Big Georges Cafe – Alexandria, Sydney
When I posted about Hong Ha Hot Bread; Jimmy, one of our readers, recommended Big Georges Cafe just a little bit up the road and since he claimed they were better than Hong Ha I just had to give them a go! The problem is I do not go to Botany Rd that often so it took me quite a while to try out this place (about 3 months haha). Thanks to Jimmy, I have discovered a truly more flavoursome chicken roll than Hong Ha! When I first saw the outside I was thinking “Is this the wrong place?” cos I thought it looked more like a Western style cafe with burgers and roasts etc, instead of Vietnamese rolls.
I was rest assured when I saw this little whiteboard with Vietnamese rolls on it… and of course the shelves of crispy rolls and serving station of ingredients.
After confusing the Bánh mì Lady, as we were ordering 4 rolls for 3 people (I was having 2 for research of course!), we could tell straight away as she was making that they were tasty 
Though the service time was considerably longer than at Hong Ha, the taste will be the real test of *insert sombre piano score* which Bánh mì remains supreme!
Vietnamese Pork Roll ($4.50)
These rolls were packed to near-exploding so they are very generous portions for what we pay. I also like how they have a block of the cucumber and radish instead of a little slice as this way you get a nice crunch and more flavour. The pork used here is also different to the one at Hong Ha, being leaner so there wasnt that fatty piece so lost in flavour. Also the mayonnaise/lard isn’t as strong so not as flavoursome as Hong Ha.
Vietnamese Chicken Roll ($5)
Wow… not only did these explode from the bread roll but each bite carried a flavour explosion in the mouth! The chicken they used were actually bbq chicken so there was the sweet and tasty roasted aroma and the addition of grilled onions definitely wins over the raw onions used at Hong Ha.
Overall the chicken roll at Big Georges Cafe is the winner easily and I will definitely coming back here for the chicken rolls but for the pork I might need to do a bit more comparison as I am still leaning towards Hong Ha for the pork. Big Georges Cafe has also got the pork + chicken which I want to give a go but then again I would prefer to buy a pork AND a chicken hee hee.
Other Bánh mì times:
Hong Ha Hot Bread – Mascot, Sydney
Big Georges Cafe
414 Botany Road
Alexandria
Ph: (02) 9319 2653
FFichiban
June 29th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
If only there was a city branch *sigh*. And they have lasagne, too?!
I like big chunks of veges for another reason – it’s easier to pick out what you don’t like, eg. coriander
June 29th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
oh yeah, I love vietnamese rolls!
I had one from Taste on Foveaux st – it was pretty good, but this looks much betterrrr
June 29th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Vietnamese rolls are best rolls in the world, they kick other sandwiches butts! Those look really gooood…I especially like how they used grilled onions instead of raw, that sounds like an interesting addition!
June 30th, 2009 at 8:51 am
This is quite a random place for pork rolls! Pork rolls here in Syd are nice but you must goto Vietnam and have them there, it’s on a totally different level as everything just tastes better for some reason.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Oh, I really like the long slice of cucumber as well. It takes me so long to eat one though, that by the time I get to the end it’s all soggy and gross! lol. I agree with Howard though, everything tastes better in Vietnam! Love the food there….
June 30th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
awesome. i was just think about revisiting Hong Ha’s the other day and now will probably go straight to this place instead. sounds like it could become one of my favourites as well.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
What a cute little frog on the counter! Sounds like it’s a hard decision between the two roll places, but this one certainly looks nicely filled.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Ooh a Vietnamese roll comparison-I love it!
July 1st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Those are very generous rolls. Yum!
July 1st, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Mmmm looks so healthy and colourful and uber yummy!
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:33 pm
im cheap, it shouldnt cost more than $3.50, well thats what i get them for at CAbramatta anyway!!
July 8th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
i wanted to try on Sunday but seemed to be closed. Will have to try on a Saturday when i’m free.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Was very eager to go and try the rolls as they were supposedly better than Hong Ha (all time fav).
So we went there today but unfortunately there were no vietnamese rolls to be seen, was very dissapointed! They must have sold the shop and moved on…