Tonkin - Collingwood

I first dined at this restaurant at the end of the lockdown and have been returning regularly ever since. The lunch specials are good, with options like main soup, Vermicelli salad, or rice at a reasonable price ($15 at the time of this review), but they are quite simple. For example, if you order pho, you will receive a basic bowl with noodles, spring onions, and your choice of protein, with herbs, chili, and lemon on the side. If you want tofu, mushrooms, or vegan duck, you will need to pay extra for additional toppings like bok choy. While this may seem like an additional expense, it is actually reasonable considering that larger portions of pho can cost up to $5 more at other restaurants. This place is on our list of go-to options for a quick and affordable meal.

Tonkin is always a cozy and inviting spot whenever I walk by, especially on chilly evenings. The staff is friendly and efficient, making service quick and the food a good value for the price, especially during lunch specials. While it may not be a top dining destination, it is a reliable choice for a fast, tasty, and relatively healthy meal if you're in the area. I recently went with a friend before a gig and we were both impressed. We shared the fried tofu, which had a crisp exterior and a silky interior, topped with spring onions, roasted shallots, and hoisin sauce for a perfect balance of flavors. We both opted for the vegan grilled duck pho, which was hearty and satisfying with plenty of duck slices. While it lacked vegetables, I would recommend adding extra mushrooms next time, though the fresh herbs provided a nice touch. The rice noodles were soft and slippery, and the broth was subtly flavorful, perfect for adding Sriracha and hoisin for a bit of heat and sweetness. I also tried a Vietnamese ice cream coffee, which was nutty and not overly sweet, a perfect companion for the evening. I look forward to trying more dishes on my next visit.

Even at the lunch break on Friday, the staff in Tonkin were quick, friendly and just got me a seat, friendly enough to move a part of a reserved shield down. I chose the lunch contract (one main (pho or bún) and either two sides or one side and one drink, all for $16). I got the Pho with grilled vegan duck and got a side of Tofu dengaku and also a black Vietnamese ice cream coffee because I love strong, bitter coffee. Very quickly my drink and head arrived, and the employee asked me if I wanted some lemon and chili for the Pho. This little addition was a nice touch, both to customer service and to the dish, as the lemon strengthened the taste of the broth, which although tasty was not as strong as others I had. However, this was done with the delicious Mock duck, Enoki mushrooms and generous portion of noodles. This was an apparently endless bowl of the Pho, but pleasantly so. The Tofu Dengaku was also exquisite, the tofu light and fluffy, but still a bit crispy, and the misery and mustard tones that were immersed added a beautiful taste and texture. The black Vietnamese coffee was bitter, as I like it, but also had a pleasant, toasty, almost chocolatey aftertaste, which I also enjoyed very much. Not only was this meal great value, all employees were nice, friendly and very committed, and the service was prompt.

The highlight is without a question – the Vegan Ente Bao. It's really good. Everything else is fine. The spring rolls, beautiful, nothing to go back, the tofu, fine, but small, I would skip the Pho and Bun, just a serving of three Bao, oh and the vegan Vietnamese ice coffee, that is condensed coconut milk sweet coffee quality.

I usually avoid restaurants that serve meat when there are vegetarian or vegan options available, but I decided to give Tonkin's "vegan pho" a try. Unfortunately, I found that the portion size was small and lacking in vegetables. The broth was minimal, the noodles overcooked, and the "duck" rubbery. I was disappointed by the lack of fresh vegetables on the side. In the past, vegans were grateful for any plant-based option, but times have changed. I wonder how long this restaurant, or their supposed "vegan" menu items, will last in the vegan-friendly area of Fitzroy Collingwood. In the future, I will choose to dine at Loving Hut or Finas 2 for Vietnamese cuisine, or make the journey to Huong Viet or Bo De Trai in Footscray for a better dining experience.