It’s hard to imagine now, with thousands of series and streaming services available at our fingertips (at the cost of four coffees per month), that there was once a time when we were a slave to free-to-air TV.
The TV Guide was the hottest commodity in the home. We took turns scanning its pages in the hope our favourite shows or films would appear around school times (though don’t get me started on sick day viewing — there was nothing better than the Oprah, Judge Judy and Ready, Steady, Cook combo).
A channel I enjoyed as a child, which has continued into my adulthood, was the SBS Food channel. I’ve always been partial to cooking shows and celebrity chefs, with MasterChef Australia emerging as a solid standout in past years.
I was lucky enough to interview the late Jock Zonfrillo once and he was as kind and giving as he came across on screen.
So when a MasterChef contestant opens a restaurant in Perth, you better believe it makes me as excited as the sick day TV marathon.
Contestant Jenny Lam opened Bunn Mee in Leederville in 2018, a 30-seater Vietnamese street eats spot, before going on to open PhatLon in 2022.
Her first venture is a spot that I’m drawn to at least once a month. Within its small quarters, Lam has created a welcoming space that is dishing up some of the tastiest food in Perth.
On the day we dined there was unsurprisingly a large group of people waiting for a table, so we decided to get takeaway to eat in a nearby park.
My go-to was the bun chay ($19). A combination of hoisin tofu (which has no business being so tasty) with vermicelli noodles, plenty of fresh herbs and salad plus a vegan nuoc mam, it’s big enough to share or to spread across lunch and dinner. The pork version ($19) features a generous amount of well-cooked pork alongside the supersized ingredients.
The vegetarian banh mi ($10.50) also jumps on the fresh and tasty train, the white bread roll the perfect vessel for the tofu, coriander, crunchy cucumber and fresh chilli on top.
We may be spoilt for choice when it comes to food viewing, not to mention food spots in Perth, but Lam’s Leederville joint is a reminder that something with heart and passion is often the best.
112 Oxford St, Leederville
OPEN
Mon-Sat, 10.30am-2.30pm, Sun, 10.30am-2pm
BOOKING
No
CONTACT
0450 520 157
THE VERDICT
Small in size but big in flavour and freshness. Dine in or take away for a supersized meal packed with greatness.
16/20
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