Darren Ferguson - Weblog
30 May 2007
Little Hanoi - Bun Bo Hue special
More photos of the special are here.
Andy at Little Hanoi very kindly offered to cook as an authentic Bun Bo Hue. All we had to do was bring a big enough group to eat it all.
Needless to say the result was superb, best we've ever had. Unfortunately we can't rate it as you can't just walk in off the street and order it.
If you can get a big enough group (10 or more together) I'm sure Andy will get it together for you. Needless to say, drop us an email so we can come along too!
30 May 2007
Thang Loi - Three chilli rated
Visited: 29/04/2007
Three chilli rated
122 Kingsland Rd, London, E2 8DP.
http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/reviews/10632.html
A new comer to the Kingsland road, we had to step in and try it out.
This typifies what we would describe as an average bowl. Tasty, but nothing really standing out. Stock was reasonably spicy but lacking any real herby fragrance.
Good for: Friendly prompt service.
Bad for: Slightly small portions and fatty beef.
09 May 2007
Cafe East - Four chilli rated
Visited: 07/04/2007
Four chilli rated
24, Evelyn St, Deptford, London, SE8 5DG.
Andy at Little Hanoi recommended this one to us and it didn't dissapoint.
Similar to Hong Van with a wonderfully spicy and herby stock. No chilli sauce required.
Packed full of Vietnamese diners, I have been back since and people are waiting on the pavement to get in.
No complaints whatsoever. A real top notch bowl.
Good for: Wonderful bowl of Bun bo Hue.
Bad for: A bit off the beaten track
01 March 2007
Chilli T-shirts - Buy now!
Ok. So it took us a long time to put together but here they are. If you want to buy one in medium or small, drop me a mail or leave a comment on this blog post. £15 a shirt available in small or medium.
01 March 2007
Viet - Three chilli rated
Visited: 17/02/2007
Three chilli rated
34 Greek Street, London, W1D 5DJ.
http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-7229.php
Another central venue, in the heart of Soho. The cafe interior was pleasent, and this place had the first open Vietnamese kitchen we'd seen.
The bowl was good, stock a little basic with more pork/spam than beef.
Good for: Nice atmosphere, friendly staff.
Bad for: Pork-fest
01 March 2007
Vietnamese restaurant - Three chilli rated
Visited: 11/02/2007
Three chilli rated
34-36 Wardour Street, London, W1D 6QT.
http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-872.php
We were a little dubious about this venue. The name and the ultra tourist location didn't quite ring true. Once seated, the herbs were waiting on the counter and the chilli sauce was on the tables.
The dish itself was Pho, as they didn't serve Hue style, and we didn't have any real criticism. The stock was pretty basic which is why we gave three chillis, but basically a tasty bowl.
Good for: Tourist location.
Bad for: Nothing really
05 February 2007
Saigon Lounge Three chilli rated
Visited: 04/02/2007
Three chilli rated
111-113 Wandsworth High Street, London, SW18 4HY.
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/7260.htm
This strange late pub/Viet restaurant combo turned out a very decent bowl that would have been a definite three and a half had it not been for the fact it were so small.
Staff were very friendly and keen to talk about Vietnam and food.
Good for: Friendly staff.
Bad for: Small portions
05 February 2007
Orient Gardens - Three and a half chilli rated
Visited: 28/01/2007
Three and a half chilli rated
279 Mare St,
Hackney,
London,
E8 3QE.
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/7084.htm
We are always a bit worried about Hybrid Vietnamese/Chinese restaurants, but this place on Mare street was a good solid bowl, and a welcome relief after our trip to Cambridge the night before.
Good for: Basic, but solid performer.
Bad for: No herbs, beansprouts or chilli sauce. Slightly dodgy beef.
05 February 2007
Thanh Binh Two and a half chilli rated
Visited: 27/01/2007
Two and a half chilli rated
17 Magdalene Street, Cambridge, CB3 0AF
http://www.localsecrets.com/showreview.cfm?id=7921
Our spur of the moment trip to Cambridge was rather disappointing. Firstly 'Saigon City Restaurant' doesn't serve Bun Bo Hue but they did offer to make it for us if we gave them enough notice. This is an offer we will have to take up in the future.
Thanh Binh had a noodle soup dish on the menu, but sadly it was tiny, massively over priced and was like someone had dumped sunday roast beef into a bowl of average stock and vermicelli noodles.
Thanh Binh does not cater for Vietnamese and sadly it seems like everything has been westernised and targeted at the top end of the Cambridge restaurant scene.
Good for: Sorry.....
Bad for: Tiny portion, expensive and not very good.
23 December 2006
Viet Grill Three and a half chilli rated
Visited: 02/12/2006
Three and a half chilli rated
58 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8DP
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/7084.htm
We'd been here before the ratings began and were not impressed, but duty bound to cover all Bun Bo Hue on the Kingsland road we returned.
Things had improved, a slightly above average bowl. Nothing to write home about in terms of spice or flavour, but a steady performer anyway.
Good for: Nothing really, just average.
Bad for: No chilli sauce on the tables.
