An Chut Chut — Restaurant in Wollongong City Council

On a family holiday, we were enticed by glowing reviews of An Chut Chut in Wollongong. The exterior, reminiscent of the vibrant streets of Vietnam, emitted enticing aromas of charcoal and grill, creating an initial sense of promise. Little did we know that the alluring facade would be a huge culinary letdown. An Chut Chut claims authenticity while delivering far from it. The irony of their name, translating to "eat a little," becomes evident when faced with exorbitant prices for meager servings. The cramped interior during lunch-rush made it feel like dining in a sardine can. The lone staff member multitasking for orders, drinks, and food, resulted in painfully slow service. The so-called "Pho" was a tasteless imitation – consisting of noodles meant for Hu Tieu or Pad Thai. Not the usual thick Rice noodles. The broth was bland, lacking depth, flavour and aromatics of an authentic Vietnamese Pho. There was a complete absence of essential condiments like hoisin sauce, fish sauce, fresh chilli or lime. The food arrives, with a pre-fil ratio of bean sprouts and Basil toppings to noodles. Adding insult to injury, the audacious pricing at An Chut Chut reached new heights with the Pho costing a staggering $21. For that price, I expected more than what resembled a serving in a cereal bowl – utterly mediocre.

The Crackling Pork Banh Mi Roll came with a hefty price tag of $16. Though it was presented well, the stark reality hit, that you can get one for half the price at a Vietnamese Hot Bread Shop. The taste was good, but the inflated cost left a bitter aftertaste.

The Crispy Rice Flour Pancake (Banh Xeo) -$21 was a disappointment. Overloaded with iceberg lettuce and carrots, missing the essential herbs, bean sprouts and nuoc cham dipping sauce. A simple Google search would reveal the contrast between An Chut Chut's rendition of Banh Xeo and the authentic presentation. It's clear that the establishment falls short in capturing the essence of traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

The so-called Rice Paper Rolls at $14 were a letdown, by replacing vermicelli noodles with thick rice noodles. It's puzzling to label them as such when the most authentic and fundamental element of the dish was so inaccurately represented. Possibly the most unauthentic Goi Cuon I've ever had.

The Vietnamese Iced coffee - $7. While it managed to reach an acceptable flavor, the stingy portion served in a small cup barely afforded more than three sips, leaving much to be desired for value.

Anyone familiar with authentic Vietnamese cuisine would cringe at the blatant departure from tradition. It's perplexing that some positive reviews even exist; perhaps the locals haven't ventured beyond Wollongong to taste genuine and Authentic Vietnamese food. An Chut Chut is an unfortunate misrepresentation of the rich and flavorful world of Vietnamese cuisine. To salvage my taste buds, I sought refuge at McDonald's after such a disappointing and expensive lunch – a stark reminder that not all local acclaim reflects true...

Tucked away at the back of the courtyard between the Wollongong Art Gallery and Performing Arts Centre is a hidden foodie gem!!!

An Chut Chut serves up traditional Vietnamese food with a wonderful twist.

Whilst the venue has limited seating inside the proximity to the large public courtyard means that alfresco dining is the order of the day. Fair weather dining sees lunch time office workers pour into this tranquil oasis away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Crown and Burelli Streets. The varying incarnations of seating add to the street food experience that makes this such a fun place to eat.

Everything on the menu is fresh and thoughtfully prepared. Servings are generous and packed with flavour. Service is fast and friendly and meals come out quickly which is great for those on a tight lunch break.

On the day we visited we opted for the Vietnamese pancake and noodle salad.

The noodle salad was served with delicious thick noodles that everyone loves. Warm and coated in a beautiful sauce then covered with fresh crispy salad and perfectly cooked pork pieces. The two spring rolls making a great dish even more enjoyable.

The stand out, must try, dish at An Chut Chut is the Vietnamese pancake! Put all your ideas of what a Vietnamese pancake should be into the old and boring box because what is served in this pancake is way outside the box and bloody terrific.

The delicate rice flour pancake is crispy on the bottom and moist and sumptuous on the flip side. Loaded on top is a burst of fresh salad and herbs and the meat (veg options available too) of your choice cooked in a subtle but complimentary marinade. The addition of freshly desiccated coconut and bubble tea style popping pomegranate all combine to make this a fascinating and delicious feast!

The way to eat this dish is to get into it with your hands, breaking off a piece of the pancake base and loading it up with the salad and meat; it’s a fun and intimate connection between food and foodie that makes the world a happier place 😀.

We washed our meals down with a refreshing ice tea and a sensually sweet Vietnamese iced coffee. Both delicious!

This little gem just hit my favourites list!! I will be back, over...

Located behind the Wollongong town hall, nestled in the shade for large trees with a little park in front of it, An Chut Chut is quite unassuming.

There is a hand written menu on several blackboards outside the front of the restaurant and little to indicate what is in-store for patrons and to entice new customers to the place. For those who are well travelled, they might notice that the menu is quite limited, reminiscent of South East Asian street food stalls. This is a good thing, as you'll soon discover what they serve, they do very, very well.

There is no table service as you order at the counter indoors. Your order is served to you quickly with a very polite and smiley staff.

If you order the bahn mi, it is served in a fresh warm and crunchy bun that's soft in the centre, and filled with a tangy salad that's well balanced with the protein of your choice.

Trying the rice pancakes? It's served on a paper lined basked woven plate. The pancake is crisp and crunchy, and topped with a wonderful salad. On this occasion I selected the salmon and it was cooked to perfection and laid on top of the salad enticingly.

Both of these dishes are amazing in execution. Finely balanced flavours and textures, leaving you totally satisfied but not making you feel heavy and full.

The Vietnamese style ice coffee is strong and sweet. Great flavour and complements the dishes well.

Sit indoors or use a table in the park. It's a wonderful area to enjoy your meal and drink.

You'd be a fool to walk past this place and not give An...