~ Curious Charlie ~

Modern Vietnamese @ Co Hanh (Flinders Lane) @ Thursday, January 23, 2020

Tuesday 21st January 2020

Table for three at Co Hanh around the corner of the office on Flinders Lane. Three isn't a crowd (unless it's in bed with two pets too), it means you get to try more dishes! Some of our friends aren't cool with sharing, but these guys are.

With red neon lights, exposed walls gave it a fun modern vibe.
A small place it was almost full save for the bar during dinner.

Here they do a DIY Vietnamese BBQ like the Korean one, or more reminiscent of the bbq street food during lunar new year with things on skewers. Sadly the bbq isn't on offer with 50% off via the fork. But there's plenty of options in the menu.

SHAKING TOFU $14 - Crispy wok tossed tofu with soy garlic sauce

This was really good! Would order again. I thought it was fried

(wait isn't tofu always semi-fried with that skin?), so much flavour.

CO HANH SIGNATURE FRIED CHICKEN 6PC $14

There's three flavours and we chose the original fried chicken recipe.

Crispy and delicious, so good. This is a mix of small drumsticks and wings.

CRISPY SOFT SHELL CRAB BAO (2PC) $14

Steamed charcoal bao, crispy soft shell crab, lemongrass mayo

Not sure what's with the charcoal cause it wasn't black, but this was good.

Could have used a stronger sauce like hoisin to fit the theme.

VIETNAMESE PANCAKE $18

Our new school take on this dish. Co Hanh beer batter, turmeric rice

flour pancake filled with prawns, pork and bean shoots

Compared to everything else this wasn't as good. There were no bean shoots and it was thick a crispy edged fritter, nothing like the tradition pancake we love. Also they pop the chili sauce on top and it spilled... I don't do chilli sauce so we had asked for it on the side. Don't get this.

CHARRED BONE MARROW 2PC 14 - Crispy shallot, hoisin glaze & Asian spices

The others loved this, said it was really good with the siracha and

hoisin sauce for a viet twists, though personally I don't get it.

SAIGON SALAD $12

Shredded chicken, grilled prawns, pickled Vietnamese salad and herbs

Idk if these prawns were grilled but they sure taste boiled and flavourless and with and not deveined (digestive tract in tack aka sandy texture). The salad was good, wow that dressing. I love a good salad.

STICKY LAMB RIBS $22 - Chargrilled lamb ribs marinated in apple Soju soy

Hope you bought your wet wipes cause this is finger food. Plenty of flavour and fun.

BANANA PUDDING $14

Warm banana pudding served with butterscotch sauce and coconut ice cream

This is was very good and of sharing size too after a feast.

PANDAN CRÈME BRULEE $13 - Silky pandan brulee, caramelized sugar

My pick, sadly I was the only one to taste this as the pandan is subtle and the others had the banana first while overpowered it.

Food was good, quite happy with 50% off. With 50% off it worked out to be $20pp + drinks! What a bargain. Yes I'd recommend this place, just on food and atmosphere. Not at full price though... City Vietnamese fusion isn't cheap. You're paying for atmosphere.

Service however was disinterested. Not sure if she wasn't listening or just didn't care. It's likely it was both. As she wasn't particularly friendly, the level of service would be similar to typically Victoria St eateries. You are not there for the service that's what it says.

Problems

We asked if the BBQ menu was included in the offer she said yes. We ordered. She returned and said no it's not... why didn't you check before you took our order?
We got charged the full amount (friend paid) fortunately I checked the bill, otherwise he'd have just left it... She said we didn't tell her when we checked out we booked with The Fork... note: this is the same girl who took our order!! She's heard it twice, and I reminded her we've spoken about this.
We paid by card, the nightmare of getting a card refund (these aren't instant and may require another trip if it doesn't go through). Then paying again. This is going to be hilarious if it turns out we got scammed and paid 150% of the bill. Why didn't she just refund us the different in cash ?

Food was good, place was nice, but service makes me think twice about returning. Though she did get all our dishes right, and the wait wasn't too long, so she did do something right.