Get More of North 54: Leederville’s Fave Banh Mi Joint Is Opening for Dinner

When Bac Pham opened a permanent home for his North 54 banh mi shop in June last year, he teased that he was scoping out a move into the dinner scene.

It was the natural next step for Pham, who previously worked at Rockpool and Petition.

After months of patient-ish waiting, Pham’s fans are being rewarded: dinners are finally launching at North 54 on Friday February 20.

Dinner will run from 5pm until 9.30pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

In the same way Pham reimagined the banh mi at North 54, churning out creative takes laden with gooey eggs, tamarind mayo and crisp shallot, and a pork meatball number with tomato sauce, cumin labneh and mint gremolata, the dinner menu also puts twists on your traditional Vietnamese fare.

Starters include a stracciatella ca thim kho nam xo with braised eggplant, XO mushrooms, rice crackers and focaccia made at Strollios; a crudité platter with caramelised pork belly and seasonal veg; bo kho beef tartare with shallots, Laughing Cow cheese, pickled carrots, daikon and a “chicken fat baguette”.

There are also snacky bits like prawn and crab toast served with a fermented mango mayo, furikake and lime, and a grilled corn dish with dried shrimp and scallion oil.

Mains lean towards seafood with pad krapow clams served with Chinese doughnuts for dipping, and a whole market fish with banh hoi, rice paper, pineapple nuoc cham, tamarind, peanuts and herbs. There’s also grilled pork neck if you’re looking for something meatier.

There’s just one dessert: a coconut tres leches with pandan Chantilly cream.

Even better? It’s BYO.

North 54 dinners run from 5pm until 9.30pm on Friday and Saturday nights. Walk-ins only.

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