An An Vietnamese Eatery — Restaurant in Sydney

Updated on 07/05: the service is excellent.

—————- Previous review in April: The food was amazing, but there is definitely room to improve customer service. Please give them a try regardless.

1. Food: The food was authentically tasting. We ordered a Beef Stew Pho and a Stir-fried Beef Pho, both of which were super tasty. The authentic umami flavour (leaning more on the salty side) was present, which we liked a lot. Most Pho places in Sydney use too much sugar to suit the local taste, but An An keeps it as authentic as what we have in Vietnam.

The combination plate with grilled pork, grilled chicken, Pho wraps, and spring rolls was delicious. The meat was cooked to perfection, especially the chicken, which they did a very good job of keeping juicy and not dry. The spring rolls were as good as the ones we make at home, using proper rice paper and fillings.

The condiments were great. The chilli sauce was well-balanced (not overly sour), and the pickled garlic was a fantastic complement to all the dishes.

2. Service: Our first impression was that the kitchen was very loud. I used to work in a kitchen myself and understand that communication is necessary, but they should be more mindful when the kitchen is right next to the dining area.

When we walked in and greeted the staff very politely in Vietnamese, the waitresses were not very welcoming. Two of the girls seemed quite grumpy. Only the one who took our payment was decent.

We also noticed a gentleman looking at the menu and waving hello to the staff at the front door, but they didn't even acknowledge him, and he ended up leaving. Poor guy!

We ordered our food in order (entree then main) and even repeated it to the wait staff just to be sure, but the main still came out before the entree.

However, after we finished our dishes, a gentleman from the kitchen politely apologised for the mistake, which we appreciated a lot.

He definitely saved our mood!

We will come back another time for sure, but I hope the management team reads this review and works to improve their business.

As a Vietnamese, I would love to see more and more ethically and authentically successful Vietnamese...

Finally visited this Vietnamese restaurant in Sydney CBD, and I have to say — it’s now the only place I’d recommend for authentic Vietnamese food in the area! 🇻🇳

I started with the Vietnamese iced coffee (a must!) and their kumquat iced tea, which is so hard to find in Sydney. Kumquat tea is such an iconic street drink from the North of Vietnam, and they absolutely nailed it — super refreshing and perfect with any meal.

We tried the pho roll with stir-fried beef — hands down one of my favorites. It reminded me of Hanoi street food, which is famous for this dish. We also got the pork and prawn fried rolls, a staple in Northern households for special occasions. So crispy and flavorful, just like home!

Of course, I had to try their pho set with onsen egg and fried breadstick. Not many places in Sydney serve this! The broth was clear and rich, and dipping the crispy breadstick into the pho soup? Absolute perfection. It brought back childhood memories of my brother always adding an onsen egg to his pho — such a comforting touch.

I also tried their bun cha Hanoi, and it was spot on! The grilled pork was juicy, tender, and full of flavor. It came with fried rolls, vermicelli, and fresh veggies, making it a well-balanced and comforting dish.

Oh, and the homemade chili sauce? 🔥 It elevated every dish — from the pho to the pho roll to the bun cha. A must-have condiment!

Overall, this place is an absolute gem in the CBD for authentic Vietnamese cuisine. If you’re looking for real Northern Vietnamese flavors, this spot...

I wish I could give zero stars to reflect how truly poor the service was at this restaurant. This was, without a doubt, one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in Sydney.

The food was average at best—overly salty and lacking the balance and freshness that Vietnamese cuisine is known for. But what made this experience truly awful was the unacceptable service.

I want to acknowledge that there was one young man with glasses who served us very politely. He was helpful, attentive, and seemed genuinely willing to assist. I really appreciated his attitude and professionalism.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the young woman with glasses, whose behaviour was shockingly rude and dismissive. Her lack of basic courtesy and cold attitude overshadowed everything else. Despite us repeatedly saying “thank you,” we were never acknowledged, let alone appreciated. It was deeply disappointing.

As a Vietnamese person myself, I take pride in our culture and cuisine. I was excited to support a Vietnamese restaurant—but this experience was a disgrace to the warm, welcoming hospitality that Vietnamese people are known for.

In a multicultural city like Sydney, this kind of attitude is unacceptable. I will never return to this restaurant, and I strongly suggest others reconsider as well. One staff member tried to do the right thing—but sadly, one person’s effort couldn’t save the experience from...