A vibrant Vietnamese BYO.

The Venue
On a corner of busy Mare Street in the heart of Hackney, this small, square cafe, with large windows and a glass door, is full of closely set tables and padded vinyl chairs - be prepared to knock elbows with neighbouring diners. Hai Ha gets very busy – especially on weekends – and staff can get a bit harried, but are usually friendly and able to make recommendations to those new to Vietnamese cuisine.

The Atmosphere
Lively, noisy and brimming with life, Hai Ha buzzes with waiters racing backwards and forwards carrying steaming bowls of noddles and plates of rice. This cheap but cheerful cafe attracts a wide variety of diners from empty nesters discussing the latest in house prices over a bottle of rather good red, to noisy Nigerian families chatting away about university prospects, to nervous first daters from the local college. Hai Ha is filled with Hackney life.

The Food
The large menu has a great deal of choice and provides the usual standard Chinese dishes. While these are fine, the Vietnamese dishes are what make this place worth a visit. Try the smoked shredded chicken to start – it almost smoulders in the mouth, the thin, crispy shreds of chicken alight with sweetness and chilli hotness. The lettuce wrap with minced chicken, prawn and bamboo shoots is a crunchy, lighter choice. Any of the duck noddle dishes are favourites as are the Hai Ha special noodles, which arrive at the table like a tasty noodle nest scattered with tiny pork, chicken and prawn pieces. None of the noddle dishes are more than £5 and starters come in at around £4 (though some are more), which means Hai Ha can provide a fantastic meal for two which leaves change from £20.

The Drink
Hai Ha is a BYO – so pop to the nearby off license for your booze of choice, or stick to soft drinks and palate cleaning green tea. They don't charge corkage.

The Last Word
Hai Ha is good value, fun food stop, perfect if you are on your way to the nearby Hackney Empire or Vortex Jazz Cafe.

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