noodleoodle

Top 5s are pointless. I mean, as soon as they’re done, they’re redundant. My recent top 5 has been shattered by a recent visit to Footscray.

Pho Tam is a fish bowl of a place, on a corner across from the Little Saigon Market. It has chairs and tables out on Ryan Street, which are filled with blokes drinking icy drinks, smoking and talking seriously.

E and I had a feast. We started with a few prawn spring rolls ($7.00), and followed it up with Hủ tiếu Gả Dòn (described on menu as; Crispy chicken on side plate, with celery, chive and shrimp cake, $7.50). It was big bowl of fragrant chicken broth with lots of greens and thin rice noodles. On the side was a plate of fried chicken melting from the bone. Delicious.

We finished with a three colour drink. E hadn’t had one of these before and was thrilled by the overly sweet syrup and sugary beans. I could have had another and spent the rest of the afternoon with the blokes out the front, but E wanted to go to the park. Fair enough.

Pho Tam - 03 9687 2680 - 9 Leeds Street Footscray

Soupynoodle shares a similar love for noodles and drawing as me. See work on flickr or photoblog.

I was having trouble thinking of reasons you’d go to Lalor. If you have a quick glance around the shopping center, you may be led to believe that it has only one thing to offer - colourful plastic clogs. There are a number of discount shops selling these hideous things, they make me think of a Swedish person in a mental asylum.

But, of course, I had a reason to be going there. Toby had prior information. A little restaurant on the block serves a large selection of Chinese food and some Vietnamese specialties. All of my favorites are here. Pho, Bun Bo Hue, and the stewed beef dish, Bo Kho.

I had “Cambodian noodle soup”. It was a hot fishy broth with pork slices and a prawn. I had it with thin egg noodles. It was pretty good, enjoyed it thoroughly, but it was missing the crunchy biscuity thingo that’s been on top when I’ve had it elsewhere. I love that crunchy thingo! Also in the past there’s been a quail egg. Next time I’m in Lalor, I’ll check out the Pho quality.

After soup we had a quick walk around the block. In the mall we came across a commotion. A crowd had gathered for a green grocer selling boxes of strawberries. Fifteen punnets a box, for $5. I found this incredibly cheap. We had to buy two.

Anyway, I’d recommend stopping off in Lalor. Next time your on your way to…..?

Vinh Long - (03) 9464 4582 - 21 May Road, Lalor, VIC