Friday, April 23, 2010

Little Saigon Market

Little Saigon Market is somewhat hidden behind Hopkins St, and conceals a treasure trove of colourful, fragrant, tasty delights.  The first time I went to this market, I felt as if I had been magically transported to Vietnam itself.  Strange vegetables were piled high, glistening with water droplets.  Curious cakes were for sale, straight out of the Mad Hatter's tea party.  The chickens in the butcher still had their feet on them.  Patrick, a reader of this blog, writes:
When visitors arrive from interstate and overseas I hustle them off to the unlikely tourist attraction of Little Saigon market and the surrounding shops to pull together the ingredients for a meal. Luckily most seem to like it if only because it does not correspond with their idea of Australia.
And that is what I love most - Little Saigon might feel like Vietnam (at least to me, who has never been there), but it is still so much a part of the Australia I know and love.  Who wants to live in a place where there is only Coles to shop at, only toasted sandwiches and milky tea to sup on, and only Slim Dusty to listen to?  Certainly not I - unless the milky tea were bubble tea, perhaps!

Here's Ms Baklover's guide to the Little Saigon Market.  Please write in with anything I've missed!


First, stop by the sugarcane juice shop to get you in the subtropical mood.  They are just on Byron St, near the Leeds St corner.


Long poles of sugarcane are passed through a simple yet powerful "wringer" to extract all the sweet juice.  You will see a garbage bin full of the twisted, juice-less remains.

Sugarcane juice, $3.00

They will give you "one they made earlier" so that it's really nice and cold.  Aaah!  The sweetness is really complex, unlike a regular cordial or soft drink.  A small mandarin bobs amidst the ice cubes, complementing the faint lemon flavour of the sugarcane.


Next, some sustenance.  Step into the market - there's a entrance just down from the sugarcane stall.  On your right is this shop, Sun Wong Kee.  Pick up a bag of delicious, salty, tender fried squid legs and proceed to munch, à la hot chips - but so much better!


Bag of fried squid, $4.00

The best thing about Little Saigon is the plates of fruit you are encouraged to try before you buy.  This is also a sneaky pit stop if you have hungry, whining children (as is Baker's Delight - they always have some sort of new product on the counter to ply the kids with, I mean, sample).
 

I always do my main shop at Footscray Market, as I know and am fiercely loyal to Masters' Fruit and Buttacavoli's Fish.  I do like perusing the fruit at Little Saigon, though, as they often have fabulous, exotic finds, like mangosteens, rambutans, dragonfruit, and cheap mangoes.


If you haven't tried mangosteens, you simply must.  Inside are lobes of soft white flesh, which taste like a cross between banana, lemon, and mango.


When you've picked up all your goodies, stop off at To's 2 Bread & Cake and pick up something sweet to have at home.


I love these little pillowy sweets, called Banh Bao Chi.  They are made from glutinous rice and rolled in coconut, and these particular ones are filled with a sweet/salty peanut mixture.

Banh Bao Chi, $3.00

Now, put your feet up, pop your banh bao chi on a saucer, and have that cup of milky tea - bubble or not.

Little Saigon Market (map)
Byron St, Footscray (between Nicholson & Leeds)
Hours: Sun - Thurs 9.00am - 6.00pm, Fri 9.00am - 9.00pm, Saturday 9.00am - 7.00pm

23 comments:

  1. Don't forget the clearance fruit bags near closing time. I got bags of grapes and mango for $1 or $2.

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  2. What a great guide Ms Baklover! I've only been here once about a year ago (I usually shop at the larger Footscray Market) and remember the try before you buy fruit samples! :)

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  3. Good write up of Little Saigon, we go there all the time. Yeah as Hung said, plenty of very cheap fruits near closing time.

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  4. I am a regular for fruits and chinese type vegetables. :)

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  5. Yup! Super cheap prices near closing time - we tend to go at the end of the day (when the shop isn't busy) and its often pretty insane. 99c per k/g for things right in season.

    I always thought Mangosteens taste a little like lemonade. Delicious.

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  6. Oh, thanks all! I have never been at closing time (witching hour for small children) but I will make it a point one of these weekends.

    At the moment the place next to To's Bakery has fantastic Fuji apples I can't stop buying and eating, 2 or more a day.

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  7. Yumm yummm and more yumm. My only gripe is that I drive through Footscray after my night shift and I miss the opening of each of these wonderful shops :(
    Excepting the bakery of course :)

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  8. is this place australia? you guys have mangosteen? lucky!!

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  9. I love footscray too. Like you I am loyal to Masters' Fruit and Buttacavoli's Fish for the last 16 years. My family from the other side of Melbourne are often paying three times the price for lower quality.

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  10. I just wrote my shopping list then realised that my usual market (the queen vic) isnt open on Monday's. After reading this im so excited to go and check it out! Thanks for the tips!

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    1. Woohoo I hope you like it! Another post, http://footscrayfoodblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/best-breakfast-in-footscray.html, has a yummy brunch recommendation at Little Saigon.

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  11. Little Saigon Market in Footscray is a worthwhile place to shop, especially in the warmer weather. The fruit is better than big supermarkets.

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  12. Also the flowers inside the main hall are unbeatably priced and excellent quality. Others have said this above, but must say it again, this is the best place to buy tropical fruits in Melbourne, it is strangely like a farmers market in its seasonality, piles of everything in season in different grades but virtually nothing out of season. This is one reason why it is so good and affordable.

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  13. i don't there much i prefer Footscray market. The Little Saigon is a bit dirty for me i mean on the floor you can find many fruits skins and left over fruits. People yelling while holding knift to cut fruit for sample

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  14. Thanks a lottt for the sugar cane .....i was looking for it for my son

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    1. It's my pleasure! More people should know about it, it's such a summery, natural, delicious treat!

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  15. OMG!!!! I ca believe they have sugarcane juice?????????? I need to find this shop and, for sure, I'll have a "trip" back to my childhood as I grew up drinking sugarcane juice back in Brazil. I'm so glad I've found your blog and this info here:) many thanks! cheers!!

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    1. It is my pleasure! Definitely seek them out (they are called Vy Coffee and Sugarcane). The juice is brilliant! A few other places in Footcray do sugarcane as well, from memory the bubble tea and music shop near Vy and I think Scarlet Corner do too.

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  16. am so keen on trying this place out today

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    1. I hope you have fun! Be sure to try the new cafe that's recently opened just inside the entrance from Byron Street - Co Thu Quan is its name.

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  17. Great blog. Had my first tour of Little Saigon a couple of weeks ago. The smells, the colours! Loved it. Had tamarind juice and corn salad at Cô Thư Quán. Still dreaming about it.

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    1. Hi Saskia - I'm so sorry for the reeeeeeally slow reply! I have been in summer mode. I'm so glad you enjoyed Little Saigon. Co Thu Quan continues to be one of my most favourite places in the whole of the 'scray. Make sure you try their special take on rice paper rolls next time!

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