This weekend, I set out to the markets with a friend and discovered a gem I hadn’t tried before: LL Bakery and Café. Their menu offers all the Vietnamese classics like pho, banh mi, and bun cha, as well as an extensive pastry and pie selection. For those after something more classic, they also provide café favourites like burgers and sandwiches.
On my quest to find the best pho in Canberra, I ordered the BBQ pork wonton soup, and my friend went with the rare beef noodle soup.
Taste
The broth was fantastic: clear and light-bodied, with a burst of umami. The clove, star anise and cinnamon flavours blended seamlessly. The noodles were also perfectly cooked, never breaking apart in the broth as we ate.
One of the things that made the pho at LL Bakery and Café stand out the most was how fresh and plentiful the greens were. There was a generous amount of spring onions and just the right amount of coriander for added flavour. The red onion and ample bok choy added a nice crunch.
I also appreciated how they brought the mung bean sprouts out to you on a plate, allowing you to add as little or as much as you like. The plate also had a few extra chillies and lemon so that you could add flavour to your pho according to your taste.
In my meal, the pork was delicious and not too overpowering. My friend’s beef wasn’t as rare as she would have liked, but they sliced it exceptionally thin, and it was incredibly tender.
As far as spice goes, there was a modest amount of sliced red chillies in my broth. I prefer a little more kick, but luckily they had sriracha sauce on hand for the spice lovers. If you’re the opposite and shy away from chilli, they’re happy to adjust your meal accordingly.
Vegetarian options
It’s important for vegetarians to note that they do not offer plant-based broth, only bone broth with fish sauce. If you’re plant-based, they do have vegan banh mi options. The staff at LL Bakery and Café were more than willing to run us through the different options for vegetarians.
Extras worth trying
I, wanting to try at least one more thing on the menu, also got a large pork dim sim for $3. I can safely say it was the best dim sim I’ve had in Canberra. It was flavourful and soft without being greasy. I highly recommend trying it along with the fantastic pho. The Vietnamese coffee was also to die for.
Service and Ambience
The service was warm and friendly, and the family restaurant matriarch came out to chat with us and ask where we were from. The general ambience was plain and simple, but the outdoor picnic-style tables were a perfect vantage point to people-watch and take in the quintessential Canberra experience. Our orders were delivered with a smile within a few minutes despite how busy they were.
Value for money
The first thing to mention is the portion sizes: they only offer one size, but the bowls were massive. My friend and I both struggled to finish them. At $17 each, the value for money is fantastic. However, my pho could have done with more wontons and pork. My friend also agreed that her pho could have had more beef.
Location
LL Bakery and Café is located in the Fyshwisk Fresh Food Markets, a Canberra institution and my most surefire way to find joy on a chilled-out Sunday. The café itself is unassuming, tucked away in the far corner of the markets between Deli Planet and one of the many bustling greengrocers.
It’s easy to overlook, but you would miss out on some of the best and most authentic pho Canberra offers. The first sign I was in for a real treat was how busy the café was – I was lucky to nab the last seat in their outdoor dining area.