Last night Hamish and I had an impromptu date.
As per usual he wanted to go to I Love Pho 264, (264 Victoria St Richmond).
We go allllLLLlllll the time so I wanted to try something different, our homie Hung's new restaurant Phoenix Phuong Hoang.
Hung's parents run the very, very successful I Love Pho.
Let me put it this way, David Chang (Momofuku) had 2 bowls there, THEN THREE because it was so bomb dot com.
"Chang’s other adventures in Australian eating led him to Pho Chu The on Victoria Street, Richmond, for “one of the best bowls of pho I have ever had”. Never one to do things by half-measures, he had two bowls on his first visit and three when he came back for a second round. “We don’t have anything like that in New York.”" - Gourmet Traveller June 2010
Find the original article here.
The Pho Chu The there now is NOT the place Chang went to, it's now called I Love Pho 264, don't be fooled, MANY have!!!
Ok, ok, ok enough of I Love Pho and onto PHOENIX PHUONG HOANG!!!!
Hung had a BIG name to live up to by opening a restaurant on the (Phoenix?! haahaha) wings of I Love Pho 264, he as succeeded and then some.
He said things are still being tweaked here and there but what he's got going on is fantastic.
Deeeeeelicious, fresh, thoughtful Vietnamese that's not expensive and not trying to be something it isn't.
As Hung said "I want to serve the same food you can get in Vietnam"
We ate....
1. Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings - I LOVE CHICKEN WINGS!!!! Gimmiegimmiegimmie!!!
2. PHO!!!!! Baahaahahahaa Hamish had to have his Pho, this was a I think it was hot and spicy but I can't remember the exact name. Either way it was much stronger tasting than the usual I Love Pho, pho. Fragrant as all out, delicate yet robust it was just perfection.
3. Deep Fried Quail (Like Hung said, fry something and people will love it) you can't go wrong with quail - it's one of Hamish's favourites.
4. Vietnamese Coleslaw which we ate heaped onto the prawn crackers to make VIETNAMESE TACOS (one of Hung's friends made that up haahahhaaa) it was SO good. Finally a good Vietnamese Coleslaw on Victoria St that's light, has good chicken in it, fresh with the perfect amount of crunch.
We also had salt and pepper squid (don't ask, I was still hungry haahahahaa) which was SO FRESH, so fresh and not rubbery at all.
We will be back, I have no doubt about that, we only eat at 1 Pho place in Melbourne and haven't ever had a Vietnamese place so this is it for us.
We've found our happy place!!!
I asked Hung to do Wu tang hands and he did!!!
Haahaahahahahaaa
Thank you SO much Hung for opening Phoenix, it was a LONG battle I remember talking about it with you at least a year ago now.
The rest of the restaurants on Victoria St better look out - you guys have got it in the bag!
Get your booties to Phoenix Phuong Hoang 349 - 351 Victoria St, Richmond.
What's your favourite, most favourite Vietnamese dish to order when you're out?
Have you had the mind blowing Pho at I Love Pho?
TELL ME YOUR VIETNAMESE FOOD STORIES!!!!