FIRST LOOK: Vietnamese eatery HANGry Bếp set for festive grand opening with discounts and lion dancing

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Prospect’s family-run Vietnamese eatery, HANGry Bếp, is officially opening its doors this Halloween, bringing the flavours of Mama Hằng’s cosy home cooking to Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

And the family is pulling out all the stops for the grand opening, with traditional with lion dancing, photo ops, dining discounts and plenty of prizes up for grabs.

HANGry Bếp is the passion project of co-owners Tan and Alex, inspired by Tan’s mother, Hằng, who has spent more than four decades working in hospitality.

The family held a soft opening on Sunday October 25 filling the restaurant’s 35 seats and giving the team a chance to put the kitchen and menu to the test ahead of the official launch.

“We want to give it our all, to ensure that we can give our customers, our public customers, the best dining experience,” Tan said.

The unexpected rush proved to be a valuable learning experience for the team, particularly with kitchen and front-of-house staff only recently coming together.

“It was really good because I got to understand the things we need refine for grand opening.”

Several dishes quickly emerged as crowd favourites throughout the evening including traditional the spicy beef noodle soup and combination broken rice, served with pork, egg, pickled vegetables and traditional accompaniments.

The spicy beef noodle soup holds particular significance for the family, having been one of Hằng’s specialities when she previously operated an eatery in Vietnam.

The trial run also gave the kitchen an opportunity to streamline its menu, with a few dishes temporarily removed while the team focused on perfecting its service ahead of the big day.

And it wasn’t just the food that resonated with diners.

Guests praised the warm lighting and comfortable noise levels, creating an inviting setting where they could really enjoy conversation over a meal.

Tan said one comment in particular stuck with him.

“I feel like I’ve been taken back to old school Vietnam.”

It’s exactly the feeling the family hopes to create, with vintage-inspired interiors and a kitchen designed to resemble a small Vietnamese home, complete with a rooftop-style structure.

And with the soft opening behind them, the family is now gearing up for a grand opening celebration packed with festivities.

Doors will open at 11:30am, with a traditional Vietnamese lion dance scheduled for 12:30pm. Tan said the performance holds special cultural significance, traditionally believed to bring prosperity and success to new businesses.

Visitors will also be able to snap Polaroids with a giant bánh mì cut-out, and try their luck at a spin-the-wheel competition with prizes up for grabs.

There’ll be some tasty incentives to arrive early, with the first 40 customers receiving a free pocket bánh mì, while diners spending $30 or more can enjoy 10 per cent off the entire menu.

With its family recipes, nostalgic atmosphere and a full house already under its belt, HANGry Bếp is ready to welcome Prospect locals to their slice of home.