Exploring Vietnamese Restaurants in Auckland

In this week's blog post, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the individuals—managers, chefs, waiters, and entrepreneurs—who bring Vietnamese cuisine and culture to the people of Auckland and New Zealand.

I lived in Dunedin for two years before moving to college in New Plymouth. Back then, the entire Otago region had only one Vietnamese restaurant, where my sister and I worked. My cooking skills were limited to simple dishes like fried eggs and boiled vegetables, so whenever I had the chance to enjoy spring rolls or a bowl of phở, I was overjoyed. I love Vietnamese food. In 2016, my mother visited, and we traveled together to Auckland. The first Vietnamese restaurant I experienced there was Café Hanoi. Since my mother was treating me, I immediately ordered a bowl of phở without hesitation and savored it so much that I didn't say a word from the moment it was served until I finished. I particularly remember the Vietnamese manager who greeted us; she had short hair, tanned skin, and a bright smile. It was a simple happiness of meeting another Vietnamese person overseas. The restaurant's interior was decorated in a distinctly Vietnamese style, with brick walls and traditional design. The aroma of phở filled the bustling establishment. To this day, the restaurant remains just as busy. I don't know if there were other Vietnamese restaurants at that time, but this one left a lasting impression on me. Now, I'd like to share my journey of exploring Vietnamese eateries in Auckland. Since this is quite an extensive journey, I'll write it in two parts: Part 1 will cover my initial discoveries upon moving to Auckland, and Part 2 will discuss the growth of Vietnamese restaurants in the city in recent years.

Part 1: Discovering Phở in Auckland

Fast forward six years ago, and I can't even count all the Vietnamese restaurants in Auckland, let alone across New Zealand. Around 2019-2020, when I moved to Auckland, my go-to Vietnamese spots were Saigonz in Britomart, due to its proximity to home; Sen in Mount Eden, because of their delicious phở; and Hansan, for convenient Vietnamese food nearby in the city center during outings (though I didn't frequently go to Hansan much). My sister also introduced me to a small bánh mì - Vietnamese baguette stall in the food court of the Warehouse building on Elliot Street, where the pâté was incredibly tasty. Back then, I didn't eat out often, but when I did, those were my usual spots. Oh! There was also a place in the food court on the first floor of the Sky World building on Queen Street (which is no longer operational); the owner there was very kind. 

Perhaps I wasn't aware of many Vietnamese restaurants at the time, so every year on my birthday, I would ask my boyfriend to cook a big pot of phở to share with friends. Back then, be able to have dishes like bánh xèo (savoury pancake), bún chả (vermicelli with grilled pork patties), or braised pork at Saigonz or Sen in New Zealand was already a delight to me. Then, I discovered Nem in Parnell, which I often visited with friends ever since; there was a time when Nem was my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. Not only was the food delicious and the service attentive, but the ambiance was also incredibly relaxing. Later, I started to hear about another place that served bún đậu mắm tôm (a dish with vermicelli, fried tofu with shrimp paste) and bánh cuốn (pork steamed rice roll)! I was so excited that I had to go immediately. The Hanoi Eatery also had a fantastic bún ngan (duck noodle soup) that wasn't available elsewhere; every time I visited, I promised myself to try other dishes, but I could never resist the allure of that bún ngan. The rich broth, tender duck meat, and I always paired it with a glass of Vietnamese coffee. Additionally, they offered sticky rice, tofu with tomato sauce, and meatballs—perfect for those who enjoy casual street-style Vietnamese meals. Gradually, I became acquainted with Mekong Vietnam and Le Vietnamese after being invited a few times. Around 2021, if I remember correctly, Commercial Bay opened, and its food court was always packed due to nearby corporate offices. That's when I discovered Nam Nam. It's the only place that makes phở xào bò to my liking; to this day, no other place has surpassed it. At that time, the top three Vietnamese restaurants, in my opinion, were Sen, Nem, and Hanoi Eatery. Then, one fine day in 2022, a friend told me he had the best bowl of phở in Grey Lynn at a place called Josy. I was surprised because I thought I already knew so many Vietnamese spots in Auckland; how did I miss this one? But to be honest, if I had passed by, I wouldn't have known they served phở, as it looks more like a Kiwi cafe rather than a place that would have Vietnames food. And indeed, the phở there was excellent; the beef was sautéed with ginger, giving it a smoky aroma, and the broth was both light and flavorful. The owner was very friendly, always welcoming me and encouraging me to return. Since then, Josy became our gathering spot after nights out, to soothe and comfort our souls and bodies, haha. That year, I started working at a company on High Street, so there were a few places I frequented for lunch: Top Rolls—my favorite spot for bánh mì; phở xào from Nam Nam; cơm tấm from Nam Việt—my husband's favorite; and bún bò xào from Hanoi Eatery. In total, I've experienced around 12 different Vietnamese restaurants in Auckland so far.

Up to this point, if I were to share the top three places that serve the best beef phở, in my opinion, over the years, they would be: Sen, Nem, and Josy. To me, the phở at Sen and Nem offers an enticing flavor reminiscent of Hanoi-style phở, while Josy's version stands out with its stir-fried beef with a hint of ginger, along with the memorable experiences I've had there. Of course, everyone's taste is different; my friends have their own top three, and it's always interesting to learn about their favorite spots. Please I’m super excited to get to know yours favourites, it doesn’t have to be with Phở, it could be any places that offer your favourite Vietnamese dishes. 

There is still part 2 coming which I would like to continue sharing my journey of exploring Vietnamese restaurants in Auckland in the recent year. Because that’s the part that shows the significant growth of Vietnamese restaurants here. Through this article, I just want to share my gratitude to those who opened the restaurants, those who helped in the business process, imported ingredients to bring the most authentic Vietnamese culinary flavours possible to those living abroad. Especially to us, Vietnamese people who always love Vietnamese food and continue to enjoy it even though we are thousands of kilometers away from the country. And thanks to them, I have had and still having a great journey of experiencing Vietnamese foods and culture for many years in New Zealand. I always find that in every gathering or meeting, cuisine is always what connects people, is how people share culture no matter where you come from. This ends part one of the journey to discover Vietnamese restaurants in Auckland, I look forward to your stories, and please continue to follow part 2 of this journey!