A Vietnamese restaurant brand renowned for its pho and street market vibes is poised to open an eatery on the Sunshine Coast.
Pholklore, which has four locations in Victoria, will soon have a restaurant on the main street of Caloundra.
It’s hoped the new venue, at 110 Bulcock Street, could open in late October.
Pholklore co-owner Dom Friend said the location was ideal.
“We’ve been dreaming about bringing Pholklore to Queensland for years and the Sunshine Coast felt like the perfect fit for us,” he said.
“It has a nice balance of coastal lifestyle, community spirit and long-term growth that matches what we’re about.
“We found a site that ticked all the boxes: close to the water, in a busy part of town and surrounded by the kind of community we love being part of.
“We’re here to stay and committed to growing with Caloundra.”
Mr Friend said the restaurant would have traditional Vietnamese vibes.
“The heart of Pholklore is about meeting a group of friends and family to enjoy a meal with, so we love our venues to feature long communal tables,” he said.
“Our original venue in Torquay was designed to feel like a street market in Vietnam with lanterns and stools and we’ve replicated this at each venue.
“Our restaurants are known for being relaxed but full of energy with great music, fun staff and a sense of community that makes everyone feel welcome.
“We’re family-friendly, dog-friendly and beach-friendly. Wander up to us after a swim at Bulcock Beach for a casual place to eat with a good vibe.”
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Mr Friend said customers would relish the cuisine on offer.
“It’s fresh, vibrant and made to share,” he said.
“It’s Vietnamese at its heart but with a modern twist on top. We also layer other South-East Asian influences that make it unique.
“As you can tell from our name, our hero dishes are pho, which has been slow-cooked for hours.
“The classic beef and chicken ones are super popular but we also feature a unique take on pho with our pho fusions.
“Our chicken Pho x Laksa has a bit of a cult following: it’s a best-seller every week across all venues. Once people start ordering the Pho x Laksa, it’s actually hard to get them to try anything else.
“Our spring rolls are also a crowd favourite. They’re hand-rolled daily and served with fresh herbs. Our rice paper rolls have epic fusion flavours like spicy ramen and barbecue nori.
“Earlier this year, we tried to take the chicken katsu rice paper roll off the menu and there was a campaign from customers demanding us to bring it back, so we brought it back.”
Mr Friend said there could be some new dishes at the new restaurant.
“We’ll carry the Pholklore favourites that our community already loves but Caloundra gives us the chance to experiment a little too,” he said.
“We’ll be working with local Queensland suppliers to bring in seasonal specials and ingredients unique to the region. That way, the menu will feel both familiar and fresh while also reflecting our new home in Caloundra.”
Pholklore was started by brothers Dom and Josh Friend and their friend Thomas McGrath in 2017, before Jacob Hardiman and Dylan Teixeira joined as partners.
Some of them will set up and open the Caloundra venue before it is handed over to a “passionate local team”, which is expected to have 30 to 50 staff members.
Mr Friend said the co-owners would like to further expand Pholklore but their focus was on the Sunshine Coast venue.
“We would love to but our first priority is Caloundra,” he said.
“We want to build our community first and support local suppliers and businesses. We’re here for the long haul and we want to grow with Caloundra before we grow anywhere else.”
