One of the many Vietnamese eateries in Shoreditch, Tay Do Cafe specialises in good food, fast. With its sister restaurant, Tay Do Restaurant, across the road for customers who want to linger, in contrast the cafe makes sure you’re fed and watered and going home happy before you know it.

The Venue
Tay Do Cafe sits among many bars and is handily near an off-licence, which is just as well as the restaurant itself does not have a licence for alcohol. Inside, the cafe is small and bustling, with long communal dining tables leading towards a shutter that connects the kitchen to the eating area. The marine-themed decor isn’t too overbearing, and chatter pretty much drowns out any music playing on a busy lunch or dinnertime sitting.

The Atmosphere
This is an ideal place to come if you want good, authentic Vietnamese food in a hurry. There is a buzz in the air and it seems that the cafe attracts a crowd for both lunch and dinner. It’s not relaxing and the staff don’t give you much time to make up your mind after presenting the menu, coming back at regular and short intervals until you are forced into a decision, but this is fast food the way it should be and everyone knows the score.

The Food
Although served in a hurry, the quality of food at Tay Do Cafe is spot on. The menu is long and varied with many starters, soups and large noodle soups, as well as meat, seafood and vegetable combinations. The deep fried tofu has the appearance of fried bread, but is crispy and light in taste, taking on the flavours of the accompanying fried onions and green chillies. The Vietnamese spring rolls have a hard, fried shell and a soft centre. The pork and vegetable filling is fragrant and moist, making a nice match for hot-and-sour clear dip served with it.

On the mains front, the seafood and celery soup is a large bowl of really fresh ingredients served with a simple side of fresh green chillies for those who want to add a bit of heat. With a generous serving of prawns, stewed celery shoots and fine noodles, this is a warming, invigorating dish.

The Drink
There is a corkage charge of £1 per person when you bring alcoholic drinks into the cafe and there are the usual offerings of soft drinks available. Despite the corkage, this is still a really cheap eatery, with a starter and a main totalling approximately £10.

The Last Word
If you want good, simple and cheap food, fast, then this is the place to go. Tay Do Cafe is nothing fancy, but its food fits the price and is executed well.

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