got yourself a yummy, fragrant bowl of beef pho. Oh yesss! 

Pho Tai - small ($8.50)

As usual, I always like to have a cold, refreshing soya-bean milk to drink on the side. This version however seemed to be a bit more milky than how I usually enjoyed. 

I wouldn't jump the gun and pronounce this as the best pho in Sydney (yet) because there is still so many other pho joints that I haven't tried yet including Pho Viet and the many Vietnamese restaurants at Flemington and Marrickville. My parents reckon it's one of their favourites which is saying something because they can be a bit elitist with pho. Plus the service was friendly in all of my visits. It may be one of Cabramatta's best kept secrets but it sure gets people lining up outside the door on a very hot day. I even had to share my table with a couple of strangers in one of my visits because all the other tables were full. Judging from my visits at Pho Ann so far, I would say that it does satisfy my tastebuds with the tender and flavoursome meat. It's also nice to see an uncomplicated menu where all you need to choose is what bowl of pho, beef or chicken, suits you on the day. Will certainly return again soon to try one of the many other pho bowls yummm!
 

Pho Ann Restaurant
Shop 10-12/70-72 John Street Cabramatta NSW (enter via Belvedere Arcade between Subway and Tan Ky Noodle House)
(02) 9723 2529

Chur Burger, Surry Hills (and it's my 2nd Blog Birthday!)

OK where has the time gone?!?! I didn't end up celebrating my 1st bloggerversary / bloggiversary / blogaversary /blogiversary (seriously guys how do you spell that?) and I have no idea what to do for my 2nd one. I would say that over the last couple of years, I have gone through so many changes that it's just incredible. When I started The Random Foodie in late September 2011, I was near the end of my job at the time. What inspired me to do a food blog was the passion and love to explore different cuisines...and I have been a bit of an explorer. Before I started this blog, I was already super excited to check out pretty cool restaurants with my former colleagues. After a few requests from friends, I eventually started this blog. Why 'The Random Foodie'? To be honest, I couldn't think of a better name. Plus I guess back then, I like to be anonymous when it comes to reviewing restaurants. These day, not so much ahahaha. 

Since then, I have gained lots of weight for the love of food and eventually lost a lot of weight this year too (I still love to eat out dammit! It's so hard!). There was also some great foodie moments including meeting some amazing food bloggers, getting invites to a few cool events and travelled to Europe and Singapore. 

Thanks to everyone for your support and checking out my blog over the last couple of years. This includes enjoying the (not so great) pictures and the detailed content. I've appreciated the feedback that many of you have told me via this blog and in person. Cheers (or Chur hahaha) to 2 years of belly bursting fun times and more foodie adventures to come. Like this one. 

Speaking of random moments, I did not expect to end up dining at Chur Burger one night. I was with a few blogging mates at a bar that evening. We were so hungry and then one of us blurted out "let's go to Chur Burger!". Without hesitation, we all ended up here because it's a pretty damn awesome idea. Yup random moments are the best. For those who have no idea what I meant before, Chur is Kiwi for "cheers" (lol geddit? no? meh). Even though it was a Tuesday night, we waited for about 15 minutes for a free table...which wasn't too bad for an eating joint that has been on the lips of those in the food scene for months. While the atmosphere was noisy and buzzing, this was combined with decent and attentive service from the staff. 

You can order your food after seating at your tables or, if there are no seats left, you can also order at the counter while you wait for a table. Despite the busy crowd, the food gets delivered incredibly fast to our tables. Oh the choices!

Saucy times

We were spoilt for choice so it took a while for us to decide. Even the sides look appetising. I was in the mood for beef burgers at the time so it has gotta be the Grilled Beef Burger with cheese, tomato jam, mustard mayo and pickle. The picture below does not do this burger any justice. With a juicy beef patty with a bit of pinkness in the middle, zesty pickles and a soft and fluffy brioche bun, the burger is amazing stuff. 

Grilled Beef Burger ($10.00)

Oooooohhh yeaaahhhhh!!!

I didn't end up trying the Pulled Pork Burger (with Chur BBQ sauce, red slaw, fennel mayo) on my first visit but it got positive responses from those who did try it. It looked incredibly delicious that it was the reason I went back again recently. On my second visit, both CC and I tried the pulled pork but on this occasion, we thought that the pulled pork was chewy and not as seasoned or flavoursome as we had hoped. The BBQ sauce was quite runny so it didn't add much to the burger. This led to making good use of the other sauces to add some more flavour. However, the amount of pulled pork was still generous which was what I enjoyed the most from this burger. 

Pulled Pork Burger - 1st Visit (($10.00)

Pulled Pork Burger - 2nd Visit

I didn't end up trying the Crumbed Fish Fillet burger (with pickled cucumber, dill and lemon mayo) but C thought it was good and crunchy. Looks so tasty. Will definitely try it out in future visits.

Crumbed Fish Fillet Burger ($10.00)

Not sure if it's me or are sweet potato fries popping up at lots of menus across Sydney these days. Chur Burger's version has chunky pieces of sweet potato which was delicious but incredibly salty. We couldn't seem to detect the garlic and lime though I assume that might have been the seasoning. We ordered too many of these so there were leftovers due to its very generous servings. 

Sweet Potato Fries, Garlic, Lime ($5.00)

I tried a few of these chips and found these to be very addictive. Not good for those on a low carb diet but damnnn they were so crunchy on the outside and fluffy in the inside. I didn't seem to notice too much chilli inside so it seems to be alright for those who can't handle it. Again a very generous serving for us.

Chips with chilli salt ($5.00)

Since Chur Burger is owned by Warren Turnball, the same chef who formerly owned District Dining, I was so happy and a tad surprised when I spotted Quail eggs on the menu again. This time I thought these treats were better than ever. Oozy egg yolk and crumbled coating combined with the tangy tarragon sauce was the highlight out of the snacks menu. Soo good!

Crispy Quail Eggs with Tarragon Mayo ($10.00)

We all enjoyed the milo and salted caramel (didn't get a photo for this one :( sorry) milkshakes although they were quite thick and rich. Some of us thought it was too much to handle especially with all the other food we've had. Nevertheless, they are still sweet and refreshing to have especially on a warm day.

Milo Milkshake ($8.00)

While some people reckon that it's a bit pricey compared to Maccas and HJ's, I reckon it's one of the cheap eats considering the size of the burgers and the location. Would love to check it out again to try the fish burger and the spiced chickpea fritter burger (note this vegetarians!) sometime soon. Great social vibe, quick and friendly service and no fuss. Churrrr!

Chur Burger
48 Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
(02) 9212 7979
http://www.churburger.com.au/

Palomino Espresso, Sydney CBD

To be honest, I'm always intrigued at the number of bars and cafes located on York Street. With eateries like Stitch Bar, Loaf and Devotion, Ipoh on York, Uncle Ming's, Mojo Record Bar and Palomino Espresso located on the same street within minutes of each other, the world is really your oyster when it comes to a lunch or dinner outings in that vicinity. When it comes to a quick but filling lunch, I've been making regular trips to Palomino Espresso for their decent selection of lunch options that won't break your budget. 

From the look of the cafe, you can imagine it to be something you would see in Surry Hills or Newtown rather than your average CBD cafe with the cute decor, down-to-earth staff and freshly baked delights. The vibe is incredibly busy especially at peak hour lunch but the turnover time to order and get your food is actually very quick unless you purchase something that is made to order. It's pretty hard to get a dine here due to its small space so it's easier to get takeaway if you are having a very short lunch break. The lunch selection is also generous from sandwiches to salads to even a few pies that are only available on certain days.

I've ordered the Reuben sandwich a couple of times from this cafe with different experiences. The first time, I got it takeaway to bring back to the office due to a busy day. When I took a bite of this sandwich, I was in heaven! Balanced ingredients and flavours with decent slices of leg ham and lightly toasted rye bread. The melted swiss cheese didn't have a strong taste though it was stringy which was what I loved in cheeses hehe. It was so good that I was keen on ordering it again on my next visit.

Reuben sandwich w/leg ham, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, ($7.50)

On my next visit, I had more time on my hands so I opted to dine in even though it was packed inside the cafe. While it was delicious, there was noticeably an overwhelming amount of sauerkraut which overpowered the sandwich and not as much ham compared to my earlier visit. Despite that, I still enjoyed this meal and would like to order it again and again. Whether you dine-in or takeaway, this will only set you back at $7.50 which is pretty damn cheap for a cafe in Sydney these days.

Very pleased with the coffee from Palomino Espresso. It uses Morgan's Handmade Coffee beans which delivers a smooth, creamy texture and a slightly strong coffee taste that gives you a kick when work is tiring you out. Didn't get to order it when I was dining at the restaurant since I was already overloaded with coffee that day but I did have a peek at the coffee art presented to the diners during these visits.

Skim Mocha - Small ($3.50)

Recently I made another trip to try something different. I was craving for something beefy and the roast beef sandwich caught my attention immediately. While it was more expensive than nearly everything on the menu and it took much longer to make since it was made to order, it was worth the experience. The picture below does not do this sandwich any justice. It is a massive sandwich to each. It was sweet, tangy and incredibly messy to eat with generous portions of fillings between the bread slices. Probably good to share with a friend or a co-worker who happened to be staring at your sandwich for a few minutes.

Roast beef sandwich w/ caramelised onion, tomato, rocket and aioli ($13.00)

Since making the trip to York Street, this place has been one of my new fave cafes for a quick cheap lunch these days. Great place to check out. Very different to many other cafes you see around the city with its buzzing vibe as well as niche and interesting decorations. Service was good from past experience and the food has been delicious. Need to make more visits to try out the baked goods (especially that brownie) on the stands near the counter in addition to those healthy and seemingly delicious salads. If only the brekkie menu was available all day and this cafe was much closer to work.

Palomino Espresso
Shop 1/61 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000 (near Wynyard Station)
https://www.facebook.com/PalominoEspresso

Malay Chinese Takeaway, Sydney CBD

Despite what we all believe, you can actually still find cheap eats in the heart of the Sydney CBD when you are in need of a decent meal for your lunch break. One of the most popular, tastiest and cheapest places to eat in the Sydney is Malay Chinese Takeaway - often declared by foodies and laksa fans everywhere as having the best laksa in Sydney. I'm not much of a laksa expert but at the time it was a cold day and this eatery is quite close to work so why not?

Malay Chinese Takeaway is located on Hunter Street (next door to Frankie's Pizza) where crowds of corporate workers rush in for their quick feed in the peak hour of the weekday lunch. If you go at any other time of the weekday (before 12pm and after about 2pm) or all day on Saturday then it should be much more quiet. Thankfully, the queue moves quickly and after making your order, the service is incredibly fast too. In a mere few minutes after ordering, a full bowl of laksa is already on your hands. The trouble is actually finding a free seat. So far I've been lucky...

There is a decent range of choices from the menu including the curries, Char Kway Teow and Hainan Chicken. There is also daily specials including Har Mee, Combination Clear Soup and Assam Laksa. But of course, everyone comes here for their famous laksas which are listed on the blackboard menu as you enter inside the restaurant. 

I ended up going with the chicken laksa which is packed with bundles of tender chicken pieces and tofu is so soft and juicy that it bursts a mouthful of laksa broth in your mouth as you chew it. The colourful, thick, rich and creamy broth was quite spicy but not to the point that it becomes unbearable for those who cannot stand the stuff. The serving was extremely generous that I struggled to finish the whole bowl. Definitely not the best option for anyone on a diet as it is oily and it will keep you full and bloated for the rest of the day (farewell weight loss!). Best laksa in Sydney? To be honest, I don't eat laksa very often, but I enjoyed it and it tastes amazing so I guess that's what matters the most. 

Chicken Laksa ($8.70)

I made another visit recently to try the beef laksa. It is pretty much the same as the chicken laksa except with chunky pieces of beef. Bit tough for my liking but otherwise the laksa broth and the vermicelli noodles were still delicious.

Beef laksa ($8.70)

Malay Chinese Takeaway is perfect for anyone who is craving for a well-fed meal on a budget with prices for most of the dishes being less than $10. Not to mention that all dishes at this eatery cost no more than $12. Will be making more visits to try the other laksa flavours as well as some of their specials including the Har Mee. I heard that they do a killer job in that dish.

Malay Chinese Takeaway

58 Hunter Street, Sydney NSW 2000

(02) 9231 6788

http://www.malaychinese.com.au/

Mary's, Newtown

This winter, there have been a few eateries that have been garnering loads of hype on the bloggersphere. You know which restaurants they are. Mary's is one of those hyped up dining joints that have been on the radar of foodies and hipsters across Sydney. Named after the street location of the eatery, it has certainly got my attention before it opened when I heard that they serve American cuisine. I got even more interested when I heard that they serve fried chicken. Of course I got to plan the perfect time for a cheat day because this is definitely not healthy stuff.

There's a few things we've noticed when we were inside the restaurant. Firstly, it was incredibly noisy and busy for a Tuesday night. CC and I spent half of our time here screaming at each other. Secondly, it definitely has that hipster vibe that you will get at places like the cafes and small bars around Surry Hills and Newtown. Great for us but not so great if you're not a fan of those kind of places. And thirdly, like most bars and restaurants around Sydney these days, the entire place was dark so we had trouble taking proper pics (yes guys I do need an SLR camera). One thing we loved was the friendly and attention service when we were there. Smiles all round despite an incredibly busy and crowded atmosphere. The entire menu which is listed on a blackboard is so small that you could easily order everything off the menu in one night if you can handle it (or bring a couple more mates). 

It was just a Tuesday night and we had work the next day so we went with the non-alcoholic lemon lime bitters. They do have an incredibly generous selection of alcoholic drinks for you to enjoy if you want to have a wild night out including the local favourite Young Henry's beer (something for my alco readers hehe). Just one thing to note: whether you want to get food or drinks, you need to order at the bar. Brace yourself for queues.

Lemon lime bitters

ERMAGHERDDDD FRIIIEEEDDDD CHICKENNNNNN!!! So freaking crispy and crunchy! And the chicken was tender and moist. None of that dry stuff. Since we also ordered burgers, we decided to get the half-bird to share which was about 5 pieces. You can also order a Whole Bird of fried chicken for $28 or a Larry Bird (the equivalent for two whole chickens) for $50! Anyway I seriously cannot get over how crunchy the coating on this chicken really was! With the added paprika, it delivered a touch of spiciness to dish. I think Hartsyard might have a little competition on their hands in terms of deliciously crunchy Southern Fried Chicken.

Fried Chicken - Half bird ($16.00)

We weren't sure whether to order the mash and gravy but we were glad that we did in the end. The creamy and buttery mash makes the fried chicken taste even more amazing with the added flavour and texture that works perfectly together. We also enjoyed dipping our fries into the mash and gravy. Got addicted to it by the end even though we were getting pretty full.

Mash and Gravy ($5.00)

Of course we were here for the famed burgers that so many have declared "the best burgers in Sydney!". But is it? On this occasion, I went with the cheeseburger which came with a generous handful of fries. I liked how glossy the bun looked and how soft it tasted. It was also slightly sweet but not to the point that it takes over the overall flavour. The thin patty combined with the melted cheese, zesty mustard and the tangy secret sauce resulted in an incredibly juicy and burger. We couldn't help but think that the burger reminded us of the burger from Maccas down to the size of the burger but more juicy with a softer bun. The same goes with the French fries though it was crisp and addictive when dipped in mash and gravy.

Cheeseburger ($14.00)

CC decided to go with Mary's burger which looks almost exactly like the cheeseburger but with lettuce and tomato. Again it reminded us of Maccas with the size of the burger though it tasted plump, tender and juicy when I had a bite of it. Will definitely try this out next time.

Mary's burger ($14.00)

If you are vegetarian, you can also get the 'shroom burger' ($12.00) which is similar to a cheeseburger except with a field mushroom patty instead of a beef patty. Will check this out on a later date for the vegetarian readers :).

While they look like Maccas' burgers, it was the taste that makes Mary's burgers a notch above them. There was a cool, social and down to earth vibe which was perfect to hang with a few mates for dinner and drinks. For the size of the burgers, the prices are quite steep. The cheeseburger is the same price as the Mary's burger but the former has less fillings than the latter. While I wouldn't immediately declare the burgers as the best in Sydney, they are still delicious comfort food and I will be making more visits there especially for the fried chicken.

Tabasco sauce and salt in mini JD bottles ...seriously!

Mary's
6 Mary Street, Newtown NSW 2042
(02) 4995 9550