The Arndale Bakery is a surprisingly popular spot, considering it's nearby competition of Kilkenny Bakery and Rheinland Boutique Bakery. This is definitely the least appealing of the three; there is nowhere to sit, except for two single chairs flanking the door, the atmosphere feels more like a warehouse than a bakery, as the walls are stacked with boxes of various packaged products, and the clientele can be somewhat...frightening. I queued up with a loud woman in a wheelchair, a man who smelt like he hadn't seen a shower in years, and a tradesman with less than room temperature IQ. And we were all there for the Vietnamese pork rolls. Their rolls are $3.50 for single meat or $4 for combination or Thai chicken. I went the Thai chicken - delicious! Suspect paste on the bottom - I don't want to know its ingredients - yet full of fresh coriander, cucumber, carrot, and tasty chicken.
I also tried a rice cake of some description - I wouldn't go there again. It had the taste and consistency of thin rice noodles cooked into a clump and piled with sugar.
The other sweets in here look aed little too colourful and creamy - I like my colour as real as possible, same with my cream, so I stayed away.
Definitely worth venturing in here for the rolls though. Follow the locals, they know where it's at. read more