Viet-anh Cafe

I've been here twice, thinking the first time might have been a one-off, not particularly good experience. But it was no better the second time. Our starters, a classical salt and chili squid and a Vietnamsese salad, were very disappointing, with the squid chewy, pale and lacking any discernible flavour. The salad was limp and lacking the traditional accompanying herbs--the dressing tasted of very little. My lemongrass prawns with noodles were OK, much better than the starters, but my dining companion's noodles tasted, very oddly, predominantly of Indian curry powder and didn't resemble anything I've ever been served in Vietnam. A really disappointing meal. I found the place uncomfortable too, with the people behind us seatd so close that they kept banging into my chair, and it was impossible to escape the conversation from the table next to us. The starters came without any plates, so we trailed food across the table, and when we asked for plates so we could share the starters, we were met with an incomprehending look. I have no idea why people would come here
Comment on this reader review

Julia - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Monday, April 21, 2008

This is a top, top place, excellent food, terrific value for money (hard to spend more than £10 per person) friendly and helpful staff and very swift service - you can easily eat here in 20mns if you are in a rush. There is a very good veggie selection and the menu highlights spicy dishes so you can avoid them or go for them according to your tastes. Well worth seeking out - this has to be one of the best places in London in terms of value for money. An absolute gem well worth seeking out even if you aren't in North London.
Comment on this reader review

Giuliano Simeone - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, December 05, 2007

This place is brilliant! I am vietnamese and this is now my favourite viet place to eat in London. The food is fresh and authentic and is always served swiftly and with a smile. The owner is lovely, I dont know her name but shes the waitress too and always gives me great service.

I have been to all the restaurants down in Hackney and Kingsland Road, this can definitely compete alongside the best, its much better than the one in Crouch End (Khoai) which doesnt serve hardly any vietnamese dishes.

My favourites here are the fresh summer prawn rolls, the prawn and chicken pancake which comes with lettuce and you wrap it up and dip it in the unique lime and fishsauce, and the salads are all amazing, esp the lotus shoot one with prawns and chicken.

Its defintely a winner and im back every week!
Comment on this reader review

Tuan
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, October 16, 2006

I went last night with my girlfriend and thought the food pretty bad. The spring rolls were ordinary, the chicken curry had awful-quality chicken and the deep-fried fish was almost inedible. Only the home-made lemonade was worthwhile. Considering the choice in camden, I couldn't recommend it. Reading previous reviews, I'm tempted to try the pho, but life is too short, so I'll try it elsewhere. Service was friendly and timely.
Comment on this reader review

Nick - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Saturday, September 30, 2006

I went back last weekend for a Pho fix after being dissapointed the first time.

Seems the chef has changed (i asked) and although it still wasn't brilliant, it was a whole load better.
Comment on this reader review

Darren Ferguson
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7
Monday, August 21, 2006

I came to Viet Anh on the basis of the reviews and the fact that when I rang the actual place - the nice person on the other end said that they served pho! You would be suprised how many places claim to be Viet and they don't even sell pho.

Part of my background is Lao and I used to work in a big Viet community so I am used to proper viet food. I have been living in London for 8 months and have not managed to find a good viet place - my search is over!

I chose to have the fresh rice paper rolls with prawns and crab stick with a bowl of beef pho. The rolls were good - esp with the thai basil leaves. So many places leave them out! The pho was delicious! Good viet food tastes fresh and clean tasting and this place did well. My only criticisms were that they served coriander with the pho instead of the more traditional thai basil and they served a lime wedge instead of lemon. The chilli that they served with the soup was not the mind blowing stuff- just a little heat to go with the broth.. lovely

I think this place is good value for good Viet food - better than loads of other places that are more Chinese than Viet. And good pho is the ultimate feel good meal for me - I will be back and so will my friends.
Comment on this reader review

Danielle
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, April 05, 2006

I wouldn't recomend this restaurant at all. The food was clearly heated up in the microwave, and several hours later I had severe food poisoning. The staff and the atmosphere were fine, but this doesn't matter when the food is so bad.
Comment on this reader review

fran
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Brilliant, brilliant food, friendly service and very reasonable prices. Staff with take time to explain traditional ways of eating Vietanmese style such as wrapping shrimps in crispy lettuce - delicious! A great place. I recommend the salmon.
Comment on this reader review

Mariam Abu-Hejleh
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, April 04, 2006