One of the best parts of being in Asia is the availability and variety of cheap noodle and rice dishes to satisfy you at any time of day or night. Failing that the next acceptable alternative is to be in a place with a large particular Asian community such that they bring their experience and expertise to enable people locally to enjoy it. It usually means a much heftier price tag and a reliance on local ingredients which may miss key herbs or elements. Occasionally it also means it may be an improvement as the meat quality is generally better in the Western world than Asia, so I think anyway.
In any case, living in Canberra makes travel to a place that has a good "Chinatown" section the more exciting. This tends to be Melbourne or Sydney, although I do like the Indonesian-influence in Darwin too.
Relatively enroute from Randwick back to Canberra was Cabramatta, the supposed centre of where Asian (at least Vietnamese) food gives rise. In fact after parking the car, the first person we saw was a lady on a bicycle dressed in traditional vietnamese garb wearing a rice hat. I haven't seen that before. The central area of Cabramatta is host to several Vietnamese restaurants/cafes, bakeries, sweet shops and fruit. Jackfruit at $8/kg? Bargain.
Pho Tau Bay is one of the places people online seem to rate as the favourite in Sydney. Like many noodle places, decor is not a reason to come here. Simple tables, simple chairs, Vietnamese or Korean drama on TV showing in many directions.
My standard selection pho bo tai nam had an interesting broth. There was an almost medicinal quality to it that I initially found quite strange. Eventually it smoothed out to a subtle beef broth. I won't say it was my favourite, but nonetheless good, different and I wouldn't hesitate to eat here again. Also on the menu, bun bo hue was a much heavier flavoured sweet soup stock. There was a distinct lack of chilli in it which was a bit disappointing and I'm not entirely sure why (review online have said similar).
Satisfying and no better option for a feed before an evening drive.
