Trang's Kitchen transports you to Vietnam
International travel may be off the cards for 2021, but close your eyes at Trang’s Kitchen and let the tastes and aromas take you half a world away to the streets of Vietnam.
“If you go to Trang’s Kitchen is like you are sent to Vietnam,” says the ever-enthusiastic Trang Le. “You have Pho from Hanoi, crispy pancakes from Hue, chicken lemongrass from Saigon, spring rolls and rice paper rolls, which are everywhere in Vietnam!”
Trang is certainly not short of ambition and has the work ethic to see her dreams through. From small beginnings selling Vietnamese jerky at local markets, Trang has invested in her own food truck, opened a Summer Street restaurant and also operates a thriving business in the Orange City Centre Food Court.
Not one to sit still, she has rebranded her Summer Street store Trang’s Kitchen (formerly Trang Hue) and expanded the menu offerings and extended trading hours to give Orange a taste of the food from her hometown near the city of Hue.
“Everywhere in Vietnam the food is similar, but some like the food sweeter, some like it lighter, but I think Hue and Hoi An do the best food in Vietnam!” said Trang, whose menu is especially suitable for sharing.
“In Vietnam we usually sit down and eat together wrapping things in rice paper rolls. So here you can get your share plate, get your rice paper roll, you wrap your chicken, your crispy pork belly, your salad, wrap everything together and do your own sauce.
“What I wanted was to share my family dinner, get people to sit down and wrap themselves a delicious healthy dinner.”
If you do manage to look past the tasting plates, there is plenty to temp you in the rest of Trang’s extensive menu, from Vietnamese Pork Rib, Shaking Cube Beef, Caramelised Pork Belly to Bao Buns and Green Papaya Salad.
“Chicken lemongrass — a lot of people order that one — lemongrass with beef, lemongrass with pork, grilled pork chop with rice, the steamed pork belly and crispy pork are popular too, and a lot of people love our papaya salad, so we have a lot of options,” said Trang.
“And I think vegetarians will find a lot of really good options here and vegans… Everyone who tries our caramelised soy eggplant and pepper needs to get the sauce straight away! They beg me for jars for that sauce!”
(The good news is that sauce will soon be available to purchase alongside Trang’s existing range of delicious, jarred sauces for the home cook.)
For those who struggle with indecision, Trang has her own recommendations on where people should start on the menu.
“Trang’s special noodle is very nice. You have barbecue pork and chicken skewers and one spring roll with rice noodles and fresh salad —that's our best-seller at the moment, along with my fresh lemon juice! If you have a hangover, you're tired, have our lemon juice and it will wake you up, it is very refreshing!”
Trang’s Kitchen is open for lunch Monday to Saturday, 11am - 3.00pm, and for dinner Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm - 10pm.
Take away or delivery is also available by ordering online or through their app. The restaurant is BYO, but Trang’s Kitchen will soon be stocking a range of Vietnamese beers and serving local wines and cocktails.