Yen Linh has been trading in Croydon Park since 2004. In 2015, the business doubled and opened in the CBD. Growing from their home-style setting, owners Mai Luong and Tri Le decided to employ the expertise of Mike Darvill from Faculty Design for the interior fitout.

On the ground level there’s casual seating and a service counter that handles bills and takeaway. For lunch, the eatery serves banh mi – the ever-popular Vietnamese baguette packing pickled carrot, cucumber, coriander, mayo and a choice of grilled chicken or crunchy roast pork.

Upstairs, group tables fill quickly during dinner service. Luong does the cooking, manning the CBD kitchen full-time. Daughter Linh is front-of-house and other daughter Yen manages the floor and social media.

Tables are set with chopsticks and Sriracha chilli sauce so you can dose as you please. Rows of 333, an imported Vietnamese beer, decorate the overhead at the front counter.

Other popular imports are offered and there is a decent list of local wine. Not drinking? No problem, there’s traditional avocado shakes and custard-apple smoothies to refresh between mouthfuls.

Traditional dishes such as pho and green papaya salad are available and the menu mirrors its Croydon Park location almost exactly. Wrap-your-own cold rolls, pho and bun bowls are also served.