Manager of Anam Vietnamese Restaurant, Eric Quan said eating Vietnamese food will be a whole new experience for many Bathurst people. 

Until now they have had to travel to Sydney to enjoy Vietnamese food.

He said the owners of the restaurant, Kacey Le Tran and Augustine Le, have created a Vietnamese atmosphere with the restaurant’s decor, right down to the rickshaw at the front door, which was imported from Vietnam. 

They came from Sydney to open the restaurant in the Coles arcade because they saw a need and an opportunity.

Mr Quan said the owners often came to Bathurst, but when they wanted to go out for dinner there was no Vietnamese restaurant. 

“We want the community to enjoy what city people take for granted,” Mr Quan said. “It will be a journey of discovery for Bathurst people. 

“We hope to create cultural understanding by sharing our food and our traditions.”

A veteran of the restaurant industry, Mr Quan is passionate about food. 

He said the main things that set Vietnamese cuisine apart are its freshness and lightness. 

“We use a lot of fresh vegetables, a lot of lean meat and a lot of seafood,” he said. “We also include lettuce, mint, chilli, and cucumbers to incorporate the greenness of our country into our food. 

“At Anam we don’t use any MSG or sodium bicarbonate, which are common in Chinese food. We also use very little oil.”

Head chef James Phans was brought to Bathurst from Sydney. He has been cooking since he was 17. 

The restaurant’s signature dish is Pho. 

“Pho is always my favourite, particularly on a cold winter’s day,” Mr Quan said. 

Anam also offers traditional Vietnamese pancakes, sugar cane prawns, crispy skinned chicken and noodles and the divinely delicious tamarind soft shell crab.

He said the menu will continue to grow and will ultimately include vegetarian options. 

“It might take time for people to understand our food - it will be a whole new experience,” he said.