District 1

District 1 is a slick little gem of a budget Vietnamese eatery found on Ann St just off the Chinatown Mall in Fortitude Valley.

The spick and span light-filled interior features a wall of lacquered traditional coolie hats and a busy evening street scene from Ho Chi Minh City. District 1’s menu offers a simple selection of traditional Vietnamese eats with a fresh contemporary touch – rice paper rolls, street snacks, salads, banh mi, rice vermicelli noodle salad and daily chalkboard specials such as steaming bowls of pho. Everything is made up fresh to order and is some of the best of its kind around.

Rice paper rolls are some of the best in town, with fillings of tiger prawns, tofu and nuts, roast Peking Duck with hoisin and chicken and avocado. Delicious street snacks include chicken wings with ginger fish sauce and crispy pork dumplings while 2 types of Green Stuff are Green Papaya Salad with tiger Prawns or Chicken Rainbow Cabbage Salad.

Rice Vermicelli Noodle Salad (Crispy tofu, spring rolls, grilled pork balls and grilled betel leaf beef) come in generous serves and the Banh Mi, with fillings including Slow Roasted Pork Belly, sautéed Mushrooms and Marinated Spiced Chicken, are great value for the inner city.

There’s also Caramel Coconut Flan or Banana Fritter for dessert and to drink, Iced Vietnamese Coffee, Frozen Coconut Slushie or Lemon Soda (a Saigon classic). Or a range of Asian soft drinks, iced teas, milk and juices can be found in the fridge.

Need to know – District 1’s menu is also available as takeaway. The eatery is child-friendly, with a high chair and outside climb-on toy for little ones.