This hidden Dalston Vietnamese restaurant goes over and above similar restaurants in the area.

The Venue
Situated on a residential road just off Kingsland Road, Huong Viet really is a place of recommendation, rather than somewhere you'd stumble upon – and, aside from a discreet sign, it doesn't even look like a restaurant at all. Once inside, the large square room has a temporary, yet very authentic feel to it and the space looks very much like the community centre it once was. The red painted back wall, random selection of paintings and glass pots with flowers on the tables are a nice touch to the plastic chairs and plain white table clothes.

The Atmosphere
The venue attracts 'in the know' locals – and those who do know just keep coming back. Expect to see everyone from couples on a date to families and anything in between; it's advisable to book as it can be packed out every day of the week. Staff are friendly, yet relaxed, and although service can be slow at times, with such an authentic atmosphere, it's worth the wait.

The Food
This is where the restaurants really excels. Far from the greasy Vietnamese foods you can get at some of the local cafes at the bottom of Kingsland Road or on Mare Street, this place serves fresh flavoursome dishes that are great value for money. The menu is huge and pretty much all the dishes can be served with chicken, beef, tofu, prawns or seafood, to satisfy all tastes and dietary requirements.

The rice vermicelli with lemongrass and chilli and chicken (£5.90) is a standout dish. Served in a steaming hot bowl, the vermicelli is lightly cooked to keep its texture, while the finely chopped vegetables and salad are extremely fresh. The portions of meat are of a good size and quality, tearing away nicely and perfectly soaking up the light chilli dressing. Those with a sensitive palate should be warned – the dish comes loaded with fresh chillies for that authentic hit. The Vietnamese vegetable curry with coconut (£5.40) is also an excellent choice. It comes packed with chunks of vegetables including peppers, mushrooms and water chestnuts, and the sauce is really thick and full of flavour without being too rich. The egg-fried rice (£2.50) is good, too – fluffy and full of plenty of nicely done egg.

The Drink
As with a lot of the local Vietnamese restaurants, you can BYO drink if you wish. There's a £1.50 service charge per head (or £2.50 for groups over six), but staff are happy to keep opening bottles for you. Drinks in the restaurant are actually pretty reasonably priced. Wine starts around £12.50 a bottle (£3.50 a glass), while beers are around the £3.50 mark, too. To dine the Vietnamese way properly, try the deliciously refreshing jasmine tea (£1 a head).

The Last Word
Authentic, atmospheric and great value – a must-visit if you're in Dalston.

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