Lady Dan Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine — Restaurant in Melbourne

Been meaning to try this place for a while now, noticed that the reviews are really high, 4.9?

Finally went today for lunch, getting there just before 12. Greeted by an older man who thanked me for coming.

Quick squiz at the menu and noticed I would be paying inner eastern suburb prices. Ordered the chicken and beef pho special for 20 bucks.

Not too many other customers around, maybe 3 other tables. Doing more take aways and ubers than dine in customers it seems. Place is pretty clean and service is quite prompt. Cutlery already on the table is pretty clean but i give it a quick wipe with the tissues that are on the table [tick]. Taking off my beanie, I get a dirty look from the older lady working there [cross]. Might be the partner or wife? Any way, makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable, not sure what I did wrong. Might be just her resting face.

I get served some cold water and the beanshoots, vietnamese basil and lemon first [tick]. I then prepare the chili with some of the hoisein sauce that's already on the table. Note, the chili packs some heat [tick]. Pho comes out about 10mins later. Not a particularly large bowl given the price (20 bucks will normally get you a large with change!). Comes with the shreaded chicken [tick], sliced beef which was a bit tough [cross], onions [tick], coriander [tick], tendons [tick] and nothing else but the noodles [huge cross, not sure what the special is referring to, but there is plenting missing!

Flavour wise, soup base was good but nothing to rave about. Certainly not 20 dollars worth of pho in terms of quality or quantity. If i do go back, it might be to try and...

A family run restaurant that delivers home made quality

I live local to Lady Dan and been wanting to visit for a while. I’m really glad I got the chance after the restrictions had been recently lifted.

In humble settings you can get in my opinion some of the best Vietnamese food that Melbourne has to offer. It’s well made, perfectly seasoned, traditionally faithful, and made with the care and consideration that you would make your own dinner.

The last point is definitely the case as I was told after the meal that the family also eat at the restaurant themselves, and so apply the ethos that they would only serve the customer something that they would be happy to eat.

Everyone at the restaurant was also very friendly and extremely helpful with meal choices. One thing I liked in particular was the help our waitress provided to those unfamiliar with how to eat Vietnamese food properly (me!), tips like how to eat pho properly and what to do with the bean sprouts and different sauces that come with the dish.

All in all a great evening out and excellent value for money. I would recommend the beef pho (rare), chicken spring rolls, and crispy chicken....

Lady Dan is a local gem, in a quite part of Hawthorn that serves amazing food. I had the lemongrass chicken Bun and it was perfection. Perfect portion size and the proportions of each ingredients were also perfect.Tender chewy noodles, crispy not greasy spring rools, juicy chicken, with bursts of crunch from the peanuts, grated carrot, cucumber and iceberg lettuce, pops of mint leaves all drenched in a sweet and sour sauce was positively divine.

They don't add any MSG or chemicals to their dishes, so you will leave feeling, comfortably full and light. The food came out quickly, and was plated beautifully.

Harry (who I assume is the owner),is obsessed with serving top quality authentic Vietnamese food and even details the correct way to eat specfic dishes to maximise the dining experience. All with a big grin on his face. Whilst he was serving me, he wanted to find out more about what I like to eat and made suggestions for next time.

It is so wonderful places and restauranters like this still exist. It has something for every weather occasion and is an absolute delight. Also excellent and COVID safety protocols. Can't...