Hong Ha Bakery

Sydney has long been served by a host of Vietnamese bakeries, but if there’s one that transcends suburban lines and draws crowds from near and far, Mascot’s Hong Ha Bakery has to be it. Operating for over 30 years on the retail stretch of Botany Road, the non-descript shopfront has been serving up the same fresh rolls since day dot. You'll almost always spot a queue that snakes out the door, but it moves quickly thanks to multiple servers manning the counter. Hong Ha’s traditional pork roll is about doing the simple things right – the bread is the hero of the roll, still warm in the hand, straight from the ovens out back, with a golden crunchy crust and a soft, airy interior. Three types of pork (Vietnamese devon, cured and barbecued pork) with a hearty slathering of pâté, mayo and a fistful of crunchy salad make this quite the stomach-pleasing two-hander. And the special chilli sauce hits with a sweet tinge before bringing the fire – each element combining perfectly to keep the devoted customer coming back for more.