The warm bread at Chop Chop Deli is a game-changer. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Many bánh mì aficionados are well aware of the popular offerings at Fyshwick Bakery, but there’s another bánh mì joint in Fyshwick to try.
Chop Chop Deli on Wollongong Street may be lesser known, but it’s worth putting on your radar.
This love letter to Hoi An is a relative newcomer, opening in late 2025. The core menu is simple – four kinds of bánh mì and three rice dishes. The day I visited, they also had a few rice paper rolls and a beef vermicelli dish on offer.
But, obviously, I was there for one reason only.
The bánh mì on offer were crispy pork (iconic), cold cuts (authentic), grilled beef (stunning) and crispy chicken (my choice). I took my number, a seat in a booth, and waited.
The space is brightly painted yellow, with cheery blue chairs, colourful hanging lanterns and holiday posters of Hoi An on the walls. Cheap and cheerful is written into the interior decorating scheme, complete with (somewhat incongruous) leftover Christmas decorations on the counter.
Chop Chop Deli is lesser known than other bánh mì joints in town, but it’s worth seeking out. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
I waited perhaps 5 or more minutes for my roll, not a huge wait but unusual considering banh mi rolls are often served at breakneck speed.
At busy places, you’ll often see huge stacks of rolls pre-filled with pâté, mayo and veg balanced on the edge of the display fridge to get a jump on the lunch rush. But Chop Chop Deli doesn’t do this, and it’s clear the moment I sink my teeth into the bun. It is warm. Gloriously, steamily warm with a crunchy crust that yields to soft, pillowy bread as I take a bite. You couldn’t pre-fill a hot bun because it would go cold as the fresh fillings warmed and softened; you can only do it fresh.
Dentistry, but not as you know it. Learn more
The bun itself is lovely warm, without the shattering crumb you often find with a cold bun – but the warmth has unlocked a whole new flavour array.
The pâté softens on the bread, unlocking fragrant spices: a hint of cinnamon and the warmth of black pepper. I’d never spent much time considering the actual flavour of the pâté; it was just another layer in the roll, but it became the hero of my lunch.
The chicken, freshly fried, is juicy and tender. I am often leery of the tiny slices of chilli on bánh mì rolls (having had one too many teary experiences of heat beyond my abilities), but on this occasion, I bravely say yes to both chilli and coriander. And I’m glad I did! The chilli is a paste, rather than individual slices of extreme torture, which spreads the heat evenly across the sandwich. No surprise explosions!
Stickybeaking at other people’s orders, I very much liked the look of the rice dishes on offer. It’s a small menu, but I find myself wanting to try every dish. And I may never look at pâté the same way again …
Chop Chop Deli is located at 4b Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. They are open from 10 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday, and from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday. Follow Chop Chop Deli on Instagram.