It’s Vietnamese food, but not as you know it!

At Cash Only Diner, the newest Vietnamese restaurant in Sydney, you won’t find pho or banh mi on the menu. Instead, you’ll be treated to a style of Vietnamese cuisine that hasn’t been served in Sydney before.

Focusing on the regional city of Hue, Vietnam is a large part of what makes this new venue so unique. It’s where Cash Only Diner’s co-owner Chau Tran grew up. The menu is inspired by Chau’s mother’s traditional cooking learnt from a French finishing school in Hue. Here on it has then been carefully crafted by a team of chefs with pedigree from Rockpool, Spice Temple and Quay.

Expect signature dishes including Bún bò Huế (an aromatic and layered beef soup), Cơm Hến (baby clam rice with pour over broth), Cá Kho Tộ (caramelised and braised clay pot fish) and Chả Cá Thăng Long (turmeric and dill fish served whole).

Cash Only Diner is freshly launched off the back of Burrow Bar, an award-winning cocktail and spirits venue in Sydney. Owned and operated by Chau Tran and Bryce McDonough, their Sydney CBD located bar was a finalist for Australian Bartender Magazine’s Bar of the Year, Bar Team of the Year, and Small Bar of the Year.

On top of this, Chau won Host of the Year at the 2021 Bartender Magazine Awards as well as being listed in DrinksWorld’s Top 25 Bartenders, with McDonough co-owning popular watering hole, Neighbourhood in Bondi.

And now they’re bringing their years of experience to Cash Only Diner, serving authentic Vietnamese food to spice up Sydney’s heart.

“Our team has worked for months to create contemporary versions of dishes that have decades of tradition behind them,” said Chau. “We want this to be a place where people who love authentic Vietnamese food come to, but we also want to share these new flavours with all Sydney foodies.”

The light, sun-filled restaurant on the corner of Clarence and Barrack Streets is a stark contrast to the adjoining bar beneath it. Cash Only Diner boasts a bright, open and modern setting. Meanwhile, downstairs, Burrow Bar has more sultry vibes and is fitted with retro vintage décor.

You can visit one without the other, but why not do both! Cash Only Diner and Burrow Bar are open now for bookings and walk-ins!

Cash Only Diner and Burrow Bar
1 Barrack St, Sydney, NSW 2000
0450 862 147
Website

If you love the sound of Cash Only Diner, you’ll also love our list of the 10 Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Sydney. Or if you want to get creative at home, try this Vegemite Beef and Black Bean Stir Fry Recipe.

Feature image supplied.