Food is a matter of passion for Bao Dang and fiancee Thuy Huynh.
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The pair, who left careers in IT and education to sell Vietnamese street food, have opened Saigon Senses downstairs in Wollongong Central. Previously they had a strong following as Soups and Subs in the old food court.
Instead of “Westernising” their menu so it’s more bland, they keep full Vietnamese flavours. And for fans of this exquisite cuisine, that’s good news.
“A lot of people travel a lot and they’ve experienced a lot of different flavours,” Bao said. “So we thought, let’s keep all the flavours authentic and traditional.
“Business has been good here. Ever since we opened it’s been non-stop.”
They come for the Banh Mi – the Vietnamese pork and salad roll that has become a cult favourite. Lunch crowds line up ten deep for it.
Thuy Huynh said she used pork belly which they roasted themselves on site.
“I want to sell something that we know everything in it,” she said. “Everything we cook here. We’re confident we know it’s fresh.”