I knew the Thien Nhi staff from their days at Thien Anh in Footscray. Thien Anh was my first foray into Vietnamese food when I still lived in the burbs of Westmeadows. I remember my mum taking us over there and assuring us we would love this new cuisine. Well she was right. I quickly came addicted to their combination juice and square cubed steak with tomato rice.
Then I moved to Sunshine North and a new world of food out in the west opened up to me, however, I still always came back to Thien Anh or 'Coloured Chairs' as we called it. Fast forward many a year and the Thien Anh in Footscray was somewhere I really didn't enjoy frequenting. I preferred places such as Sapa Hills. It was never the same once the coloured chairs and original staff moved on.
So I got just a little excited when I could wander into Thien Nhi and see the same old awesome staff and order my combination juice and square cubed steak once more! Guess what?? It was just as good as I remembered and all the memories of my first Vietnamese restaurant come flooding back. The combination juice was frosty and cold, my steak was as tender and garlicy as I remember and I am a very happy diner. To finish it off I decided to have their creme caramel and it was delicious, yet, it may not be for anyone who does not have a sweet tooth as it was rather high on the sugar. As far as Sunshine goes I give this a 4 star dining experience which I am sure will get better as Thien Nh open for for longer. read more