Hanoi Hannah

180 High Street, Prahran

Green-eyed Lady Luck served me with the Sex, Drugs and Rice Paper Rolls sign.

It did not happen on the 17th parallel north, where fishermen take their junks across Halong Bay. Where leaf-hatted elders soak their mint in poached chicken pho and rice paper rolls inhabit street corners, washed over by monsoon rains and Bia-hoi.

Never scared to be bold Hanoi Hannah cased the leaf-hatted elder, framed the junks and sailors, and serves the fragrant pho and crisp rice paper rolls to grateful crowds.

This hawker-style bar is a standout. Fresh, fun and funky, the food is very reasonably priced. Generously infused in Asian flavors Melbourne delivers the best type of street-style Vietnamese.