Gawler Hot Bread Bakery

If you're after a bakery in Gawler, South Australia, that does more than the usual loaf and sausage roll, this one is worth knowing about. It leans Vietnamese as much as it leans traditional Aussie, and that mix is what people talk about most.

The banh mi are the big draw. Locals rave about the rolls: soft but crunchy, packed generously, with fresh herbs and a choice of fillings that includes BBQ pork, pork with crackle, and chicken. We've heard people call them great value, and the menu itself is simple and easy to read. There's also a tofu salad bowl for something lighter, and it's worth the short wait for it to be made fresh.

On the more traditional side, the hot press carries pies, pasties and sausage rolls, all cooked on site. The pepper pie gets a good wrap, and the sausage rolls are described as flavourful with flaky pastry. Beyond that there's fresh bread, doughnuts, slices, meringue and a decent spread of sweet cakes, so it's well beyond what the name "hot bread bakery" suggests. One person found the pastry and filling a letdown, so you may want to start with the banh mi or sausage rolls if you're unsure.

The people behind the counter come up again and again. Staff are friendly and quick, and the owner knows plenty of regulars by name. One local told a story of ordering something that contained an allergen they'd meant to avoid, and the team offered to make a replacement free of charge, even though it was the customer's own slip. The coffee is on the average side, so treat it as an add-on rather than the reason to visit.

Seating is limited to a couple of small tables, so this works best as a takeaway stop. Takeaway is the way most people use it, and there's a free car park, plus card and mobile payments. It's open six days a week, but check the hours before you head in.