Bright and welcoming Peddler Tuckshop is tucked away on suburban Huntingdale Road serving up delicious Vietnamese dishes.
You’d be forgiven for thinking this is a run of the mill cafe, as early in the day there’s a constant queue out the door for their excellent coffee, but look beyond this and you’ll spy their main fare: a Vietnamese street food menu centered around bun bowls and banh mi.
Bountiful bun bowls
Peddler manages the delicate balance between dine in and take away beautifully. We took advantage of the sunny day and took a table outside. While we timed our visit at a bit of a lull, the venue continued to ebb and swell with dine in customers alongside the constant stream of take aways.
We started with two of the bun bowls: the crispy chicken and the honey pork. Fresh and filling, these were a great option with a generous serve of fresh salad and noodles. The sauce with the honey pork was amazing, and I could drink this straight from the bottle.
Baby banh-mi
We added on two of the mini banh mi. These are a fab idea – tiny versions of their main banh mi, they’re great as an additional side or a snack. We tried their trademark crackling pork, which was awesome with a fab crunch from the crackling.
We also tried the vegetarian mock duck. This was very flavourful, with a good texture. It’s great to see creative veggie options on the menu too, which still embodied all the flavours you’d expect from Vietnamese food. As you can see, they were crammed full with everything you’d expect on their full sized counterparts.
Sizzling…
Finally, they insisted we must try their sizzling Bo Ne – and they were right!! The fresh bread dipped in rich umami gravy alone is enough to make you want this one. This fried egg and tender beef is such a tasty, unique dish and something a little different. This one is a dine in choice though as it wouldn’t hold up well to take away.
Despite how busy the cafe was at times, the staff maintained cheerful, friendly service. They were happy to suggest their favourites and checked in regularly throughout our meal. While I was well aware of Peddler’s city venue, I feel like I’ve now found a hidden little Vietnamese gem closer to home!
Website: https://www.peddlertuckshop.com.au/
We visited: Peddler Tuckshop Huntingdale – 276B Huntingdale Road
But there are also stores in Noble Park and the CBD.
(Invited)