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Tay Do Café

65 Kingsland Road, E2 8AG Full details & map

Café: Vietnamese

Time Out says 2 Users say 3/5 Rate it

By Time Out Editors Posted: Jan 28 2010

Tay Do's vast dining room is often full, perhaps because this is the first available Vietnamese restaurant at the southern tip of Kingsland Road. The BYO policy undoubtedly helps too. Service is impersonal and brusque, but not unfriendly. The tome of a menu contains nearly 300 dishes (divided by ingredient: fish, poultry, vegetables, tofu…). It's easy to order wrongly. Few of our dishes matched the menu's promise; best was a starter of steamed pork-stuffed squid, which was generous with the well-seasoned, minced pork stuffing, and came with an excellent dipping sauce of lemon juice, salt and white pepper. Shredded pork skin and herb rolls included the appropriately rubbery skin, but was bland and seemed to lack the required freshness. Rarely found in London, southern-style hu tieu soup is here made with tapioca noodles; yet while the south of Vietnam may be known for its sweeter, cleaner flavours, this broth was unappetisingly sweet. Better was chargrilled goat on cold vermicelli, with a nice smoky aroma that compensated for the slightly overcooked meat. Dining here seems to be a hit and miss experience. While there's great variety, we'd rather choose from a smaller menu of consistently good dishes.

Tags: South-East Asia, Vietnamese, East, Shoreditch, Restaurant, Café

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Tay Do Café details

Address

Tay Do Café

65 Kingsland Road E2 8AG

Transport Liverpool Street tube/rail then 67, 149, 242 bus/Old Street tube/rail then 243 bus

Telephone

020 7729 7223

Lunch served 11.30am-3pm, dinner served 5-11.30pm daily.

Main courses £4-£12. Set lunch £4.30 2 courses. Unlicensed. Corkage £1 per person.

Credit cards MC, V

Facilities

Babies and children welcome ( high chair ), Takeaway service

Tay Do Café map

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Comments & ratings 3/5 (Average of 2 ratings)

By Ronald - Dec 26 2011

This used to be a very nice restaurant, however, my most recent experience was one of the worst in my life! The food was absolutely horrible, I even had to send back my starter because it (soft shelled crab) was literally inedible, the waiter then admitted that nearly all of the food had been previously frozen and re-heated (or fried in most cases). I would not recommend this restaurant to any one, try the Vietnamese restaurant about 3 doors down.

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By geoff - Dec 2 2011

5/5

You are such a no nothing about food person. This restaurant is a true jem in London, I've known it since 2004. And yes, if you don't know anything about Vietnamese food, the menu can be difficult. Thats because they have 'standard' style main course items that are a bit Chinesey, you just have to read between the lines and stick with the classics. Excellent food!

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By Vanilla - Jun 11 2011

1/5

This place used to be very good but has gone down hill in terms of the quality of the food offered. Staff is pretty rude but that ha always been the case. If you don't like what you are given, don't complain, it can get a little frightening. Unless you are a brave soul, go to the other vietnamese a few seconds down the road. You may have to queue as it is always busy with people. And for a good reason!

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By J T - Feb 10 2011

The pho here is truly amazing with a very rich broth that is hard to find on any of the other viet places along the street. Highly recommended! However for other dishes do not expect too much...

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By Tina - Jan 15 2011

Tay Do Cafe was such a good experience. I love Vietnamese food and have been to Vietnam on various occasions. If you want traditional authentic food, then here is a great place. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the waiter’s in a nice manor. Me and my group of friends first thought the price was highly expensive, but as the food came out we understand why. They gave us massive portions and the dishes were presented so nicely, we had forgotten about the prices. I had to traditional dish, Pho. It was well presented and bursting with flavour. I enjoyed it very much and recommend anyone that comes here to try out this dish. My friends had the Pork Vermicelli with spring rolls. Whereas, the other the beef ho fun. Both of these dishes like the first, was filled with colour with extravagant tastes. We enjoyed it very much here and only ended up paying less than £25. We were very shocked to be honest, as if I was to eat in the other restaurant; it would have cost a lot more. Tay Do Cafe is worth the money, and you are sure to leave without being hungry.