Giant Pho

Overview

A modern, local riff on the hawker market concept, District 8 is Cabra-Vale Diggers' 600-seat food precinct, promising your tastebuds a trip down the Mekong River, without the flight to Southeast Asia.

Here, a diverse lineup of restaurants and food stations delivers authentic flavours from across Vietnam, Thailand, China, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. You can drop in for a classic Malaysian-style seafood laksa, carb-load on some Asian baked goods or dive into a mammoth 2.8-kilogram bowl of pho for $35. Yep, you'll definitely need your stretchy pants for this one.

Only available once a year, for the eatery's annual Man vs Pho competition, it's made from 750 grams of noodles, 600 grams of beef, 1050 grams of stock, 360 grams of bean sprouts and 45 grams of Thai basil. You can share it between friends and fam, but if you're well practised in the art of devouring tasty Asian fare, you've also got the chance to win big.

Between July 2 and August 28, conquer the super-sized bowl solo in less than 30 minutes and you'll score a $50 District 8 voucher and a t-shirt. If you're one of the ten fastest people to finish it, you'll also qualify for the grand final of the competition, which will be help on September 5.

Here the main prize is a huge $3000 travel voucher. Best bring your appetite though — this mega bowl's the equivalent to three regular-sized phos, and last year's winner finished it in 5.35 minutes.