The best Vietnamese restaurants in London

Việt Grill is a sleek spot in Shoreditch that serves authentic Hanoi-style cuisine. The bánh cuốn are soft, savoury and served the traditional way with warm dipping sauce and minced pork filling, while the phở is rich and aromatic. If you fancy something different, the wonton noodles with juicy prawn and char siu are a solid choice.

This small, family-run restaurant in the heart of Soho serves the kind of honest, southern Vietnamese dishes you'd find in Saigon homes. The tangy beef salad is fresh and fragrant, while Mum's hủ tiếu noodles with pork, shrimp and quail eggs are a local favourite. It's the kind of place where the clatter of the open kitchen adds to the vibe, and if you're lucky, you might get a bowl of meaty bones to nibble with your beer.

Green Papaya Xi'Viet is a colourful spot serving Vietnamese cooking with a twist from China's Xi'an region. The menu covers everything from pho to noodles and grilled meats that arrive still sizzling. It's laid-back, a little loud in the best way, and the kind of place you come with mates, order too much, and leave plotting your next visit.

Ngon, which translates as “tasty,” stays true to its name. This neighbourhood Vietnamese restaurant keeps things friendly and seasonal, with recipes passed down from the owner's grandparents. The crispy salted egg squid is a must, and the king oyster mushroom stir-fried with garlic and soy has a smoky depth that wins over vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. There's even a dedicated vegan menu. The cocktails, like the vodka and lychee 'Tiger Lily', are fun and fruity, especially when the bifold doors open in summer.

There are a number of branches of Kêu dotted around London, serving some of London's best bánh mì, stuffed with pork belly, pâté, pickles and coriander inside a crisp baguette. It's the kind of place where you grab a quick bite at a shared table and end up staying for a coffee or lime soda. If you've got time, the Nam Vang noodles with prawn, pork and egg are a great alternative to a sandwich.

If you want Vietnamese cooking in Camberwell, head to Viet Café. This local spot has a rustic look and a mouthwatering menu of street food. Try a refreshing bún salad, a banh mi, pho, or comforting mains like grilled pork with rice. Takeaway meals and catering services are also on offer.

Painted bright green and always lively, Sông Quê Café has been a Kingsland Road fixture since 2002. It's casual, fast-paced and full of families tucking into phở and crispy squid. The caramelised seabream, bubbling in its sweet-salty sauce, is a highlight, while the phở comes packed with different cuts of beef and plenty of herbs. Service is brisk and to the point, but that's part of the charm. Finish with a three-colour dessert if you've got room.

This all-vegan Vietnamese spot in Deptford is a real gem. The menu draws from Buddhist vegetarian traditions, offering dishes that feel both nourishing and flavour-packed. The papaya salad is crunchy and refreshing, while the mustard green rolls are a clever twist on summer rolls, filled with mango, mushrooms and pickled vegetables. Don't miss the steamed rice rolls or the spicy Huế noodle soup with fried tofu and mushrooms. It's relaxed, plant-based dining done properly, without any fuss.

Hoa Sen on Drury Lane brings together chef Bình Nguyễn's Vietnamese and Chinese influences in style. The steamed rice rolls are beautifully delicate, stuffed with minced pork and mushrooms, and paired with a bouncy cinnamon sausage. His signature roast duck, flavoured with aromatic Vietnamese spice, is rich and perfectly balanced by slices of mango. The space feels calm and polished but not pretentious, making it a great pick for dinner before a show or a casual night out in the West End.

Phở Thúy Tây is a no-nonsense Hackney café with a focus on northern Vietnamese cooking. The menu mixes familiar comfort dishes with more adventurous options like frog's legs and eel. The crispy salted egg tofu is a winner, and the crab and snail vermicelli soup is tangy, savoury and surprisingly light. Specials change often, so it's worth asking what's new. It's a casual spot with real heart, where authenticity comes before trends, and regulars keep coming back for that reason.

Viet Ngon is a cosy Finsbury Park spot where exposed brick, bright walls, and the smell of slow-stewed broth set the tone. The pho here simmers for 24 hours, the spring rolls arrive crisp and golden, and there's plenty of curry and noodles to keep things interesting. It's relaxed, local, and exactly where you want to end up with a cold beer and a steaming bowl after a long day.

Cay Tre has been around longer than most of London's pho spots, and it's still one of the best. The bright, elegant dining room sets the stage for crispy spring rolls, fragrant curries, and steaming bowls of pho that hit every time. There's even a set lunch if you need a quick fix between meetings — though you'll probably want to stick around for a bit longer.

Eat Vietnam 1 in Deptford feels like stepping into someone's home kitchen, only with a lot more charcoal smoke and skill. Run by husband-and-wife team Bình and Shelly Lê, this cosy spot serves recipes passed down from Shelly's mother and mother-in-law, all properly authentic and full of flavour. The quail grilled over charcoal is a standout, smoky and fragrant with lemongrass, while the mini coconut pancakes with prawns are light and crisp. Finish with the creamy sago and taro dessert or a strong iced coffee — both hit the spot.

Hai Cafe is a narrow, family-run spot in Lower Clapton turning out some of the most satisfying bánh mì in East London. The short, crisp baguettes are stuffed with lemongrass chicken, pork belly or tofu, alongside pickles and sesame spread. It's walk-in only, which fits the low-key vibe, and there's usually a comforting curry or two on the go.

Deptford's Viet Alley is a cosy BYOB hideaway where everything feels easygoing. It's a spot for slow, chatty meals over bowls of spicy bún bò huế or vegan mock ribs glazed to sticky perfection. The room is dimly lit and informal, more about good company and comfort food than ceremony. It's the kind of place you duck into for a quick bite and end up staying for hours. Perfect for groups, but equally nice if you're dining solo.

Huong Viet keeps things traditional while adding a touch of polish. Executive chef Do Minh brings two decades of experience to dishes like crunchy Saigon spring rolls and a deeply aromatic combo beef phở with proper tripe and tendon. The bánh mì are made fresh at the front, filled with homemade ingredients, and the coconut coffee is a must-order. The space feels warm and inviting, more local favourite than hidden gem, and that's exactly what makes it work.