Overview
Despite being one of the first businesses to snap up space at Tramsheds, Mama's Buoi has only just opened to customers.
It's the Vietnamese eatery's third Sydney store — and fifth one in Australia. This one's been spearheaded by Vietnam-born Mama Hoang, who's the soul of the business. She works closely with her son Bao and food director Jonathan Alston to bring her culinary skills to the masses.
"We're serving the food that Mama Hoang has been giving friends and family for decades," says Alston. "Everything is prepared in a strictly traditional manner and it's meant to be shared."
If you've tried Mama's Buoi in Crows Nest or Surry Hills you'll be familiar with the clean, light cooking style they go for, which is, according to Alston, what authentic Vietnamese food should look like. He brings a wealth of management experience to the business — he has over 30 years of chef and management experience internationally, including in a couple of three Michelin-starred restaurants (under chefs Marco Pierre White and Michel Guérard). As a result, everything from food to decor is presented with meticulous detail.
Mama's Buoi is certainly not cutting any corners. "Today, customers are incredibly discerning and well-travelled," says Alston. "They have excellent food knowledge and can often tell when something is not authentic."
Try the rice paper rolls filled with soft-shell crab and avocado — it's a great starter with fruity flavours. The calamari is a memorable dish and it's clear that there's a lot more in the citrusy secret seasoning than salt and pepper. For vegetarians, the eggplant with aniseed basil and chilli is a strong choice. Then there's the pho, a filling house classic, which uses a traditional brand of Vietnamese noodles.
There's also a colourful selection of drinks including the kombucha pink lemonade frozen cocktail and the Miss Saigon with gin, mint, strawberries and lime.
Despite its stationing at bustling Tramsheds, Mama's Buoi is a more intimate space than other locations. In addition to being one of just a few Asian eateries at the heritage-listed site, the bright pastel colours, floral seats and hanging foliage make the eatery hard to miss. And a wall mural of Mama Hoang in her younger years watches over customers eating the dishes she's served to her friends and family for decades.