Cabramatta

Why visit

From the late 1970s, refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia settled in and around Cabramatta, many after time in the migrant hostels nearby. They opened shops and restaurants, and the suburb became the centre of one of Australia’s largest Southeast Asian communities. Today it is a busy, friendly place to eat your way down the street.

What to see and do

• Freedom Plaza: the heart of town, entered through the red and gold Pai Lau gate, with statues of the animals of the Chinese zodiac.
• John Street and Park Road: the main eating streets, with noodle shops, bakeries and dessert bars.
• The markets and grocers: fresh herbs, tropical fruit in season, roast meats and Asian ingredients you will not find elsewhere.
• The fabric and jewellery shops: a long-standing part of Cabramatta’s trade.

What to eat

• Pho: beef or chicken noodle soup, the dish most people come for.
• Banh mi: crisp rolls filled with pork, pâté, pickles, chilli and herbs.
• Bun bo Hue: a spicy noodle soup from central Vietnam.
• Desserts and drinks: che, sugarcane juice, coconut drinks and bubble tea.

Read our Cabramatta food guide for more.

Tips

• Come hungry, and share several small dishes in different places.
• Carry some cash: most places take cards, but a few small stalls prefer cash.
• Weekends are the busiest and most lively. Lunar New Year and the Moon Festival bring big crowds.
• The station is right in the centre, so leave the car at home.