Jardin Tan
Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra
03 9691 3878
Vietnamese
$$$
Food
- Bánh CuỐn TrỨng Chiên Ốp La
- Bánh Xèo
- Bánh Mì TrỨng QuẤy
The Good
We were off to a brilliant start to our meal with the Bánh CuỐn TrỨng Chiên Ốp La. Beautifully presented and topped with two sunny fried eggs, the rice noodles underneath held together an inner of flavoursome spiced pork. The noodles themselves were very wide and were silky smooth, with a light and soft texture that easily adopted the sweet and sour tones of the nước mấm chấm, more commonly known as fish sauce. The spiced mince was well seasoned and mixed with plenty of carrots, creating a juicy and flavourful experience.
The Bánh Xèo was of course a must try at any Vietnamese eatery, and Jardin Tan’s rendition definitely did not disappoint. The sizeable golden pancake exhibited a vibrant yellow colour. The crisp, crunchy outer was slightly thicker than the traditional counterpart though offered much more of a crunch element and a hint of chewiness. Hidden within, the pancake was generously filled with pork and prawn, as well as plenty of crunchy beans sprouts and shredded cabbage. As we broke off chunks of pancake and wrapped them in the crisp lettuce along with mint and herbs, adding a dab of chilli, this was one of the more impressive Banh Xeo we’ve come across in Melbourne.
The Bánh Xèo was of course a must try at any Vietnamese eatery, and Jardin Tan’s rendition definitely did not disappoint. The sizeable golden pancake exhibited a vibrant yellow colour. The crisp, crunchy outer was slightly thicker than the traditional counterpart though offered much more of a crunch element and a hint of chewiness. Hidden within, the pancake was generously filled with pork and prawn, as well as plenty of crunchy beans sprouts and shredded cabbage. As we broke off chunks of pancake and wrapped them in the crisp lettuce along with mint and herbs, adding a dab of chilli, this was one of the more impressive Banh Xeo we’ve come across in Melbourne.
For those that prefer a more traditional breakfast fare, options like the Bánh Mì TrỨng QuẤy are also on offer. Essentially and sausage and egg scrambled serve with toast, we found this simple yet tasty dish well executed and had plenty to offer. The sweet and savoury Chinese sausage were finely diced, well matched by the fluffy and creamy scrambled eggs. Combined with bits of coriander and mint, as well as the occasional chilli, this certainly wasn’t short on flavour.
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
With Shannon Bennet behind the brand, we arrived at Jardin Tan with high expectations. Thankfully, we most definitely were impressed by both the calibre of the execution and the authenticity of the dishes. Successfully combining Western breakfast items into traditional Vietnamese dishes is no easy feat, and boy did Jardin Tan absolutely nail it.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Can’t wait!
Penguineats would like to thank Jardin Tan for inviting us.