By Matilda Trudgett
Residents of Sydney’s Inner West just like myself go crazy for a crackling pork bahn mi; a delicious Vietnamese breakfast staple filled with pate, mayo, pickled veggies and mouthwatering crackling pork.
But with so many shops popping up all over the area, you might be wondering … where are the best ones? I’ve got you sorted. But only if you promise to get chilli and extra pate and mayo.
No.1: Marrickville Pork Roll (MPR) – Marrickville
Arguably the most iconic pork roll shop in the Inner West (and maybe even Sydney), Marrickville Pork Roll attracts a line of dozens on a weekend that snakes down Illawarra Rd. What began as a tiny hole-in-the-wall shopfront out of an old public toilet site on Illawarra Rd in 2008 has now expanded to three locations across Sydney. For $12 you get a crisp-on-the-outside, airy-on-the-inside baguette filled with fresh and pickled veggies, crispy pork crackling and the most delicious housemade pate ever. A cult classic.
No.2: Viet Bling – Marrickville
Just doors down from the iconic Marrickville Pork Roll, we have Viet Bling. I actually think this is the best on the list. Their bread is perfect; crisp on the outside and just melts in your mouth. The ratio of bread to filling is almost 1:1, so you’re never disappointed by a bite that’s 90 per cent bread. This one is showered in pork floss on top that really gives it that extra crunch and saltiness. I haven’t yet been to another place that does this! Also priced at $12, you just can’t go wrong with Viet Bling.
No.3: Dulwich Hill (Dully) Pork Roll – Dulwich Hill
Tucked just off Marrickville Rd on Seaview St in Dulwich Hill, this one is by far the heftiest sandwich on the list. Bigger than your head for sure. Dully Pork Roll’s crackling pork bahn mi is the most expensive on the list at $12.50, but you could easily share this one. The bread is slightly softer on the outside but still fluffy in the middle. This one is packed with fillings and sauce galore; I’d even go as far as to say that there’s more filling than bread. Dully Pork Roll is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area; just don’t go when school finishes because the kids swarm the shop for an after-school treat.
No.4: Illawarra Pork Roll – Marrickville
Another treasure on Illawarra Rd. No one does a bahn mi like Marrickvillians. Illawarra Pork Roll is almost the same as Marrickville Pork Roll but you never have to wait in line. A locals’ secret as some would say. It’s only a couple hundred metres further up the road, and it’s only $11 for the same quality of food and service. I’d actually even say the bread here is slightly better than MPR. Save a dollar, skip the MPR queue and give Illawarra Pork Roll a go next time you’re waiting for the train replacement bus at Marrickville station.
No.5: Ho’s Bakery – Sydenham
This little family-owned bakery on the corner of Unwins Bridge and Railway Rd in Sydenham has a delicious crackling pork roll for just $11. This sandwich is slightly different, with roast pork crackling inside the roll and big bits of crackling on top. The crackling pork is salty, fatty and crunchy and the veggies almost look fake because of how fresh and vibrantly coloured they are. Ho’s Bakery is a hidden gem.
So next time you’re in the Inner West craving some salty, crunchy, spicy goodness; look no further than my expert guide to the area’s best crackling pork bahn mi.
Featured image: Sydney’s Inner West is the place to go for the very best bahn mis. Photo: Matilda Trudgett
