Even though it's surrounded on either side by trendy and upscale restaurants, droves of people still prefer to seek out the popular Viet Anh Cafe for traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

The Venue
Viet Anh Cafe is very small with simple tables and chairs crammed into every available inch of space. The turquoise walls, painted ceiling and Asian artifacts can make the space feel even smaller. When it's crowded (which it often is), you'll be given the option of joining another party instead of waiting for a table of your own. More often than not, this is the appealing option. To avoid waiting altogether, make a reservation.

The Atmosphere
This popular restaurant gets quite lively with staff bustling around tables. Patrons come from all walks of life and food is served unexpectedly fast. If you’re not one for crowds though, take advantage of their takeaway menu.

The Food
The menu at Viet Anh Cafe is long and extensive. Appetisers are around £5 and consist of everything from prawn crackers and spring rolls to statay chicken. Probably the most popular dish ordered here is the pho and other noodles served in soup. Hot and satisfying, the noodles in soup are a welcome reprieve on a cold day. They also have salads, soups, and an assortment of crispy noodle or rice dishes for around £6. The crispy aromatic duck with pancakes is especially good and costs £13 for a small and £24 for a large (enough for at least 2). If you're on a budget, the crispy aromatic lamb with pancakes is almost as good as the duck and only costs £7 for a small and £13 for a large.

The Drink
Viet Anh Cafe serves Tiger, Tsingta, Budvar, Singha and Carona. They also have a few wines and spirits on offer as well as plenty of teas, soda and juices.

The Last Word
Cheap, fast and flavourful food explains why this Vietnamese cafe is so popular.

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