Bistro Nguyen's

4.4

Google Rating

78-80 Alinga St, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

$20-40

About

The delicious aroma of pho hits you before you even sit down at this bustling Vietnamese restaurant that's become a local institution since opening in the Melbourne Building. Bistro Nguyen's captures the energy of a Saigon street kitchen with mismatched chairs, colorful lanterns and constant activity from takeaway orders to full tables. Their extensive menu offers everything from roll-your-own beef skewers to "special broken rice" with grilled pork chop and crab cake. The pho delivers authentic depth from slow-cooked family recipes, while dishes arrive quickly despite the crowds. You'll find generous portions at wallet-friendly prices, making it perfect when you're craving fresh Vietnamese flavors without the fuss.

Popular Dishes

Pho, Beef Soup, Vermicelli Bowls, Chicken Wings, Spring Rolls, Rice Paper Rolls, Calamari, Crispy Noodles, Cơm Tấm, Hot Pot

Best Times to Visit

Visit Monday-Thursday for quieter dining, or Friday-Saturday evenings for the full bustling atmosphere. Lunch service offers excellent value.

Opening Hours

Monday: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Tuesday: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Wednesday: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Thursday: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Friday: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Busiest Time

Friday 7PM - 9PM

Quietest Time

Monday 11AM - 2PM

Restaurant Features

Outdoor Seating, Delivery, Takeaway, Dine-in, Wheelchair Accessible, Bar Onsite, Alcohol Service, Accepts Reservations, Credit Cards Accepted, Digital Payments, Good for Groups, Family Friendly

Meals Served

Lunch, Dinner

Phone

Address

Get Directions

Getting There

By Car: Head to 78-80 Alinga Street in Canberra City. From the south, take Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and turn right onto Alinga Street. From the north, follow Northbourne Avenue into the city and turn left onto Alinga Street. Paid street parking is available but spaces are usually difficult to find, so allow extra time.

By Public Transport: Take any bus route that services Canberra City interchange, which is within walking distance of Alinga Street. Light rail services also connect to the city centre. From the interchange, it's a short 2-minute walk to the restaurant along Alinga Street.

By Taxi or Ride-Share: Direct rides to 78-80 Alinga Street are straightforward for drivers familiar with Canberra City. The restaurant is located on a main street with good access for pickup and drop-off, though be aware that parking for ride-share vehicles may be limited during peak times.

{ "@context": "http://schema.org/", "@type": "Restaurant", "name": "Bistro Nguyen's", "image": ["https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gps-cs-s/AC9h4noP3Dp2Eov7vifgmlEJGIjVowHhsb_bYIHajslKtxmEapiTwjr8Uc2pS5e8PFtvL14QwWkxsc56c3zFrRmP5sIBorY6_lvQ8Qvwhp_BUcp44xq5HSma4x9bDVCJaCC1pw=w1632-h976-k-no"], "description": "Step into the aromatic embrace of Bistro Nguyen's, where the soul-warming essence of authentic Vietnamese cuisine permeates every corner of this beloved Canberra City establishment. Nestled along Alinga Street, this cosy yet trendy venue has mastered the delicate art of Vietnamese cooking, delivering bowls of steaming pho that sing with layers of complex, deeply satisfying broths. The kitchen's expertise shines through their signature beef pho, where tender morsels float in rich, aromatic stock that's been simmered to perfection. Beyond the celebrated noodle soups, diners discover crispy spring rolls that shatter at first bite, revealing fresh herbs and prawns within, whilst the calamari delivers unexpected textural delight. The vermicelli bowls showcase Vietnam's gift for balancing fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and perfectly grilled proteins. With its welcoming atmosphere that attracts everyone from university students to curious tourists, Bistro Nguyen's represents the vibrant multicultural dining scene that makes Canberra's food landscape so compelling. This is Vietnamese comfort food at its most authentic, served with genuine warmth.", "servesCuisine": "Vietnamese", "priceRange": "$$", "telephone": "02 6262 6888", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "78-80 Alinga St", "addressLocality": "Canberra", "addressRegion": "ACT", "postalCode": "2601", "addressCountry": "AU" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "-35.2785675", "longitude": "149.1288076" }, "openingHoursSpecification": [ { "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification", "dayOfWeek": ["Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday", "Sunday"], "opens": "11:30", "closes": "14:30" }, { "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification", "dayOfWeek": ["Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday", "Sunday"], "opens": "17:30", "closes": "21:30" } ], "keywords": "Vietnamese cuisine, casual dining, pho, outdoor seating, wheelchair accessible", "areaServed": "City", "url": "https://www.bestrestaurantscanberra.com.au/restaurants/bistro-nguyens", "hasMenu": "https://bistronguyens.com.au/menu", "acceptsReservations": "True", "paymentAccepted": "Cash, Credit Card, Digital Payments", "currenciesAccepted": "AUD", "sameAs": [ "https://bistronguyens.com.au/", "https://www.facebook.com/bistronguyens", "https://www.instagram.com/bistro_nguyens" ], "hasMap": "https://maps.google.com/?q=-35.2785675,149.1288076", "smokingAllowed": "False", "publicAccess": "True", "aggregateRating": { "@type": "AggregateRating", "ratingValue": "4.4" }}

{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What type of cuisine does Bistro Nguyen's serve in Canberra?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Bistro Nguyen's specializes in authentic Vietnamese cuisine, offering traditional dishes like pho, vermicelli bowls, spring rolls, and rice paper rolls in Canberra City on Alinga Street." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the signature dishes at this Vietnamese restaurant?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The signature dishes include aromatic beef pho with rich, slow-simmered broth, crispy spring rolls with fresh herbs and prawns, tender calamari, and traditional vermicelli bowls with grilled proteins and pickled vegetables." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is parking available near the restaurant on Alinga Street?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Paid street parking is available near 78-80 Alinga Street, though spaces can be difficult to find. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible and easily reached by public transport from Canberra City interchange." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I need a reservation for dinner at Bistro Nguyen's?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Reservations are recommended for both lunch and dinner, especially on weekends. You can book through Google reservations or call 02 6262 6888. The restaurant accepts credit cards and digital payments." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What makes this Vietnamese restaurant unique in Canberra?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The restaurant combines authentic Vietnamese cooking with a cosy, trendy atmosphere. It features a full bar with alcohol service, outdoor seating, and attracts diverse diners from students to tourists." } } ]}