An authentic snippet of Vietnam in London, Thang Long serves top quality food with a smile.

The Venue
Away from the bustle of Camden Town and the markets, Thang Long is located opposite Camden Road overground station next. It seats about 25 and the decor has a kind of contemporary Asian theme, with white walls and paper tablecloths providing contrast against the black-glossed woodwork and chairs, dark floor boards and low ceiling lights.

The Atmosphere
Glittering fairy lights, a trickling water feature and mellow music make for a relaxing and laid back meal. It also feels quite intimate so it’s a great place to take a date or escape from the more hectic heart of Camden. It remains quite quiet in terms of busyness, which can only be because not enough people know about it - the staff are incredibly friendly and it’s a lovely little place for either lunch or dinner.

The Food
Traditional and reasonably priced Vietnamese fare. There’s a range of small dishes to have as starters or side dishes, and at just £3 - £4 each it’s a good idea to order a few to share. Go for the tasty spring rolls, which unlike the warm and crispy Chinese or Thai variety, are made from translucent rice paper, stuffed with rice noodles, mint, coriander and a choice of chicken, vegetables or whole king prawns – delicious. The chicken satay is also worth a try, with grilled chunks of meat to dip in the rich and creamy nut sauce, as is the vegetable pancake packed with plump, flavoursome mushrooms.

For mains, you can choose between noodle soups, curries, salads, meat and seafood dishes. Most are served with a good helping of basmati rice, making them really good value at around £8 a dish. Go for the monkfish in caramel sauce, which is divine and not nearly as sweet and sickly as it sounds, with incredibly tender fish drenched in a light, gingery sauce. The chicken and sweet potato curry is also a good choice: a rich and fragrant coconut milk sauce, generously seasoned with coriander and fresh chilli.

As with most Asian cuisine, the dessert menu at Thang Long doesn’t live up to the previous savoury delights. There are only two options - neither of which are very tasty - but give the gloopy mashed black beans in warm coconut milk a particularly wide berth.

The Drink
The well-stocked bar serves popular Asian beers. The wine list is modest, yet has some interesting entries, and as a bonus it’s reasonably priced.

The Last Word
If you fancy something a little different, with great food in a mellow setting, pay Thang Long a visit – you won’t regret it.

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