Nam2 — Restaurant in Sydney

I recently visited NAM2 for lunch, drawn in by the consistently busy atmosphere and good Google reviews which I took as a promising sign. Unfortunately, my experience fell well short of expectations.

We ordered: one bento box 2 ton yum noodle soups and a breakfast special featuring crispy pork belly with rice, gai lan, and a fried egg. Right away, there was an issue — the pork belly dish arrived without gai lan. When I pointed this out to the staff, they initially claimed the menu’s pictures were just for reference and didn’t reflect the actual dish. However, the menu explicitly listed gai lan in the description. Only after I showed this to them did they correct the order.

When the gai lan finally arrived, it was just boiled — no seasoning, no stir-frying, nothing to enhance the flavor. It felt like a last-minute afterthought rather than an intentional part of the dish. The crispy pork belly itself was okay. Not to the standard that you would expect of Chathai or some other decent Thai joint.

The tom yum soup, however, was outright disappointing — it tasted like it came from a jar, very sweet and lacking the depth and balance of fresh, properly made tom yum. Given my experience with the two dishes I didn’t even try the bento box.

For the price point, NAM2 doesn’t offer anything better than dedicated Thai or Vietnamese restaurants in the area. If you’re craving authentic flavors, you’d be better off...

We had a nice family lunch (first time) at Nam 2 in Zetland. Must say that it is a hidden gem. They have indoor/outdoor setting. We sat outside to enjoy the sunny winter weather. Ordered lunch special- Chicken green curry with rice, Stir fry Pad Kea Mao with chicken, Chicken stir fry garlic and pepper with rice and BBQ chicken with rice. All dishes were flavoursome, enjoyable, good portion size with good value for money ($15.80 lunch specials). Service was wonderful. I had Stir fry Pad Kea Mao with chicke one of the best that I had in recent times. The noodles, perfectly cooked with a slight bite, are coated in a rich, savory sauce that's both spicy and sweet. The fiery kick of chili is balanced beautifully by the sweetness of the sauces . The generous portion of succulent stir-fried chicken, combined with crisp vegetables and sprouts adds a delightful textural contrast. This dish is a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. The generous serving size is perfect for sharing with friends or enjoying a hearty meal solo. Nam 2 Pad Kea Mao is a must-try for any fan of Thai cuisine. It's a flavor-packed dish. Give it a try if you are in the area. Nam 2 definitely coming back again to try out...

We tried their chicken laksa for $13 on their lunch special. The laksa was nice, but the broth wasn't very flavoursome or thick. It is probably the least creamy laksa I've ever tasted in Sydney. The smell and taste of fish sauce was very dominant, and the soup itself was more on the acidic side. The noodles were also not great, a bit overcooked, and not the traditional type of noodle typically found in Laksa. Instead of vermicelli noodles, they use a thicker white noodles. The egg was fridge cold, and the soup came lukewarm.

A nice touch I like is that they serve freshly fried tofu in the laksa. They came crispy and fresh! Despite the average experience today, I might still come to try their other dishes after seeing their rating at Google and reading other people's comments. I also live around the area.

Edit: Nam² kept improving in the last couple of years. This restaurant has become our go-to restaurant to bring guests when they come to visit us.

I recommend ordering their xo scallops, betel leaves, nam's fried rice (crowd favourite!), and pork crackling vermicelli salad bowl (my favourite 😍). Their pork crackling is to die for! You definitely have to come visit this resturest when you're...