Fresh Vietnamese flavours at Moc Roll in the heart of Elsternwick Village

If you’re craving a taste of Vietnam without leaving Elsternwick, Moc Roll is the place to go, serving up fresh, flavour-packed food with plenty of Vietnamese favourites and hidden gems to discover.

Located at 305 Glen Huntly Road, the casual Vietnamese eatery has recently entered a new chapter under new management, with store manager Jenny and her team putting their own stamp on the business while continuing to serve the Vietnamese favourites locals know and love.

After taking over at the end of 2025, the team renovated the space and refreshed the menu, aiming to give diners more opportunities to explore Vietnamese food beyond the familiar banh mi and pho.

“We wanted to introduce people to more Vietnamese dishes and Vietnamese drinks,” Jenny says. “We have so much more to explore.”

The result is a menu that balances well-known favourites with dishes that might be less familiar to first-time Vietnamese food diners.

The crispy pork banh mi is a standout, piled with flavoursome fillings and crunchy crackling, while the pho is served with traditional pickled garlic inspired by northern Vietnamese flavours. Vermicelli bowls and rice paper rolls are also popular choices for a fresh and satisfying meal.

For those after something with a little more heat, there’s Bun Bo Hue, a spicy beef noodle soup with a richer, deeper flavour, alongside Bun Cha Ha Noi and beef in betel leaf, two of Moc Roll’s recommendations for customers looking to try something different.

The menu also caters to vegetarian and vegan diners, including lemongrass tofu rice paper rolls and vegan pho. The team says these options have proved popular even among customers who don’t usually choose vegetarian or vegan meals, with more plant-based dishes in the works.

But food is only part of what the team hopes to create at Moc Roll.

With more than a decade of hospitality experience, plus a background in marketing, Jenny says the business is ultimately about creating somewhere people feel comfortable returning to.

“We wanted to have a Vietnamese restaurant that felt welcoming and casual, with food that we genuinely enjoy eating ourselves.”

That local connection has already started to grow.

Since taking over the business, Jenny and the team have been welcomed by Elsternwick locals, with regular customers returning with friends and family, recommending the restaurant to others and leaving reviews. Some have even stopped by simply to introduce themselves and welcome the new team to the neighbourhood.

“For a small business, those little things mean a lot,” Jenny says. “When we have a busy day and see familiar faces coming through the door, it’s a really nice feeling and reminds us why we love doing what we do.”

Elsternwick was a natural fit for the team. Jenny says they love the area’s mix of old and new, from its character-filled buildings and antique-style bars to its diverse food and drink scene.

They’re also fans of the neighbourhood’s classic cinema and lively streets, and are looking forward to becoming more involved in the Elsternwick Village community through future events and activities.

When it comes to what Jenny thinks customers shouldn’t miss, her recommendations go beyond the usual suspects.

The beef in betel leaf, spicy beef noodle soup and Bun Cha Ha Noi are all worth exploring, while the Vietnamese coconut coffee and Vietnamese salted coffee are perfect for anyone wanting to try something a little different from their usual coffee order.

Not sure where to start?

Jenny’s personal favourite is the crispy pork banh mi.

Looking ahead, the team’s ambitions are simple: keep making good food, keep improving the menu and become a place that locals know and love.

“We’d love to keep introducing more people to Vietnamese food and continue growing alongside the Elsternwick community,” Jenny says.

Moc Roll is still a small business, but the team has big plans, including new dishes and vegan options, as well as future promotions and community events. For now, they’re focused on what matters most: fresh food, friendly service, and giving Elsternwick locals another reason to stop by for a delicious taste of Vietnam.

Keep an eye on @mocrolls for new dishes, promotions and what’s happening at Moc Roll.

📍Visit Moc Roll at 305 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick.