Where Chefs Eat: Quang Nguyen Will Always Travel To Visit This Cult-Favourite Port Adelaide Bakery

Between them, Quang Nguyen and his family own a decent chunk of Adelaide’s Vietnamese diners. The family has a particular knack for all things sweet, and his desserts at Devour Patisserie, Third Time Lucky, Shibui and Shmochi quickly garnered a cult following. He’s no one-trick pony, however – his savoury fare is on display at Vietnamese restaurants Ong and Noi. Along with his wife Thy Nguyen and her siblings, Quang will also open Modachau in Prospect later this year.

Here are his favourite places to eat and drink in Adelaide.

Your favourite dish at Noi Vietnamese Eatery

“My favourite is our Wagyu steak. It’s a 400-gram Jack’s Creek Scotch with a marble score of 6 or 7. It’s cooked medium-rare and served with herb butter.”

And your favourite drink at Noi

“Our Thai basil smash. It’s a refreshing gin sour with a little bit of elderflower for that lychee-esque floral flavour and the familiar peppery edge of Thai basil, which is very closely aligned to our cuisine.”

A quick takeaway

“Rosé Bagels is this unassuming little spot tucked away on a side street which does brilliant bagels. They bake fresh bagels in-house, and they load them with such interesting flavours. There’s a heavy Southeast Asian inspiration on their menu. It’s a great grab-and-go option.”

A special occasion spot

“Africola always hits, both in terms of food and vibes.”

A long lunch spot

“The Little Rickshaw is absolutely worth the trip down to Aldinga. The food is bloody delicious and the team’s hospitality is even better.”

Best bakery

“Butter Canteen is one of the family’s favourites. We make the trip whenever we can. Our kids love the cakes and we love the pastries. We usually over-order and walk out with a giant tray of goodies. There’s no sign at the front, but the long line of people is enough to tell you what a cult following these guys have amassed. This is truly an ‘if you know, you know’ kind of place.”

A late-night venue

“Clever Little Tailor has been a favourite for many years. I brought my wife here many times while we were dating, so it holds so many memories. We always have a good time, and we’ll drop by on the rare opportunities we get to head out kid-free.”

A hidden gem you think deserves more hype

“Ernest Delicatessen is a gem in Hahndorf. We make the trip for brunch when we can. It’s one of the few places where you can get a great carbonara with fresh pasta for breakfast. The liver parfait is a must. If you ever get the chance, its pasta and vino nights are great.”

A local producer you love

“Latteria Fresca Cheese has some of the best dairy products we’ve tasted. Vince makes artisanal cheese with Jersey cows from The Dairyman. We always have his cultured butter on hand at home.”

A romantic date night venue

“Again, with young kids we don’t get to go out as much anymore, but hands down, Etica will always be the special date night spot for us.”

Your favourite pizza place

“Crafers Pizza Bar is an old-school throwback, but done so well. The pizzas are flavour-packed. The double pep pizza with hot honey is our favourite.”

Best burger

“I often crave the Devour Royale from Devour Cafe. It has a thick beef patty, house-made sauce and American cheese.”

Best ice-cream

“Our ice-creamery, Shmochi by Shibui. It serves Aussie Asian-inspired flavours, which taste nostalgic but inventive.”

Your favourite dumpling spot

“Miss Zhou’s Dumplings in the Myer Centre food court in Rundle Mall. You can see Miss Zhou make her dumplings – wrapper and all – from scratch in the tiny kitchen. It tastes like mum’s cooking. She often works solo, so make sure you have a little extra time to wait. It is so worth it.”

Place you’d recommend to a fellow chef

“There is no way I could narrow this down to one place. We’d start our day at Third Time Lucky and plan our day over a coffee. Maybe I’m biased, but I reckon it’s the best coffee in Adelaide.”

A bucket list venue that you’d love to visit

“Double Chicken Please in New York City is not your average cocktail bar. It’s more of a design studio with super interesting drinks.  They take chef’s techniques and apply them to ingredients in their cocktails. The drinks play with savoury and sweet in such a fun and complex way. I cannot wait to visit one day.”

Your favourite utensil

“I love Matty Matheson’s cast-iron pans. It’s incredibly thick, holds heat well, and it’s got a big lip too so it is super versatile.”

Your favourite appliance

“I bake a lot and my Kitchenaid stand mixer KSM70 comes in super handy. I love the versatile attachments.”

Editors’ note: Several venues mentioned above are owned by Nguyen or his family. Devour and Shmochi are owned by his wife Thy Nguyen and Lisa Chao. He previously owned Third Time Lucky. He owns Noi Vietnamese Eatery and Ong Vietnamese Kitchen.