Mangosteen

Mangosteen’s cheerful blue awning & no-frills dining room are just what many Gipsy Hill residents like to see as they stop off for an appealingly priced weekday supper. ‘Cheap, cheap, cheap – a plateful of food for £5’, yelps one fan. The menu at this family-run joint veers between Vietnamese dishes & those with a wider South-East Asian scope; the former offer the most consistency, quality & zing. Tofu spring rolls, classic pho noodle soups & banh xeo pancakes (stuffed with prawns, squid, bean sprouts & chicken) served with herbs & a chilli dressing, are all deliciously safe bets; the Thai curries less so. Homemade coconut ice cream with lychees is the ultimate finish if you’re blessed with a sweet tooth.