London’s best Vietnamese restaurants

Dissatisfied with how sriracha chilli sauce balanced with his phở, Hiếu Bùi, the godfather of London’s Vietnamese food movement, set about manufacturing his own version, replete with his uncle Vinh’s picture on the bottle. Try it in many of the superb dishes at Hiếu’s restaurants, which include London’s Kêu chain and Cây Tre in Hoxton and Soho. The Soho branch is chic, spacious, modern and renowned for its Vietnamese noodle soup, phở. The signature bone marrow version is particularly notable; the bowl comes spectacularly topped with a marrowbone, which has been cooked in broth, then grilled under a robata. The beautifully clear broth is made by simmering beef bones for 24 hours. This is flavoured with an accomplished balance of spices including cinnamon and star anise. The spices are carefully selected and, like the sriracha, shipped from Vietnam. Inside the broth there are fresh rice noodles, delivered daily from Chinatown, as well as rare steak and tender brisket. Hanoi style steamed rice rolls (bánh cuốn) are another essential dish here. The batter is made from freshly ground rice flour, resulting in a delicately thin, translucent roll filled with minced pork, Asian mushrooms, shallots and pork floss. Do order the accompanying cinnamon sausage. 

Time Out tip For a deep dive into authentic Northern Vietnamese cuisine, the Hanoi platter (bún đậu mắm tôm) is legit. It comes with blood sausage and a fermented shrimp dipping sauce. Not for the faint hearted, but perfect for the more adventurous or a Vietnamese native like me.

Where to find it: 42-43 Dean Street, W1D 4PZ

Malaysian entrepreneurs Med Pang and Koi Lee used their vast experience in the food industry to skillfully transition a food truck business into a food court outlet, before bursting onto the restaurant scene. This success story has culminated in three notable London restaurants, Med Salleh Kopitiam, Med Salleh Viet Westbourne Grove and Med Salleh Viet Earl’s Court. The welcome at Med Salleh Viet Earl’s Court is warm and the attentive staff are delightful. Syphong Lam is the Vietnamese chef and wife to co-founder, Chef Koi. Her culinary skills and creativity have turned customary Vietnamese street food and phở into artworks with amplified flavour. Try the refreshing summer rolls packed with prawns and fresh, aromatic herbs served with a zesty fish dipping sauce and peanut hoisin; whole BBQ squid with a delicate blend of fragrant spices; marinated lamb cooked over charcoal; and their hallmark dish of black truffle Wagyu beef phở with perfumed broth poured elegantly from a teapot. As a Vietnamese and purist, I was slightly suspicious of truffle phở, but, with just one sip, my doubt vanished. 

Time Out tip If you are a fan of beef offal, try the phá lấu bò, an ultimate comfort dish cooked in an aromatic bak kut teh broth until tender. The restaurant is also Halal.

Where to find it: 32-36 Hogarth Rd, SW5 0PU

Ask a Vietnamese where to get the best food and they will likely respond, ‘At home!’ Eat Vietnam 1 comes close. A family-run business owned by husband-and-wife team, Bình and Shelly Lê, it serves enchantingly genuine dishes from the Vietnamese midlands and south. The recipes come from Shelly’s mother and mother-in-law and, as Shelly remarks, ‘These are what my family eats at home. Any new menu item first undergoes a stringent family test’. Enormously successful, it now has a walk-in sister restaurant, Eat Vietnam 2, mere yards away. At Eat Vietnam 1 the chefs have a particular expertise in charcoal BBQ. The grilled meats are superb, notably the juicy quails (chim cúc nướng), which the chefs marinate in a blend of spices and lemongrass. The combined perfume of lemongrass and charcoal is sublime. Another exceptional dish consists of crisp, mini coconut pancakes with prawns (bánh khọt). Save room for the desserts too: the creamy sago tapioca dish with taro, mango and crushed ice (chè khoai môn trân châu) is highly recommended, as is the Vietnamese iced coffee.

Time Out tip Eat Vietnam 1 is renowned for its BBQ dishes and gets very busy, so do book.

Where to find it: 232-234 Evelyn St, Deptford, SE8 5BZ

A year since its inception, Andy Lê, Vincent Nguyễn and Chef Thắng Trần’s Islington restaurant, Dzô (meaning ‘cheers’) is carving new, innovative ground. Outstanding dishes include a fantastic skillet bánh mì (bánh mì chảo); a deconstructed, high-end bánh mì with tender, seasoned steak, homemade pâté, and fried egg served sizzling in a skillet. A sharing plate of crispy fried garlic duck was so tasty I devoured the whole plate by myself. The beautifully presented crispy whole seabass with chilli (cá seabass chiên sốt cây) is outstanding. The fish is sourced from nearby Chapel Market and it’s served with a sweet and sour sauce, and has a lovely hit of chilli. Dzô’s spicy Huế beef and pork noodle soup (bún bò Huế), with a satisfyingly meaty broth infused with chilli, lemongrass and shrimp paste, is also the perfect comfort dish. Guests can also book into The Old Quarter, named after a neighbourhood in Hanoi. This is an attractively decorated room downstairs with colourful lanterns, where food and cocktails can be consumed whilst listening to budding karaoke legends.

Time Out tip You’ve got a better chance of getting a table if you book Monday to Wednesday.

Where to find it: 163 Upper St, N1 1US

At the age of 14, chef patron Bình Nguyễn travelled from Hanoi to Hong Kong to start working in restaurant kitchens. He arrived in the UK in the 1990s and his stylish restaurant, Hoa Sen now occupies a prime location on Drury Lane, with enticing street food influences that cleverly fuse together his background in Vietnamese and Chinese cookery. Stand-out dishes include the moreish Hanoi-style steamed rice rolls (bánh cuốn), Binh’s signature Lạng Sơn roast duck, and his bagbagis with tofu (bún đậu lòng mắm tôm). His chefs construct the delicate, steamed rice rolls from paper thin sheets of steamed rice batter filled with savoury minced pork, wood ear mushrooms and shallots. The rolls are paired with Vietnamese cinnamon sausage, which has both a nice chew and hint of spice. These are then dipped into a tasty fish sauce. Binh’s luscious duck dish is flavoured with an unusual, aromatic spice imported from Vietnam (hạt mắc mật). This is accompanied by fresh salad leaves and mango slices that cut through the richness of the meat. The bagbagis is a crunchy, deep-fried pork intestine dish most popular with Chinese and Vietnamese diners. It comes with crispy tofu chunks, vermicelli noodles, and a piquant shrimp paste. 

Time Out tip For special occasions, speak in advance with chef Bình who can organise an authentic Vietnamese banquet.

Where to find it: 22 Drury Ln, WC2B 5RH

With Thủy Mai and her husband in the kitchen, and their two oldest children frequently working front of house, Sông Hồng feels like you’ve been invited over for a meal by a Vietnamese family. Every dish they serve is influenced by the rich culinary traditions of the Red River (Sông Hồng) region of Vietnam. This is where the family originates, and the recipes have been handed down through generations. Sông Hồng’s list of exceptional dishes include an unusual yet exquisite dish of grilled squid with mustard sauce (mực nướng mù tạt); a delicate, sweet, fragrant curried goat with galangal (dê xào lăn); and a fried fish vermicelli noodle soup (bún chả cá) from Haiphong, which is served with shredded banana blossom, beansprouts, coriander, lime and chilli. With the Haiphong dish, crispy fried fish fillets and fish cakes add a lovely chewy contrast to the soft vermicelli. The tomato-based soup is complex yet perfectly balanced, with hints of citrus as well as anise notes from the dill. Heaven in a bowl!

Time Out tip When it’s in season, you can ask for a fresh coconut juice. Don’t forget to ask for the young coconut to be split after finishing your drink. You can then enjoy eating the flesh.

Where to find it: 180 Lavender Hill, SW11 5TQ

Italian-Egyptian businessman, Amr Yacoub, founded Huong Viet, and wisely hired executive chef, Do Minh. The restaurant is flourishing. Minh has over 20 years of experience, and he uses his vast knowledge to bridge and infuse the world’s flavours and spices with a traditional Vietnamese street food blend. The delectable, satisfying crunchy Saigon spring rolls (nem Sài Gòn) are an excellent starter. These are filled with minced chicken, mushrooms and glass noodles. The combo beef phở is very special, and contains steak, flank, tendon and tripe. While tripe and tendon are traditionally served with this dish, these aren’t always found in London Vietnamese restaurants. The beautiful aroma of the phở coupled with the superb taste of a balanced broth with perfect amounts of spices reminded me of my mother’s version of the dish. Additionally, there is a good selection of mouthwatering bánh mì with homemade fillings, which are prepared in a cabin at the front of the restaurant. To go with one of these, ask Iris to make you a coconut coffee. It is impeccable. When asked about the ingredient amounts, she retorted ‘When my ancestor tells me to stop pouring, I stop’. I love that!  

Time Out tip Huong Viet restaurant is open on Fridays and Saturdays until half past mignight. If you need a snack on your way home from the pub, visit the serving hatch for a satisfying bánh mì.

Where to find it: 94 Curtain Rd, EC2A 3AA

Viet Soho was founded in 2007 by Anh and Nghĩa Lê, political refugees who fled Vietnam as ‘boat people’ in 1980, bringing with them treasured family recipes on their hazardous sea journey. Their wholesome home cooking is what makes this small Soho restaurant so comfortable, immersing customers in the sounds of the family working at its open-fronted kitchen. As a southern Vietnamese immigrant, Viet Soho’s modest menu reminded me instantly of my early life in Saigon. The menu has been refined over time to represent those dishes most loved by repeat customers. My favourites are the scrumptious tangy beef salad (bò tái chanh), with rare meat lightly cooked in lime juice, fresh herbs, and a generous topping of crunchy peanuts and fried onions, as well as the chewy wheat-grain noodles in an sophisticated broth made with pork, dried shrimp and octopus, coined ‘Mum’s hủ tiếu’. The latter is adorned with ground and sliced pork, quail eggs and prawns. 

Time Out tip If you time it right, customers might be offered (free of charge!) the meaty bones (xý quách) used when cooking the restaurant’s aromatic phở broth. Vietnamese people enjoy eating them with a cold beer.

Where to find it: 34 Greek St, W1D 5DJ

Ngon means ‘tasty’, and you won’t hear us arguing with that. The restaurant’s recipes come from owner Hùng Nguyễn’s grandparents, ‘boat people’ who settled in the UK. Hùng’s grandmother is a vegetarian, but for every non-vegetarian dish, there is a vegan alternative listed. Seasonality is integral to head chef Phai Luong’s approach, so do check the specials board too. Dishes that deserve a mention include the enticing crispy squid coated in salted egg; and the tasty ‘lucky mushroom’, which is king oyster mushroom sautéed in garlic, onions, peppers and rich soy sauce until beautifully tender. It has an incredibly smoky, charred flavour and is understandably one of their best sellers. Both the grilled beef phở and the tofu vegetable phở are also splendid.

Time Out tip There’s a range of Asian-inspired cocktails using tropical fruits such as coconut, lychee and pineapple. The ‘tiger lily’ with vodka and lychee is perfect, particularly in the summer when the bifold doors open for al fresco dining and drinking.

Where to find it: 145 Stroud Green Rd, N4 3PZ

As well as Cây Tre and the Kêu chain, Hiếu Nguyễn, is behind Việt Grill, an extremely stylish, modern restaurant. The Hanoi style steamed rice rolls (bánh cuốn) are a favourite with Vietnamese regulars. They have a deliciously soft chew and are served the Hanoi way – with a warm dipping sauce made of meat broth and fish sauce, and filled with tasty, minced pork, Asian mushrooms, shallots, and pork floss. The phở is also very popular, but if you’re looking for something different, the wonton noodles (mì vằn thắn) are divine and come with juicy prawn and pork wontons, and are topped with prawns and slices of char siu. A luscious chicken broth covers these perfectly cooked egg noodles.

Time Out tip Hiếu recommends preordering his off-menu beef wrapped in caul fat casing (bò nướng mỡ chài) at least three days in advance. It’s grilled over charcoal and mouthwatering.

Where to find it: 58 Kingsland Road, E2 8DP

Noticing many vegetarian restaurants in his homeland but a gap in the UK market, Mr Uy has curated a superb and varied vegan menu. In Vietnam, Buddhism is the dominant religion, so many Vietnamese practise vegetarianism. Here, the nourishing, healthy dishes include a crunchy, refreshing, papaya salad (nộm đu đủ), which is laced with fresh herbs and lightly dressed in a sweet, sour, spicy sauce. There are also mustard green rolls (cải xanh cuốn), which are a unique take on typical Vietnamese summer rolls but filled with mustard green leaves, shredded mango, mushrooms, beansprouts, pickled carrots and mooli, and served with a mustard sauce. I love the comforting steamed rice rolls, filled with wheat protein, shiitake mushrooms, black fungus and onions, and there is also a glorious, spicy Huế noodle soup (bún Huế) with fried tofu, courgettes, mushrooms and fresh herbs. 

Time Out tip The restaurant only makes enough rice batter for ten steamed rice roll portions (bánh cuốn) every day, so pre-order.

Where to find it: 120 Kingsland Rd, E2 8DP

Lâm Tự Nguyễn came to the UK for his PhD and part-funded his way by working in a Vietnamese restaurant. It quickly became his passion, and in 2022 he opened the beautiful Sen Restaurant. Must-try dishes include the extraordinarily moreish sticky and sweet crispy chicken wings in a caramelised fish sauce (cánh gà chiên mắm), and the steamed rice rolls, which are filled with sautéed minced pork, wood ear mushrooms and shallots. These are served with Vietnamese sausage and a fish dipping sauce. For an alternative to phở, try the satisfyingly tangy fish noodle soup (bún cá), which comes with fish patties, tomato and dill. 

Time Out tip The iced coconut coffee or coffee with salted cream are a perfect pick me up after a big meal.

Where to find it: 190 Lower Rd, SE16 2UN

Power businesswoman, Christine Trần’s steely determination led her to perfect the art of the famed Vietnamese bánh mì, also known as the national street food of Vietnam. The Vietnamese incarnation of the French baguette – a nod to the country’s colonial past – has a distinctively open texture and delightfully crispy yet light crust. You can watch Christine and her staff at the Bánh bakery make these artisan breads by hand and with great authority. There are ten delectable homemade fillings available, three of which are vegetarian. The ‘classic’ is pure porky heaven, with juicy char siu, ham hock, pork belly roll, pork patty, and – if that's not enough – it’s garnished with pork floss. The ‘Saigon fish stew’, consisting of mackerel fillets in a spicy tomato sauce, brought back memories of breakfasts during my childhood in Vietnam. The ‘Buddha’ with its succulent, homemade plant-based pork makes for one of the best vegetarian meat substitutes I’ve ever encountered. Bánh Bakery’s welcoming, young staff toast each baguette to your liking before generously stuffing it with your chosen filling as well as pâté, mayonnaise, coriander, pickled carrot, and chilli.

Time Out tip A unique grilled beef bánh mì dip is offered occasionally (see the specials menu). It’s a flavourful, aromatic phở broth garnished with fresh herbs, and spring onions.

Where to find it: 592 Kingsland Rd, E8 4AH

Painted bright green, Sông Quê Café stands proudly on a corner of Kingsland Road, home to a whole host of Vietnamese eateries. Since opening in 2002, this reputable family-run business has often seen long queues extending out of its door in the evenings. Matriarch and owner, Ánh Phạm is the source of Sông Quê's flavourful Southern recipes. This is a laid-back, informal dining experience with swift, efficient, and straightforward service. Among the many great dishes on the menu are delicious, deep-fried squid with a delightfully thin, crispy batter and a hint of spice; perfectly stewed, caramelised seabream (cá kho tộ), which comes to the table bubbling in its thick, sweet, salty sauce; and a mouthwatering phở. The phở is topped with fresh chili, lime, beansprouts, and aromatic herbs and features rare steak slices, flank, tendon, tripe, and beef meatballs. 

Time Out tip If you have a sweet tooth, make sure to leave space for one of the three coloured desserts (chè ba màu). These consist of soft beans, smooth coconut cream, and jelly bites mixed with crushed ice.

Where to find it: 134 Kingsland Road, E2 8DY

Phở Thúy Tây’s chef patron Thúy Nguyễn’s displeasure with the authenticity of Vietnamese food in the UK led her to open her restaurant in 2014. Originally from Hanoi, her idea has evolved into a casual café serving authentic northern Vietnamese food. Along with dishes for the adventurous and open-minded, the restaurant serves a good selection of more well-known eats. Try the deliciously crispy cubes of deep-fried tofu in salted egg yolk, or the beautiful, tangy vermicelli soup of crab, pungent shrimp paste and tomato, paired with a snail patty (known as bún riêu cua chả óc) - a rare sight on Vietnamese restaurant menus. There’s also distinctive plum soda (nước sấu soda), which is made from pickled plums, and is remarkably revitalizing, sweet, somewhat herbal, and slightly salty. Thúy prepares specials using fresh ingredients, with intestines, frog's legs, and eels regularly making an appearance on the menu. Give them a try if you're feeling daring.

Time Out tip Bring an adventurous spirit and try the dishes on the specials board. Don’t be afraid to request a translation, as the listed dishes are in Vietnamese.

Where to find it: 1B Rotherhithe Old Rd, SE16 2PP

A family-run enterprise, Huong Vi Viet is a love letter to Anhgel Lê's brother-in-law, who founded the restaurant in 2023, and her mother, whose recipes are the inspiration for those on the menu. Siblings, nieces, and nephews are all also involved in serving up more than fifty expertly prepared dishes. A rare menu find in London are crispy sweet potato pancakes (bánh tôm Hà Nội) topped with succulent king prawns. There is also an impressive deep-fried whole seabass with salt and pepper, skilfully served off the bone and boasting a perfect blend of spices (cá seabass rang muối ớt). A particularly enjoyable dish is ‘Mama’s chicken’ (gà nướng của Mẹ), grilled chicken with a great depth of flavour due to its rich marinade. It comes with a choice of three tempting dipping sauces: garlic butter, honey, or passion fruit. Check out the scenic oil paintings from Vietnamese artist Vũ Kim Thanh of Hanoi landmarks, including Hoàn Kiếm lake, the Húc bridge, the Ngọc Sơn temple, and Turtle Tower.

Time Out tip Ask for Angel’s flower tea, with its light taste and floral aroma. The beautiful flower bud unfurls in its teapot.

Where to find it: 49 Camberwell Church St, SE5 8TR

A charming bistro-style restaurant decorated in sunny yellow with pretty, floral decorations and fairy lights, Ngon Ngon comes from chef patron Trang Lê and her husband, Toàn Bùi, both from Hanoi. Their fresh, crunchy papaya and mango salad with homemade shredded beef (bò khô) has a zesty dressing and is a great way to start your meal. The spring rolls are made with net rice paper for extra crunch and are filled with juicy pork, prawns, wood ear mushrooms and glass noodles. Their speciality is crispy fried whole seabass embellished with thinly sliced sweet mango and coated in a salty, sweet, and garlicky fish sauce dressing. Try them with a cold beer or Ngon Ngon’s refreshing lemonade with passion fruit.

Time Out tip Book in advance. The restaurant gets busy both for lunchtime and dinner.

Where to find it: 144 Clerkenwell Road, EC1R 5DP

Sen Viet is owned by Mr Uy, the mastermind behind Sen Viet Vegan in Hoxton. Busy, comfortable and friendly, there’s an extensive menu of family recipes, including a wide choice for meat eaters as well as vegetarians. Prices are reasonable too. The thin, crispy rice flour and cornflour pancakes (bánh xèo) are tasty, boasting a hint of coconut and generous filling of prawns and pork. The flavoursome ‘shaking beef’ (bò lúc lắc), with its alluring charred aroma, is named after tossing cubes of tender fillet beef in a wok, which are marinated in garlic and dark soy and served with mustard and salad. The chargrilled pork and crispy spring roll vermicelli bowl (bún lợn nướng, cha giò) is a delight. The pork comes packed with flavour from its marinade and the dish is served with carrot pickle, fresh herbs and salad.

Time Out tip This is a great place for delicious food, cold beers and a catch up in a casual environment, but don’t forget to book in the evenings.

Where to find it: 119 King's Cross Rd, WC1X 9NH

An established chain of bustling café-style eateries with branches in Soho, Shoreditch, City and Borough, Kêu specialises in bánh mì. Kêu in Soho is the busiest of the bunch and rightly so. Customers can order bánh mì to go or seat themselves at shared wooden benches. The popular ‘classic’ contains Vietnamese mortadella-style sausage, ham terrine, spiced pork belly, chicken liver pâté, mayonnaise, cucumber, aromatic coriander, chilli slices, and the essential carrot and daikon pickle. The baguettes are lightly toasted and pair perfectly with an iced Vietnamese drip coffee or a refreshing Saigon lime soda. If you’re not drawn to a bánh mì, perhaps order the Nam Vang noodles (hủ tiếu Nam Vang) - Nam Vang is the Vietnamese name for Phnom Penh in Cambodia. These rice noodles are tossed in oyster sauce and sesame oil before pork cooked three ways, prawn, and an impeccably soft, poached egg are added. This is served with a side of umami broth made by slowly simmering pork and shellfish.

Time Out tip On cold days, a steaming bowl of pork and prawn wonton soup to accompany a bánh mì will really hit the spot.

Where to find it: 9 Poland Street, W1F 8PY

Viet Eat ‘is LSE’s best kept secret’, a London School of Economics lecturer and regular lunchtime diner, told me. ‘Don’t tell too many people or I’ll never get a seat!’ Packed with LSE staff, students and office workers, this modest cafe offers prompt, no-nonsense service and a varied menu. From chef Bình Nguyễn of nearby Hoa Sen, Viet Eat is open seven days a week from 10am, making it perfect for an excellent Vietnamese drip coffee in the morning, or a quick bánh mì during the working day. Best sellers include the well-filled baguettes, an accomplished phở with richly aromatic broth, and a superb roasted Lạng Sơn duck, which is marinated for six hours before being served either with steamed rice or sweet mango and salad. 

Time Out tip Arrive early for the Lang Sơn roasted duck as it sells out. You can ask for it on or off the bone.

Where to find it: 48 Kingsway, WC2B 6EP