Seated in this pocket-sized restaurant Vietnamese canteen in the 5th arrondissement, it's easy to see why it's become an institution. The service is faultless and the reasonably priced food is all cooked on site, such as the €12 lunch menu of fragrant caramel pork and super-fresh, crispy nems. The rest of the menu includes soups - the classic pho or a heady concoction of lightly spiced chicken, stuffed banh cuon dumplings orthe excellent bo bun.
The only tiny bugbear is that, with only ten tables, it's just too small. Thankfully, there's a sister address, with a kitchen they share, just across the street on 47 rue Descartes.