Best Vietnamese restaurants in London: 12 places serving authentic food

Where Thai and Chinese restaurants once dominated the capital's South East Asian dining scene, you can now find a glut of fantastic Vietnamese spots serving up summer rolls and spicy soups all over London. Spurred in part by Londoners on the hunt for healthier meal choices that don’t skimp on flavour, London’s best Vietnamese restaurants cater for both the hungry and the health conscious. There's even a ‘Pho Mile’ over in Hackney, so named for the wealth of Vietnamese joints that line Kingsland Road. Keep on reading to discover London’s best Vietnamese restaurants, from East London and beyond.

A cornerstone of South East Asian cuisine, Vietnamese dishes are often revered for their lightness and fragrance, with the likes of lemongrass, tamarind, fresh herbs and chillies used in abundance. Pho is a great example of this, a flavoursome, brothy soup served with rice noodles, fresh herbs and thinly sliced meat. It's comforting and nourishing in equal measure, and one of Vietnam's most famous dishes. Elsewhere, curries, rice and noodles are prevalent throughout the country, albeit notably lighter than their equivalents over in India, Thailand and China, which are often touted for their heat and richness.

That’s not to say that Vietnamese cuisine is without its treats. Banh Mi for example, a French-style baguette traditionally filled with meat, pate, mayo and pickled veg, is one of Vietnam’s greatest culinary creations and a popular street food enjoyed for breakfast and lunch. Elsewhere, Banh Xeo – crispy Vietnamese pancakes – see crepes stuffed with prawns and veg, then deep fried for ultimate crunch.

To help you fully discover this wonderful cuisine, we’ve rounded up our favourite Vietnamese restaurants in London. Some are well-known, while others are off the beaten track, but one thing they all have in common is their reputation for top-notch food.

BunBunBun, Hoxton and Dalston 

Why: So good they named it three times, BunBunBun has two sites on Kingsland Road, one up the Dalston end and the other nearer Hoxton. As the name suggests, these guys specialise in bun-based dishes, the term 'bun' translating to rice vermicelli in Vietnamese. The thing to get here is its bun vermicelli noodle salads, which you can build yourself or choose ready-made from one of its signature creations. Either way, each one comes with rice noodles, salads, peanuts, crispy shallots, herbs and a tasty dressing.
Where: 511 Kingsland Road, E8 4AR; 134B Kingsland Road, London, E2 8DY
Book now: Hoxton and Dalston

Cây Tre, Soho and Hoxton

Why: There are several reasons both the Old Street and Soho branches of Cây Tre are always packed, the most important of which is the quality of the food. Each dish, from the restaurant’s signature pho to its ever-popular ‘piggy grilled aubergine’, is cooked to perfection and presented beautifully. It’s no surprise that the flavours here are authentic though, since Cây Tre was one of the first Vietnamese restaurants in London. Service is stealthy at both outposts, so whether you’re popping in for a quick lunch with colleagues in Hoxton, or grabbing a bite before a show in Soho, you can expect fantastic fast food.
Where: 42-43 Dean Street, W1D 4PZ; 301 Old Street, EC1V 9LA
Book now: Soho and Old Street

Keu, Various London locations

Why: Top billing at this set of sleek Vietnamese eateries in central and east London goes to the choice of banh mi, with fillings ranging from crispy pork belly to kimchi roast chicken and roast duck. Don't sleep on Keu’s meaty ‘original’ banh mi, which is packed to the rafters with mortadella, chicken liver pâté, spiced pork belly, spicy mayo and ham terrine. Noodle dishes also get top marks for authenticity, since they’re filled with hand-pulled noodles flown in from Saigon weekly.
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Soho, Moorgate and Shoreditch

Viet Grill, Hoxton

Why: This laidback Vietnamese kitchen serves up reliably delicious Vietnamese pho, sharing plates and a selection of grill dishes cooked to order on its flaming josper grill. Definitely one of the more stylish restaurants along Kingsland Road’s 'Pho Mile', Viet Grill sports trendy interiors that are instantly welcoming. Kids' menus and a set lunch caters to all occasions and budgets, while tasty dishes includes the likes of its Saigon pork belly stew, braised in coconut juice and caramelised fish sauce, then served with a double-cooked egg.
Where: 58 Kingsland Road, E2 8DP
Book now: Viet Grill

Pho & Bun, Soho

Why: Rich beef bone broths and steamed bun burgers are this West End restaurant’s raison d'être, and boy does it do them well. The pho, which almost overflows with tofu, chicken, steak or BBQ pork, is superb value, as are the summer rolls packed with fat king prawns. It's a tight squeeze inside, with diners eating elbow to elbow while they slurp on soupy noodle bowls, but that's all part of the fun.
Where: 76 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6ND
Book now: Pho & Bun

Pho, Various London locations

Why: This popular pho-focused chain restaurant has been such a rip-roaring success since it opened in 2005, that you can now find its sites all over the UK. While the menu features a range of tasty plates, its signature bowls of pho are still the main event, with toppings such as beef brisket, tofu and mushroom and crab. Vegan, gluten-free and kids' menus ensure there's always something for everyone, while competitive prices don't take the biscuit either. Perfect for a casual weeknight dinner with friends and family. 
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Pho

The House of Ho, Fitzrovia

Why: The offering at this smart spot from ex-Gilgamesh chef-director Ian Pengelley is more broad than others on this list, since its menu takes inspiration from the whole of East Asia. You’ll still find Vietnamese classics on the menu, including pho, summer rolls and a vibrant mango, prawn and papaya salad, along with other Pan-Asian delights such as sushi, sashimi and dumplings. Mix and match a selection for the ultimate feast!
Where: 1 Percy Street, W1T 1DB
Book now: The House of Ho

Bành Bành, Brixton and Peckham

Why: Super-stylish, with welcoming staff and wallet-friendly prices, this Vietnamese canteen in Peckham is a winner amongst locals. The menu offers ‘smallish’, ‘biggish’ and ‘classic’ dishes, meaning you can either opt for starters and mains, or share everything as a family-style feast. Now with a second site in Brixton, fans flock to this trendy joint to enjoy the likes of canh ga sticky wings, bun bun noodle salad, yellow chicken curry and banh khot pancakes. 
Where: 326 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8QH; 46 Peckham Rye, SE15 4JR
Book now: Brixton and Peckham

Banh Mi Bay, Various London locations

Why: Packed full of raw salad and herbs, the eponymous banh mi available at this small outfit in St Paul’s is as healthy as it is flavoursome. There are hot and cold fillings to choose from, along with a range of main dishes that include pho, bun vermicelli noodle salads and rice plates. Located in Holborn, Fitzrovia and Surray Quays, it's handy for hungry office workers looking for a sandwich with a little more bite.
Where: 4-6 Theobalds Road, WC1X 8PN
Book now: Banh Mi Bay

Viet Eat, Holborn

Why: Well suited to quick dinners with friends or casual date nights, Viet Eat is the buzzy sibling of Soho’s Pho & Bun. Its Holborn location is handy for tasty pre-theatre dining, and its set lunch and dinner prices are a steal for the area. Standout dishes include crispy pork and crab rolls dipped in fish sauce, and pho tran - a dry version of pho mixed with BBQ honey pork, roast pork and corn-fed chicken, served with lettuce, fresh herbs and peanuts.
Where: 48 Kingsway, WC2B 6EP
Book now: Viet Eat

Mien Tay, Battersea and Hoxton

Why: A proud resident of Kingsland Road’s 'Pho Mile', Mien Tay is well-known for its first-rate south-western Vietnamese food. So popular is this traditional Vietnamese restaurant that it had to expand into the building next door at its original site, before opening a second site in Lavender Hill. Must-tries include the salt, pepper and garlic squid, and the honey and spice char-grilled chicken. Feeling brave? Try the stir-fried frog's leg or eel.
Where: 180 Lavender Hill, SW11 5TQ; 122 Kingsland Road, E2 8DP
Book now: Lavender Hill and Hoxton

City Caphe, Bank

Why: Cheery interiors, smiley staff and wallet-friendly dishes are always appealing at this lunchtime-only café in the City. French-inspired bánh mì baguettes are the stars of the menu, but street food along the lines of spicy lemongrass noodle soup, classic pho, and summer rolls are excellent too. You might have to queue here at prime lunchtime, but it’s worth it.
Where: 17 Ironmonger Lane, EC2V 8EY
Book now: City Caphe

Green Papaya, London Fields

Why: Unless you live or work around London Fields, it’s unlikely you’ll have come across this family-run gem of a restaurant before – which is how the locals would like to keep it. Unlike most Vietnamese restaurants in London, this outfit focuses on the country’s other mainstays, including stir-fries, spicy salads and slow-braised dishes. Prices haven’t changed much in almost 20 years, meaning you can over-order and still pay less than you would somewhere more central.
Where: 191 Mare Street, E8 3QE
Book now: Green Papaya

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