Adelaide has recently been saturated with Vietnamese street food, and it’s no surprise the latest store to open in the David Jones food court, follows similar lines. The food offerings at Jarn Leva are short and sweet with 9 items on the menu. Customers can select from cold rolls, banh mi, baos, beef noodle soup, spicy beef and pork noodles, vermicelli rice noodles, combination rice, Vietnamese and traditional salads.
Jarn Leva is not your typical food court stall. Set in long and narrow floor plan, it has it’s own seating. The use of earthy colour tones and low hanging light fittings makes this place look contemporary and modern.
For lunch, I ordered the Roast Pork Roll, which was made on the spot. As a base, a thick spread of egg mayonnaise and pate was applied which is what I like to see. The roast pork was well marinated, tender and succulent, and the proportion of crackling skin to meat was just right. The pickled daikon and carrot were sweet and tangy, and the cucumber added a nice crunchy texture. The coriander was fresh and chilli added a bit of excitement. The only downside to this roll was the bread. I felt it could have been more crustier.
The staff were friendly and the service was fast and efficient. As far as pricing goes, it’s on par with other places that sell Vietnamese street food. The cost of the roll was $5.80 which is slightly below average, and the most expensive item on the menu is $12.50.
The Roast Pork Roll that I had, had all the elements of an authentic Vietnamese roll. It would have been a perfect rating had the bread been better.
WHERE: Adelaide Central Plaza, David Jones Food Court, 100 Rundle Mall, Adelaide
