Have tried most of the Vietnamese restaurants in this area and finally got around to the Mien Tay restaurant, which was highly recommended by Time Out. I don't know why, it was truly awful. The restaurant has expanded into the shop next door, which is where they asked us to sit. Unfortunately the decoration is still unfinished, so it felt as if we were sitting in a building site. It was cold as well.

The service wasn't good: they tried to rush us, and completely forgot about the squid starter. The food itself was terrible: the ribs were mostly fat, the squid (when it arrived) was bland, the chicken dish was mostly onions. the rice was broken up into many little pieces (so seemed more like cous-cous), and the shaking beef wasn't shaking at all, it had no life or flavour to it whatsoever. The portions of all of them were on the mean side (probably a good thing in retrospect).

Visiting a restaurant is not just about the food, it is about the whole experience: the ambience of the place, the service, and about how comfortable the diner feels. This particular experience left a very nasty taste in the mouth: both literally and figuratively. The disappointment and feeling of being ripped-off was very strong.

Based on this visit, one wonders how this place attracts customers at all.

I used to love this place and go regularly, perhaps 2-3 times a month!.

The food is freshly cooked, reasonable portions and fair prices.

Its cramped with close together tables and most of the people there are 20-40 and you might think they are students although I think thats only an impression because they are noisy and casually dressed. It used to be full and waiting for a table.

My love of the place was started because it used to be BYOB. Very unfortunately they are now licenced. I dont know what their current policy is about BYOB but usually thats ended when they become licenced. But I have not been back since as I have been going to the other places nearby instead.

Tony

Should never come there. Maybe the food is fantastic but do you know how much they exploit their employees? I worked there for 1 week, totally 44 hours and then they paid me nothing. They and me all are Vietnamese and they treated me like that. Can you tell me what kind of people they are? Exploiter.

Food is fantastic and amazing value, try the steamed sea bass its fresh, zingy and utterly delicious.

waiters are friendly and fast, do book or you will be stuck in a queue down Kingsland Road.

Excellent customer service (very rare these days), good food, good price, good location... a quick and easy meal where the only fault I could pick was in the aged decor and the fact that the place could do with a paint job/renovation!

Oh my God I LOVE this place! The staff are the friendliest in London and you can afford to leave a generous tip as it's so cheap. As in unbelievably so. My partner and I ate enough food to feed a small army and I was dreading the bill but it was just under £40! I couldn't believe it. And it was delicious - especially the sea bass.

I'm going back again and taking all my friends. Will definitely be a new regular haunt.

Amazing! I can't believe such high quality food has appeared from the standard Vietnamese caffs on Kingsland Rd. I stumbled accross it as I came from the Dalston end and normally stick to the Old Street part of the road, Mien Tay is right at the top. - but worth the extra 5 minutes walk! Fresh flavours, expertly cooked, cheap = winner! I cannot recommend this place high enough.