Food Court, Footscray Market, Irving St, Footscray
A little while ago, Kenny alerted me to the fact that taking photos in Footscray Market is not allowed, which of course makes me want to do it all the more. So after my naive documentation of T&T Takeaway, I’m wilfully flouting the rules and working my way around the food court. Next stop, Huu Thanh.
What I like about both T&T and Huu Thanh is that they’re completely unpretentious. But that might have something to do with the fact they face onto a food court, and the strains of market vendors spruiking their wares (what IS that “baile-baile-baile” phrase they yell!? is it “buy lah, buy lah, buy lah”?). I love the way that you can sit in the front of the stall, and watch the people go about their shopping. It reminds me a little of the food stands at Tan Dinh market where I used to have lunch in Sai Gon.
Anyway, my cousin had told me that my uncle’s favourite pho joint was in the food court at Footscray Market. I think it’s T&T Takeaway. After all, that was the place that his wife suggested to my mother that we eat at, and well, Huu Thanh doesn’t have pho on the menu. Anyway, T&T Takeaway was full that morning, and I was in need of some soup noodle healing, after a(nother) big night out on the booze. So I went next door to Huu Thanh, and ordered the next best thing for a hangover, the bun bo Hue.



If it's the place I'm thinking of, I always used to get congee/chao there. It was like $5 or $6 for a massive bowl ($1 off for no offal for me). I didn't like their other soups very much but that was before I really started appreciating hu tieu mi.
How good is Dong Ba – I keep getting that banh canh tom thit I had with you – obsessed!