Hem means laneway in Vietnamese; and the motif is employed here to make a positive out of a narrow, corridor-like space on Glebe Point Road. With crispy chicken banh mi popular on the street, I thought the Hum Gua Bao ($7/each) here would be a safe bet. Sadly the slightly sticky, steamed mantou buns stuffed with crisp skinned chicken, pickled cucumber and baby radish, were largely flavourless, but they did function as fast stomach insulation with my hand wrapped around a beer. Stone & Wood Green Coast Lager ($8.50) and Dad & Dave’s Pale Ale ($8.50) are the standouts on the short (but impressively crafty) list, edging out a pedestrian selection of wines (and no BYO). There’s more flavour to be found in the Tiger Prawn, Pork Belly and Green Mango Salad ($16), though it tumbled awkwardly off the platter each time we tried to serve it. Bo Luc Lac ($13/4) - presented here as beef skewers with onions and capsicum - lacked the expected balance of ...read more
Vietnamese food goes back in hundreds of years with influences from China and France. Hem nine nine is stepping over the boundaries and walking into modern style and flair. Expect nothing but the best ingredients, with added modern twist. Finally a great Vietnamese place in Sydney City ??
Wonderful modern Vietnamese restaurant has finally popped up in the inner city area. Blooming from a humble food truck, Mama Linh's, this cosy and casual restaurant gives you a taste of street food from baos to skewers, ox tongue and spring rolls. The squid ink fried rice was definitely a highlight for me.
