By Gary Lee
Footscray is renowned for its vibrant multicultural food scene, attracting food enthusiasts from all over the world. The streets are lined with eateries representative of the many communities that live here. When one comes to Footscray, one can explore flavours from around the world. Here is the second installment of some of our favourite eateries which includes some real classics and other recommendations that you may want to try out.
T. Cavallaro & Sons Pasticceria
T. Cavallaro & Sons Pasticceria started their business in Footscray in 1956 and are best known for their handmade cannoli. Cannoli, or “little tube” in Italian are delicate cylinders or tubes of crispy fried pastry filled with sweet custard or ricotta. The last time I purchased some they filled the cannoli to order, so they were always fresh! A lesser known, but just as delicious treat is the crostoli, perfectly crisp and delicate sheets of fried dough, dusted in powdered sugar, simple and so addictive. So light and flaky, this pasty simply melts in your mouth.
To’s Bakery
This bakery is an icon in Footscray. It gives off the vibes of a grocery store in that it offers so much. You would think they are a typical banh mi shop, but they are more than that. They have a very generous selection of pastries, cakes, packed desserts, pork buns, skewers to fried chicken wings. All items are well-priced. One of my favourites is the xôi lạp xưởn, flavoured sticky rice with lap cheong (Chinese sausage), egg and pork floss. But our regular go-to is the Chinese jian dui – mochi like dough filled with red bean paste and coated with crispy sesame seeds. We like to flatten them into a disk and tear them apart and consume them with coffee.
Pho Hung Vuong Saigon
Although there are plenty of pho restaurants in Footscray, Pho Hung Vuong Saigon draws the biggest crowds, even queues on the weekends. It’s no doubt one of the most popular, with people travelling into Footscray to enjoy mouth-watering Vietnamese noodle soup. They run the joint efficiently, so be prepared. They are quick to seat you, sharing tables with others is common and food is served quickly. Their turnaround is speedy too, so expect waiters to be enthusiastic about cleaning your table immediately after you are done with your meal. They have a standard pho menu, but they also serve other dishes such as broken rice, spring rolls and vermicelli salads.
The 2 Men Cafe
The 2 Men Cafe is a trendy little café with both inside and outside seating. Their coffee is consistently good and their service is immaculate! Friends highly recommend trying the Vietnamese iced coffee with coconut, but I enjoy their salted coffee, or cà phê muối which is made by adding sweetened condensed milk to a base of Vietnamese coffee. The mixture is topped with salted cream and served hot or iced. It’s delicious and tastes like salted caramel – give it a try!
Star Restaurant
Oh deer, if you enjoy venison, this unassuming restaurant will fulfill your cravings. Star Restaurant, a Vietnamese eatery on Nicholson Street, offers a unique dining experience. You get to cook your own sliced venison on a hot plate and wrap them in rice paper with a fresh selection of herbs and vegetables.
Do you have recommendations of other places or dishes I should try here in the west? Share them with me on Instagram @garyleecious and @divers_eat_y
For the first part of this article, visit Foodscray! The ideal place for a festive, fun and flavourful adventure! – The Westsider
