PhatLon

At PhatLon, the south end of Oxford Street transforms into a slice of flame-licked street-food heaven.

PhatLon, a slice of Vietnamese street culture realised in bricks and mortar on the south end of Oxford Street in Leederville, lies a mere stone’s throw away from Bunn Mee, its sister bánh mì venue, run by Jenny Lam (who made her name on MasterChef) and her family. Lam’s mum, Kim Tieu, heads PhatLon, which like Bunn Mee can be seen as an extension of the family’s mission to bring Vietnamese street-food culture to Perth – this time, through the country’s grilled dishes, with smoke-licked dishes at the core.

Beef is wrapped in betel leaves, char-grilled then served with chilli, shrimp and pineapple dressing. Grilled pork belly with lemongrass shows that the team isn’t afraid to test the boundaries of the grill, evidenced by the char marks on each glistening slice. In each case, nuoc cham, fresh herbs, pickled radish and carrot bring relief in the form of crunch and acidity.

Grilled pork belly with lemongrass shows that the team isn’t afraid to test the boundaries of the grill, evidenced by the char marks on each glistening slice.

Tofu, meanwhile, is glazed with tamarind in a celebration of sweet and sour flavours. And don’t skip the take on bánh xèo with crisp-battered prawns served over fresh herbs with bánh xèo crumb and nuoc mam. A must-order for its crunch and freshness. A tick-list menu makes things easy. Staff are efficient and eager. Drinks are light and fresh. All up? A solid package, to set to repeat.