Sorry for the lack up updates on my part recently, I was off in Hawaii enjoying the sun, the ocean and the food with my sexy wife, but more on that to come.

After two weeks abroad, it seems I've come home just in time for a shite load of rain and wind, which is fine by me because it cools things down just nicely. Not sure my dogs agree though as the poor fellas haven't been able to go on a walk for all week and are moping around the house. So with all that rain and gloomy weather, lunch today I was feeling like something nice and warm. Saigon Star on Smith Street wasn't too far away so I plonked myself down for this $10.50 bowl of Vietnamese beef noodle soup AKA pho.

Price wise it's pretty good - you get big bowl of delicate beef stock, sliced beef and a bowl of herbs to pluck and throw in. Squeeze some lemon over the top and you're good to go. Most prefer to add a generous amount of hoi sin sauce, but I leave it out – no point ruining the freshness of the dish with some shit from a bottle. Taste wise the stock was a little too delicate for my liking and it needs some more depth and oomph. The strips of beef are probably are probably from a cheaper cut as it's a bit on the tough side, could be a little more generous with it too. I do like the herbs though, plenty of basil and sawtooth coriander to provide the aromatics.

Eating it reminded me of previous travels to Vietnam, where street food is king. Sitting on little plastic stools road side slurping AU 50 cent noodles early in the morning – brilliant. The health department here wouldn't take too kindly to that sort of dining, so Saigon Star is as close as you'll get to that experience in Darwin. The giant windows all around give you a great view of the street and its current location literally was pavement next to the road before they set up shop there. Think of it as first class street dining.

If noodle soup isn't your thing, there are plenty of other very well priced Vietnamese style lunch options all going for around the $10 mark, which is pretty good value for a sit down meal. My other favourites would be the rice vermicelli with herbs and meat dishes and the steamed rice with grilled pork chops plus egg. Very popular spot for the lunch crowd as a result, get in early or late to avoid the noise.

Well that's stop 1 of my Darwin pho-down. Next on the radar will be Ruby, My Friend's Kitchen and The Deck Bar to see who has the best Vietnamese beef noodle soup in Darwin, and with all the rain about, I think I'll be in the mood for it.