Hung Việt (That Vietnamese Place)

02/08/09

Within six months and a total re-branding. Rest assured that it’s still under the same management and the excellent food is thus maintained.

‘I Vietnamese and you no Vietnamese, I know what I talk about. I can eat what you eat now because it is very Vietnamese. It is real thing. Good?’ Proclaimed and asked by the laddish waiter. We were accosted whilst slurping the Pho (bibs essential, hi Helen!) and yes it was good.

I’ve delayed the posting of the review on That Vietnamese Place until now. This was due to the fact that before I start to the preach the usual ‘life changing hokum’ on the meal here, I needed to see for myself how good Café East was (a Holy Grail of phoshacks as per prescribed all over the blogosphere).

TVP is the latest addition to The Pho Mile. It’s barely five months old and strategically placed between the old stalwart of Loong Kee Café and Time Out’s fave, Song Que. Strategic because when one is put off by the queue at the latter, you move on. The usual things with the interiors are in evidence (applicable to most of the Vietnamese restaurants in this area)- souvenir type prints of Vietnamese life on the walls, hard seats, and the usual lack of luxury. The service can be described as when you initiate a faint bit of praise the staff starts to reciprocate appropriately.

Tap water is not free!

Iced coffee and homemade lemonade

Mixed Vietnamese pizza pancake

To all intents and purposes, an omelette I stand corrected by Meemalee; and an absolutely magnificent one as well. I thought the one at Song Que was the all-defining one but here at TVP, it surpassed it. Don’t forget to order this dish when you’re here.

Char-grilled Quails

2½ birds portion (a common practice in Vietnamese joints). Beautifully marinated and properly cooked. Oh don’t use a knife and fork with this dish, fingers are there for a reason.

The all-important garnishes that come with your noodle soups.
If a restaurant omits on this, then it's an impostor purporting to sell the real thing.

Phở Bò
With rare beef slices. Hyperboles aside, this was better than the one than I had at Café East. Although a pleb’s dish, I’m sure that the Queen wouldn’t irk at it. An oriental consommé so good one shouldn’t offload to the corgies. Exceptional.

Bún bò Huế
Spicy beef vermicelli soup. Despite the reddish hue, don’t despair it’s not that spicy. (Vietnamese vermicelli is thicker than the Chinese variety) Megalicious.

Fair to say that I’m no Vietnamese but it’s also fair to say that the meal I had here was authentic enough. One of the best Vietnamese in town, you’ll love it.



134a Kingsland Road
London E2 8DY