A while ago with two of us ailing (Mr NQN and I) eating out wasn’t such a pleasure. Sure I knew the flu would hit me eventually but I don’t think I’ve ever really been disinterested in food. This flu however (and not even Swine Flu) had knocked us about and so when lunchtime rolled around I’d sip a cup of honey and lemon water and could not be bothered to make anything. That’s how I know that I am sick.
After the requisite time lying about, my sense of smell and taste returned but my throat was still sore so we thought that a Pho place would be a good place to eat. We had walked past a Pho place in nearby Kingsford so one night, we went with Rose and Ronald for a quick bite to eat.
The photo album drinks menu!
It’s early – read 5:30pm but it’s a Sunday and we want to rest about before a long week so an early dinner it is. We open the sliding door and are shown our table by the very friendly couple. We’re given our menus, a large laminated double sided menu as well as a photo album of all the food! We chuckle and spend much time matching the food to the numbers on the menu. There are Vietnamese dishes, some Cantonese dishes and a t- bone steak rears its head too (I thought most places had done away with the “Australian option”).There are some $8 lunch and diner specials which are marked with red marker and some of them would have been the ones we would have wanted to order so we go for those. We’re told the 4 dishes we have ordered aren’t quite enough so we order another.
Vietnamese pancake Banh Xeo $11
The Vietnamese pancake isn’t bad, it’s crispy for sure but misses the finesse of the Bay Tinh one. It’s filled with some prawns but mostly bean sprouts.
Steak and Cooked Beef Pho Noodles Pho Tai Nam $8
The pho has a rich, deep broth with star anise and other spices and is served in enormous bowls – probably the largest bowls we’ve seen thus far. The thinly sliced beef is delicious and tender and the spicy sauces that go with it give it a distinct tang. The only thing we’d be wanting is those deeper Chinese soup spoons as the metal tablespoons make savouring the soup difficult.
Spring roll and shredded pork with vermicelli Bun Bi Cha $8
Bun is one of my favourite meals, especially in Summer as it’s full of fresh flavours, salad and cold noodles. This is very good indeed with halved spring rolls, shredded pork, crushed peanuts and plenty of herbs and a lovely sweet dressing that you pour over it to soak into the noodles.
Crispy chicken with tomato fried rice $8
The 4 pieces of the chicken are fantastic – so crispy and fresh and juicy inside. The tomato rice is good but not particularly wowing and I’m fixated on the chicken.
Curried goat’s meat with rice $12
The curry is very spicy and the sauce for this is tingly and delicious but the meat is way too chewy for any of us. I fail at chewing on this and watch everyone else struggle before we give up. OK sometimes risky dishes don’t work out!
Three colours red bean sweet with coconut milk $4
These are some of my favourite drinks with the sweet red bean and creamy coconut and they rarely go wrong. This is refreshing and so rich it’s like a liquid dessert.
Mango Shake $4
Surprisingly tasting of fresh or frozen mango we’re glad that it doesn’t taste like the dreaded tinned mango. Mr NQN slurps away happily on this refreshing shake. Our throats feel better and even our stomach do, we swear.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you tend to eat more or less when you have the flu?
Pho Golden
476 Anzac Parade, Kingsford, NSW
Tel +61 (02) 9662 1688
Open from 10am-10pm 7 days
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27 Comments | Add your own
The food looks delicious – does this mean that we don’t need to travel to Cabra for authentic vietnamese anymore? When I was sick as well I ate wonton soup and pho for the longest time!
Like you guys I’m straight for the pho – but I go to Saigon Express on Lyons Road Drummoyne. Love the broth, and the staff are a delight!
Having just recovered from the flu {but poor Lacey and Shane have just been hit} I can say that I definitely eat less.
I crave beautiful chicken soups, but lack the energy or interest in making some.
I was thinking I should make a few batches and freeze them for such instances. x
When I have a cold, I tend to eat less, but I like soups and 2-minute noodles.
When I have the flu, I can barely move! Hehe.
Whenever I go to Kingsford, I tend to visit the same place again and again, so thanks for opening my eyes!
Soup is perfect when you aren’t feeling well, and it sounds like nice pho. I was admiring the curry photo, so it’s disappointing the meat was chewy.
Those meals look delicious (and great prices too)! We need something like that around these parts, where the options are limited!
so i guess the 5th dish wasn’t necessary after all
I tend to buy my lunch more when I’m feeling under the weather… apathy kicks in!
Those drinks look great – would go down well in this hot weather!
Those drinks look amazing!
As for the flu – I can’t remember the last time I was really sick (knock on wood) – I generally don’t get ill at all. The only thing that has really affected my appetite was when I had a majorly bad migraine of some sort for TWO whole WEEKS where I could barely see my head was that sore…then I couldn’t eat!
I was thinking of having Vietnamese for lunch today, and you’ve totally made up my mind for me now
When I had the flu earlier this year, it made me quite nauseous so I certainly ate much less, plus I wasn’t allowed out into the general public so I was stuck with what food was already in the house. I lost a few kilos, but I’d much rather do that at the gym than moaning on the couch!
I tend to eat less with the flu, but when the worst bit is over and I’m stating to come good, I always crave my mum’s rice soup. It’s really bland, boiled rice, with some poached chicken and a dash of soy to zush it up a little. I haven’t tried congee, but I think it’s a similar dish.
soup is the best to have when ever i hi flu!
m loving the mango shake and the chicken crisps 
trissa: Cabramatta is mainly Southern Vietnamese food (and Chinese-Vietnamese), although Marrickville is actually known for Northern-style Vietnamese food.
i lose weight when i get sick, & then gain it all back (and more) once i’m over it :s
Oh, I hate it when you have a soup noodle meal and they only have those long silver spoons, I’ve even contemplated carrying around my own ‘chinese’ deep spoon! hehe. Bun is my favourite too, and I love anything with red bean!
I love places like this, when I get the flu (luckily it’s only been twice in about 10 years)I go off my food – an amazing occurence in itself! It’s during the recovery days that comfort foods like congee and plain noodle soups are so great at perking up my appetite again.
I was about to recommend to you and your readers Saigon Express in Drummoyne but someone earlier has mentioned it which is great news. This is one of the best restaurants in Sydney especially price wise and we always head there for the soup when we are ailing. Have to agree about bun though – give me more = I literally lick the bowl – healthy and delicious at the same time.
sometimes i wish every dish on every menu was described with a photograph so i’ll have a better idea of what i’m ordering. is that so much to ask?
I’d like to try the curried goats meat – sounds interesting!
Definitely the same case as betty (comment#14).
Bun is also 1 of my favourite Viet dish. Another favourite of mine is the rice paper prawn rolls. I’d order these 2 dishes 9 out of 10 visits to a Viet restaurant.
The only time I have lost my appetite was when I had glandular fever – no run of the mill common cold can stand between me and my food.
The drinks look wonderful – will definitely keep this place in mind with the hot weather at the moment!
Cakelaw, look up Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall on Google. He has a great recipe for curried goat (or ir it goat curry???)
I’ve never seen a Vietmanese pancake before. I’ve seen it on the menu but have never ordered it. You’ve solved my curiousity for me! Thx.
Hi trissa-Yes that’s right! I love both of those things when I am sick too!
Hi Claire-Oh cool, thanks for the recommendation!
Hi fat mum slim-Yes isn’t that always the way!
Iglad to hear that you’re feeling better though! x
Hi joey-Yes I know what you mean! Even moving hurts!
You’re welcome!
Hi Arwen-I know, we were hoping for great things!
Hi Highlands Foodie-Yes everyone needs something like this!
Hi isLa-Hehe yes!
Hi Fiona-Ahh I suppose it’s a lot of work when you’re not feeling well! I know! A nice cold iced drink
Hi Esz-Oh you are very lucky then!
Two weeks? That’s terrible! 
Hi Conor-Hehe cool! What did you end up having?
Yes that’s a rather miserable way to lose weight isn’t it!
Hi Toni-Ooh rice soup sounds lovely and comforting! Ye sit does sound very similar and it’s what my mum used to feed me too!
Hi nora-I agree!
They were both great! 
Hi Jenny-Thanks for that!
HI betty-Doesn’t that just suck?
Hi Betty-Haha you are a girl after my own heart!
Yes me too! 
Hi Moya-you are so lucky! You have have good immunity!
Hi Ju-I really should try it as Mr NQN loves Pho!
Yes best of both worlds! 
Hi grace-I know! Me too and no that isn’t too much
Hi Cakelaw-Yes the sauce was nice, but the meat was so chewy!
Hi YW-Aww that’s no good!
hehe I love those too! 
Hi Alex-Haha good stuff!
Yes I could do with one now!
Hi Highlands Foodie-THanks for that!
Hi The Asian Pear-They’re so good! yummy and crispy!
You’re welcome 
I’m glad you and Mr. NQN are feeling better! When I have the flu I tend to “drink” a lot more (tea, water, juice, and soup) and eat a lot less…no fun at all!
Hi faith-Thankyou so much!
Oh that looks like perfect comfort food for those recovering from flu … wish I could have some!
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