Canley Vale, located approximately 22 kilometers south-west of Sydney's central business district, offers a vibrant food and drink scene along Canley Vale Road. This area, once associated with drug crime and gang violence, has transformed into one of the city's most exciting dining precincts. The street is lined with South East Asian restaurants, bakeries selling banh mi, and grocery stores like Yung Lee Tropical Fruits offering fresh produce.
At the Canley Heights end of the street, visitors can find modern establishments with crowd-pleasing menus, such as Holy Basil known for its Thai and Lao cuisine and famous fried ice cream. Further down, the scene becomes more old-school, with popular spots like Hai Au Lang Nuong offering coal-barbecue roasted dishes on Fridays through Mondays, and Nguyen Hot Bread providing delicious banh mi thit rolls. Other notable establishments include Tan Viet for noodles, Thanh Mai for traditional Vietnamese dishes, and Golden Gaytime ice cream for dessert lovers.
In addition to these options, there are also several cafés along Canley Vale Road serving strong Vietnamese iced coffee, including Vy Vy Garden which offers Tuesday night karaoke sessions. For those seeking more diverse cuisine, La Grilla serves Korean fusion dishes alongside Mexican options, while Chi and Co provides modern Asian fare in a sleek warehouse conversion setting.