Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch

Vietnamese restaurant · Hackney

Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch

Vietnamese restaurant · Hackney

1

301 Old St, London EC1V 9LA, United Kingdom

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Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch by null

Highlights

Classic Vietnamese dishes, 18-hour pho broth, fresh spring rolls  

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301 Old St, London EC1V 9LA, United Kingdom Get directions

caytrerestaurant.co.uk

£20–30 · Menu

Reserve

Information

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301 Old St, London EC1V 9LA, United Kingdom Get directions

+44 20 7729 8662
caytrerestaurant.co.uk
caytrerestaurant

£20–30 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 8, 2025

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Where to Eat in Shoreditch

"Also in the Vietnamese Kitchen family that runs Kêu, Cây Tre specialises in Vietnamese cuisine but concentrates more on the traditional dining experience than its street food-focused sibling. The menu features items meant for feasting in groups as much as savouring alone, making it ideal for delivery and takeout. Try the beef phở, which has an 18-hour prep time; it’s hard to go wrong with a starter of salt-and-pepper squid, too." - Adam Coghlan, James Hansen

https://london.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-shoreditch-london
View Postcard for Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch

Hyuk

Google
Amazing experience. Foods are wholesome and absolutely delectable. I tried the shrimp spring rolls and grilled pork vermicelli, both were flavorful and satisfying. The staff are friendly, especially Jules, who made a delicious drink and provided excellent service. The restaurant is clean, neat, and incredibly cozy. I highly recommend stopping by if you’re looking for an authentic taste of Vietnamese cuisine.

James Newbery

Google
A nice evening meal with former work colleagues and this was recommended by a friend. Great call. A welcoming and warm dining room that's small and nicely appointed. We were welcomed and the staff were all friendly and accommodating. The food was great and washed down with a nice Saigon lager which was refreshing and light. The friends recommendation was well received. Thanks to the staff front of house and back.

IDee ISee IWin

Google
It’s been quiet awhile since I’ve been here, my friend brought me and NOPE it DIDN’T disappoint. The staff were so nice and fast! Didn’t have to wait too long for the food, which gave us a chance to catch up without starving. We were FULL and I felt the nutrition of the food, that’s when you know you’re getting food made with love and attention. I told others about it and I’m coming back soon! And to get more pics and videos for my reviews 🙂‍↔️

Safa

Google
Delicious food, but smaller portions and higher in price compared to a lot of other vietnamese places in the area. Definitely recommend the Veggie starter platter as it is great value for money. Despite smaller pho portions it was still pretty filling.

Jehan Moorthy

Google
One of the most delicious bun bo hue pho I’ve ever had - nice and spicy with the right umami flavour from the shrimp paste. Great to also find Saigon lager here. Summer Rolls were also delicious.

Isabel Moretti

Google
Great Vietnamese food! They have more options than your average Vietnamese eatery. It's a bit fancier than most "home cooking" style places you'll find as well. Walked in for the decor and I did not regret this. ✨️ The manager Kin was very welcoming 🙏🏻

D Kim

Google
It can be a bit noisy, but the food is fantastic. The Soho branch is great, too, but I prefer this location. I always choose to come here with friends when I want Vietnamese food. The atmosphere is lively, especially at dinner time, so if you enjoy that kind of vibe, you'll appreciate the unique experience of dining in Shoreditch. However, the manager does seem a bit on edge and tends to watch customers closely, but overall, it’s a great spot.

Boya Xue

Google
We have ordered multiple times online and finally came to the restaurant today! The food is amazing as always and the service is awesome as well. We really enjoyed the vibe-very warm and welcoming. You can always trust the taste of pho and the small platters-fresh, subtle and well-balanced! To my surprise the drinks are also good-love the Vietnamese coffee and Saigon cider!!!

Jonathan B.

Yelp
Can't say enough good things about this must-try restaurant. Staff is efficient, quick and helpful - and there's something for everyone in your party on the menu, even the pickiest of eaters. Make a reservation now!
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Duke D.

Yelp
Good food. Loud EDM music for a Sunday morning when I'm there to get my bowl of recovery goodness. I suggest playing music to cater to the customers not the workers. The food is good. We liked everything we ordered. The food is pricey relative to the portion though. Overall, it's one of the better Vietnamese restaurants we have been to.
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Carolyn V.

Yelp
The Good: :: it's a local business :: food comes out pretty quickly The Bad: :: none, there's just... The Ugly: :: Pho was weak sauce. blaaaaaaand broth, EXTREMELY overcooked pho noodles. :: appetizers nothing to write home about Would I go back? Probably not. It was easy to get in and out and the food did the job in a bind. Other than that, the food isn't worth getting. Maybe I caught them on a bad night. Too bad there are other options in town that will get my attention next time I'm in London. This place is OUT.
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Annie H.

Yelp
Why did I come to this restaurant? One of the worst bowls of pho I've ever had. No offense, considering I'd had so much authentic pho in my life. Broth didn't have much flavor. The spring rolls were also pretty bad. They were super tiny and three fourths of the roll was just lettuce. On top of that, it was not cheap.
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Molinda K.

Yelp
My friend and I were looking for a Vietnamese local restaurant close to our hotel in Old Street, with only a 15 minutes short walk we thought we would give this place a shot. I ordered a cha gio chat (Vietnamese egg roll vegetarian) and a pho seafood, the broth was made from chicken broth with fresh seafood. I took a bite of the noodles and was impressed of the taste because it tasted very homemade and fresh (we didn't ask if it was). Their Vietnamese coffee was also sweet wish it was a little stronger. All in all, I enjoyed my experience -- the staff were really nice and kept us in the loop with the wait time of our food. If I'm in London again I would come and support them again. The only downside is the pricing - I think I spent $16 total which is a lot for a Vietnamese restaurant... but again, we ARE in London!
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Dia D.

Yelp
Had the Saigon pancake, stuffed crab, and lettuce dumplings and everything tasted good. The stuffed crab wasn't spicy so a little bland for my taste. We also had the summer rolls and a noodle dish for 45.34 GBP or $74. This was one of the best meals that we had while in London which seems to be full of many overpriced mediocre restaurants.
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Elisa T.

Yelp
Alllll hype no substance. A 30 minute queue in an overbooked noisy restaurant for average Vietnamese/Chinese food? Naaaaaah I don't understand why people go here especially when there are plenty of crazy delicious Vietnamese options near by. I guess the options are huge so you are getting your money's worth but I'd say most of the food options are actually more like Chinese takeout dishes rather than healthy simple Vietnamese dishes. The matcha milkshake I had was on point though but again not very Vietnamese.
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Phoebe L.

Yelp
Vietnamese classics plus all sorts more. They do pho and they do it pretty well. All they need is some extra flavourings on the table as they can be a touch bland. There is no lack of additional chilli options. There are the standard pho like beef and chicken (including the ultra safe pulled chicken breast) and then all sorts of variations. The beef in the traditional pho is fall apart and really perfectly cooked. But they all need a touch more soy/oyster/vinegar ? fir some extra flavour. The menu is huge and there is lots of well gentrified Vietnamese items to share and snack on. I love love love the crab rolls and the tofu aubergine is delicious. There is a single scallop which is unsharable (it's big but I don't believe in sharing scallops) as one bite wouldn't be enough. There is definitely a 'proximity to old street' tax on the food so if you want something a bit cheaper go around the corner. But it's pretty alright with a good vibe! Do the big menu sharing! It's probably the best way
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Saima M.

Yelp
A group of us popped into here for a quick bite after checking out a few bars nearby! There are a few Vietnamese restaurants on the same road but this one attracted us as there was no queue to get in, there was extra seating areas downstairs, and the food look great through the window! So we walked in and was greeted by a member of staff who asked if we were eating in or takeaway and as we had se time on our hands we ate inside. Probably not the best place to go after having a heavy drinking session as all we could drink was water, but I gotta admit the little jug of water with ice and a slice of lemon looked pretty! So to start off with we shared a Crispy Vietnamese vegetable Spring Rolls which came with some sauces, which was yummy and we could have ordered another but then came our second part of the meal which was a a plate of Wok-fried Ramen Noodle, which had oyster mushrooms, beansprouts, green onions, followed with Campfire Hanger Steak which is cooked with oyster sauce, onions and the steak was very soft. Once we finished eating it did take the waitress a long time to realise we had finished and wanted to pay our bill as she had disappear for some time but we have been here again since the service was a lot better! Also loved the menu choices as there wasn't too many items to over complicate what to select!
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Ross E.

Yelp
Excellent Vietnamese on Old Street. The decor is pretty drab and it's always a bit bustly and cramped with people BUT that's because it's so GOOD!!! The Pho's are great - I can recommend the chicken thigh & drum pho with no noodles if you're an aspiring paleo like minded person. They do great summer rolls and lamb neck curry too.. All round to nosh!
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Colleen C.

Yelp
This is our local "go-to" for Vietnamese "to go" near Old Street. It certainly isn't the greatest in the area (obviously Vietnamese delicacies abound down Kingsland Road), but it is fine. We've eaten in a few times and don't really like the atmosphere (a bit cramped, pretty loud, usually a que) but we've hit the sweet spot with a pick-up routine. The service is always good, either way though! *call 10-15 minutes before you'll be hungry. Order. *Pick up 10-15 minutes later. *Voila! I've had lots of things here, the pho is AOK but I typically do not get that dish as takeaway for the obvious reason that it rarely stands up to being transported. But we often get spring rolls, summer rolls, hot dishes like chicken skewers, fried rice, etc. It's all tasty and I've never had a complaint. Our order is always ready when they say it will be and we are in and out in a flash with our food! *They don't deliver, but they do accommodate takeaway orders swiftly and accurately, which is more than I can say for many area restaurants! They have the correct containers as well, so your food won't be a literal "hot mess" when you get it home. Bonus: the Vietnamese coffee is always a treat!
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Tim L.

Yelp
In my quest for the perfect pho, I've found myself in cay tre... Not for the first time. I'm looking for my perfect bowl and I'll be fair, cay tre does come pretty close. In my pho reviewing career, probably the closest. The pho is always perfectly cooked, it is smooth, but not overcooked. The toppings - whichever one you go for are also on point. My litmus test is usually the beef balls - I like it with some tendon and elasticity, the beef balls are great here!! The soup is flavourful and abundant, I just have to drink all the soup after a satisfying meal. So far so good. So why four stars? Firstly, my generic frustration with London is why we charge extortionate fees for bowls of soup noodles. I'm sure this resonates with most. I understand the margins and so forth, but let's admit it, the bull of your pm should come from drinks. Leave the food alone. Anyway, secondly, pho would probably tip the 5 star mark alone, a bit more herbs and bean sprouts on my herb plate is really all I ask. Lastly, the sides that I've had are a bit hit and miss. I personally prefer the summer rolls in city caphe over the summer rolls at cay tre. They skimped on the vermicelli and meat and overdid the herbs. I ain't no herbivore. Having said that, I've had this wonderful 'piggy aubergine' in old st cay tre which was deliciously meaty and vinegary. Yum. I do like cay tre and in a world of expensive pho and overcompensating (to the point of rude, you know who I'm talking about, Song Que) Vietnamese restaurants. For now, find me in Cay Tre.
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Ally H.

Yelp
Quite decent no frills kinda restaurant close to Old Street. It was pouring with rain so it wasn't hard to get a table but it was still busy inside. I've heard you have to wait a while for a table on non rainy days! I order the chow pho noodles. It's a rice noodle/pho dish with beef. Sooo flavoursome and beefy. Not too much broth either and a good helping of vegetables. Also quite big portion for about £9. The Vijito cocktail was particularly passion-fruity and refreshing - although a bit light on the rum I felt. Service was attentive and quick. Also, I tried Flying Goose Hoisin sauce for the first time. Where can I buy that?? Yum!
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Natalie W.

Yelp
For some reason I thought there would be a takeaway counter here so was taken by surprise and then mortified when I was sat on one half of somebody's else's table, with another 2 people inches to my right. The stress continued as I frantically searched on my phone for how to pronounce "pho" (no connection between this and me dining alone, obviously). Is it fuh? Is it foe? I tried fuh and then the server repeated it back to me as "foe". WHAT? So yes, this was my first pho experience. The beef was well cooked and tasty and although I wasn't sure exactly how to add the herbs, lemon etc that came with it, whatever I managed to do with them had a delicious result! Little bit on the expensive side for lunch, really, and I don't find broth particularly filling but I left feeling more or less full and I'm sure I'll be back to try the other options. Service was attentive and friendly. Unlike other reviewers, I thought the decor was quite nice - maybe it's been updated? Maybe I just have boring taste?
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Emma L.

Yelp
We loved this place! 1. Because we got a spot straight away on a busy Friday night. 2. Because they sold wine by the carafe. 3. Excellent service. 4. Amazing vermicelli noodles (like the best!) 5. We were even drooling over everyone else's dishes...! Definitely one to come back to.
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Schelly Y.

Yelp
This is our go to spot for a quick bite. It hits the spot and they have fast and friendly service. Reasonable pricing as well. It gets pretty busy but we seem to always luck out and get one of the last tables before the rush comes. Cozy atmosphere and pretty typical fare for this area. We will have to try their regular main entree items sometime soon! Chaû gio Crispy Pork Spring Rolls Somerset pork, shiitake mushrooms, glass noodle, nuoc cham Buùn thit nôùng BBQ Pork Loin with Rice Vermicelli lemongrass marinated pork loin, crispy pork spring rolls, daikon and herbs Bun Bo Hue 9 The spicy version of Pho from Hue, the old imperial city. Flavored with lemongrass, whole chilies, served with either beef, chicken, Red Sea prawns & crab cake (with prawns or crab cake) Pho classic Vietnamese noodle soup, served with Vietnamese basil, saw-leaf & beansprouts
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Monica R.

Yelp
This is a funny little restaurant; it serves really good Vietnamese Cuisine at really affordable prices. It is a great prelude to a night out in Shoreditch. If you want to go for dinner do make sure you reserve in advance as it gets packed. When I was there the first time, I saw how busy it was and actually thought, my food is going to take forever after we order, to my surprise, they are so organized in the kitchen that in a blink my food was served. If you go you must try the classic Vietnamese noodle soup, it is so scrumptious, and a perfect pick me up if you have a bit of a cold or just need to TLC, it s a healthy soup packed with vitamins. Every time I go there, which is quite often, and mostly with a group of friends, we order lots o food and wine, and never have we paid over £23 per person. So I highly recommend a visit to this restaurant.
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Seung L.

Yelp
The worst Pho every in UK i have eaten yet! The broth, the noodle, .... speechless. If you know pho, please dont go here. They do not take like pho they taste like some chicken broth lightly cooked soup
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Chelsea A.

Yelp
Amazing food and friendly staff, I would highly recommend. Just a tip, if you can't handle spice like myself and are feeling brave, just don't go for the chicken curry. Amazing flavours out but my mouth was on fire! Soft shell crab was delicious as well as the honey chicken wings
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Dahokolomoki Z.

Yelp
Excellent place! I hardly give 5 stars for any place (and I have reviewed quite a few), but this place has the right combination of value and amazing food. Usually places fall into one or the other, but this Vietnamese restaurant falls into both categories. I highly recommend the Indochine beef (although onion haters would do well to stay away). The soft spring rolls are good, not too salty and very fresh. The catfish was nice too, but the sauce is very salty and it is best to order some rice to go with it! We also had a bowl of beef Pho to end our meal (you have to have Pho when eating Vietnamese!) and it was good. It wasn't as flavoursome as the one from Pho in Westfield, but I suspect they use MSG or flavourings in Pho, whereas here it feels more homemade and original. Service was also very prompt even though it was a crowded Saturday evening, and the food came quickly. I will definitely be bringing my friends back here again!!
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Jack C.

Yelp
Decent food, mildly aggressive service I ordered a pho dish, it was decent enough and light in flavour however the eating conditions were cramped bordering on communal. The squid starter was very very salty so would recommend going for that unless you have a jug of water at the ready! Good value in terms of price, portion size and flavour however I don't think I will be returning as this place has some great competition in the area.
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Tammy T.

Yelp
To be more accurate, I would give Cay Tre 3.5 stars. Food: shrimp spring rolls were mediocre, Saigon pho (aka pho tai) was surprisingly good... Especially for pho in England, and the Bun Thit Nuong was also pretty tasty. The BBQ pork in the bun was perfectly cooked and seasoned but I didn't like the nuoc cham (fish sauce) because it wasn't strong enough, and they don't serve it on the side! Ambiance: it's extremely loud. The music was uncomfortably loud for a Vietnamese restaurant. Because the music is so loud, you pretty much have to yell to be heard. Service: horrible. We were asked to move to a table upstairs midway through our meal. Thanks, but no thanks. In short, come here for the food. Don't expect good service or a quiet meal.
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Anna A.

Yelp
Cay Tre is like my second home. You might think I am exaggerating. I am not - Cay Tre is literally is on my door step. The good thing is about it, it is in fact on of the best Vietnamese in whole London. The bad news is, that I can not resist going there all the time. Lets describe this place to you. There is always a queue outside of the restaurant willing to wait up to 20 minutes until a table gets available. If you go in a group I recommend making a reservation. Spying on the customers, there are lots of Vietnamese business people choosing that Vietnamese place as their favourite. The decoration is more stylish then the other Vietnamese restaurants at Kingsland Road. They have wallpaper, which looks like a drawing from an artist especially commissioned. Little colourful lights are randomly placed all over it. Now here is a list of recommendations: * Mackarell fish * Vietnamese spring rolls (not the fried ones but with fresh vegetables) * Chilli pork chop with rice and vegetables Cay Tre likes to pride themselves of their numerous won awards, I have to say, this is deserved! As with me, I usually do not eat there, but rather order a take away, which costs me £5.50 for a chilli pork chop, rewarding myself after a hard day of work - what better then having my favourite food is ready in 5-10min!
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Shenae D.

Yelp
Been to this place thrice now as it's a stone throw away from my office. Unfortunately, I don't find their pho broth tasty enough. I've tried their pho bo, pho ga and bun bo hue. They all tasted alright. I've had better pho down the road at the Vietnamese stretch and there's more authenticity taste wise elsewhere.
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Catherine F.

Yelp
If you like Vietnamese and you haven't heard of Cay Tre, let me have the pleasure of introducing you . I have taken so many friends here - during the day, at night and recently I ventured to their new branch in Soho - owned by Vietnamese Kitchen they also have couple of other spots around Shoreditch. On this occasion it was going to be the original venue. Naturally with these places with so much good food you have to order to share, but the portions are so generous it's a good effort to get through one main, nevermind sharing two! We went for the Butter Fish Curry with jasmine rice and the Bun Sa noodle bowl. The Butter Fish Curry is made with dried tamarind, coconut milk & red curry and is so intensely comforting and the spices are so harmonious you just feel like a better, happier person for eating it - dramatic but true. In contrast, the Bun Sa is a refreshing zingy and clean, noodly mouthful! A huge bowl of vermicelli rice noodles, cucumber, bean sprouts, mixed Vietnamese herbs, crispy shallots, peanuts, nuoc cham with sautéed lemongrass and rather meaty red sea prawns. A seriously authentic place for some fresh and mouthwatering Vietnamese that's well within budget. C.x
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Kim-Anh L.

Yelp
Last month Cay Tre Old St had a set lunch menu for just under £11 - I ordered the traditional summer rolls (goi cuon) and the very traditional pho bo (beef noodle soup). Both were delicious! A true testament of a good Vietnamese restaurant is it's pho - without a doubt it's one of the best in London. The pho bo was served with several different cuts of beef in deliciously fragrant broth. The summer rolls were expertly rolled - hardly anything dropped out of rolls when I doubled dipped them in hoi sin sauce. Although the hoi dip was tasty it traditional to serve summer rolls with fish sauce dip. Cay Tre's sister restaurant in Soho served one of the best pho chicken (pho ga) I've had - trust me, both my parents are Vietnamese. So far, these are only 2 Vietnamese restaurants I've enjoyed eating at. The portions are smaller than one would expect but nonetheless yummy! My recommendations: Starter Prawn summer rolls Main Pho bo (beef noodle soup)
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Angel C.

Yelp
7pm on a saturday night gets you a table quickly ahead of a heavier dinner crowd. We had the seafood and rolls sampler, and the stir fried water spinach. The portions were perfect for our pre-drinks date but the price tag was slightly steeper than expected for the portions. Nonetheless service was friendly and prompt and the dishes came quickly. We loved the seafood sampler of prawns, crab and squid - fried but not greasy and tones of chilli. The roll sample comprised of dumplings, glass noodles and egg rolls. The spinach was again a v modest portion but perfectly seasoned and full of garlic. Can't wait to come back and try the pho!
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Alice M.

Yelp
Cay Tre is bright, and really friendly looking during the lunch rush. The waitress, although very nice, asked me what I wanted about three minutes after I got the menu. I was pretty set on the Classic Pho, so that was fine, if not preferred. I'm not a huge fan of chatty waitresses. The girl that waited on my table was very nice, and very efficient. The pho was phenomenal. First off, it got to my table incredibly quickly, before my drink had. I'm not going to try to make out like a pho expert, but I've had good pho and I've had bad pho and this was excellent pho. The beef was thinly sliced and delicious, the broth was just the right amount of salty, and the portion was huge. Absolutely worth £9.50
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Hai H.

Yelp
by far the best vietnamese restaurant in London. Pho was quite good, can be compare to those in California (but can never be as good as those Pho restaurant in California)
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Eakan G.

Yelp
This place serves really good vietnamese food. I must admit I was not expecting those flavours. I thought only Indian food had flavours. But this one was a sure surprise. I've gone here twice with my colleagues and you get really large tables to dine with a big team if you want. The staff is friendly too and items on the menu are pretty decently priced. Some funky cocktails too. I remember having the wok roasted beef with rice and vegetables. I also had some spring rolls and a cocktail that I don't remember the name of, which contained a mix of some champagne, aloe, mint, lime etc. But I did have an unforgettable experience here as I almost passed out after my lunch. It certainly wasn't the food. And it was probably an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients that I had which I'm still not aware of. But this was the day I got into an ambulance. Thanks to my colleagues for quickly getting me an ambulance. I could barely breathe and I struggled to stay awake. But I was back to normal in about 20 minutes. Thanks to the medics and my friends. I think I caused the restaurant some bad business that day, as this happened soon after I had my lunch and bill was cleared. So they helped with dealing with the emergency and despite this incident I did drop by to apologize for the loss of any customers. They were very kind and asked me to take care and consult a doctor when I can. But you know London, it is hard to get a GP appointment. But I can say for sure, literally, that was a lunch to DIE for. At least that's how my colleagues describe it now.
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Daniel F.

Yelp
To me I have always heard about the place through the buzz on blogs online and through word of mouth. A Vietnamese place that does it properly. A Vietnamese place that is authentic. A Vietnamese place that is unique it doesn't need to be on Kingsland Road amongst all the others fighting for your attention. When you enter you realise it's much smaller than you anticipate. The outer signage seems very, well, tacky in truth. But no matter we're here for more than just that. In terms of space inside it's quite crowded and close knit. You'd often find yourself squeezing in next to other diners. Food was good. Very good if washed down with some proper Saigon beer. I think the quality may have dropped a tad from when I first ever went as well as rising prices due to popularity. However the food was indeed good. Spring rolls, mango salad, chilli salt pepper squid, even had a table griddle beef (tho this was very tricky as table we had was tiny! - prob wouldn't try that again), as well as a Vietnamese red duck curry. All personal favs. All in all. Very good. I'm always a bit disappointed with the pho in London so haven't ventured back to any restaurant to try again, including here but maybe next time I will be adventurous.
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Liam R.

Yelp
Our group left here with mix feeling but full stomachs. We enjoyed some of the dishes, including the vermecilli and beef, and the prawn and chicken pancake. However the friend prawn thing (it was just globs of fried was with shell on shrimp inside) wasn't very good at all- biting through shell is not fun. The chicken was standard- juicy but small. Nothing go back for. We sat in the basement which was loud at times and service was a little slow. However the wine and beers were nice and complimented the food well. This place has potential but the food wasn't good enough to make a lasting impression or entice me to ever come back. Portions were larger than expected. While I did not find this, the wide thought the noodles tasted like cleaning detergent. Maybe three stars is too generous? But it's certainty not two so I will round up.
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Arentha C.

Yelp
Who'd think I'd come to London after living in Asia and the US all my life and discovered the best Saigon Pho I've ever had? A total gem.
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Anne Marie R.

Yelp
Best pho I have ever had (I went for the garlicky beef). The broth was very tasty and the beef was tender and juicy. The place is a little small and we had to share table with another couple but the quality of the food made up for that.
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Ellie N.

Yelp
Horrible. Worst food poisoning of my life and everyone in my party got sick. would NOT recommend, very sick. and service was poor.
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Nikhita D.

Yelp
Ordered the Garlic Hanoi pho which was sublime, great flavor and it even had whole cloves of garlic nicely seared and added in the broth! Would definitely recommend overall, if it weren't for the absolutely atrocious service here. Waiters are rude, pushy and inattentive. Much of the flatware and glasses were not even close to clean (I had a hair on my plate to greet me as I sat down), and if they happened to be clean they were still severely chipped or scratched. Interesting... considering this restaurant is constantly packed, completely overpriced, and must be doing well! You actually cannot move or walk because it is so cramped, you may as well be sitting on your neighbor's lap. If you live close by, get pho to go and do not bother with the total inconvenience of the restaurant and staff.
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Maurizio A.

Yelp
Whenever you want to grab some fast good vietnamese food, this is always a solid option. Nothing fancy about this place: tables are small and packed, a little bit of dirt in the angles of the room, you don't really want to see the kitchen where your food is coming from. But it's very good food! It's like getting on a flight to Hanoi, everything is real! And more over, it's damn fast, you receive the menu, 5 minutes you order it, 10 minutes max you get your food, out in half hour. That's great on a lunch break. In the end, whenever I want to get back to Vietnam with my mind, its flavors and tastes, I now Cay Tre and her shy waitress, his sweaty cook and his delicious and genuine food are there! Yai!
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Katie B.

Yelp
I am always skeptical of "in between" Asian places. By in between I mean nice enough so they can command a higher price and attract white people (or more appropriately, not scare off people scared of sketchy-looking Asian places), but not SUPER expensive and high end like, say Nobu. This usually means higher prices for more mediocre food. I usually prefer the dives with great cheap food or the really amazing worth your money type places. While Cay Tre looks like one of those in between places (nice ambiance, white people eating there, long lines, well dressed staff, stylish, etc), the food was surprisingly solid. I had the Hanoi Pho, and the broth was good. Not as good at Pho 14 in Paris, but really solid. The small bowl is REALLY small. Get the large unless you just want a snack. Worth your time and money, especially if you're bringing a friend who is skeptical of Vietnamese food or never had it before. You won't have to worry about odd ingredients common in "authentic" Pho, like tripe. No tripe here. A nice balance of accessible and authentic. *sluuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrppppppppp*
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Haley F.

Yelp
I don't go here often. strange especially given that i lived up the street for a year. The ambiance (or lack thereof?) just doesn't do it for me. i know that you don't go to a place for the decor, but it helps. the food is damned tasty though. and not too hard on the wallet as well. I generally get one of the massive (like 2 meals worth at least) bowls of pho/noodles/soup/etc. its good, but i wouldn't go out of my way for it.
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Grace L.

Yelp
Cay Tre and Viet Grill are sister restaurants, with the same menu and aiiiiiiiiiiiiite Vietnamese food. Honestly, what is up with the pho in London? Do European Vietnamese like using thicker rice noodles? Or is it that the west-coast American pho chains are getting it wrong and wanting everything and everyone to be thin and healthy.... Decent pho, good broth (although slightly oily in my opinion). The standard deep-fried spring rolls were not as meaty as I would like them to be, nor were there huge green lettuce leaves to wrap them in to cut the grease. All in all, great food for the price, not going to lie. Have frequented Cay Tre purely for this purpose...and to get my semi-decent pho fix!
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JOEY W.

Yelp
Queuing isnot a problem so long as what you are waiting for is worth it. Cay Tre certainly is. I like Vietnam, in fact I'd say it is one of my favourite places I have been on my travels. I love the food. Nothing is as warming and soothing as a nice bowl of Pho of a morning. However Cay Tre's strengths really lie with the starters slash/appetisers. Sharing these with freinds is a joy. The summer rolls, the Viatnamese pizza, the beef in betel leaves and the theatre of grilling your own food at the table made for a great meal. The decor is quirky and even though the service can be a touch slow I find all the waiting staff friendly and eager to please. This is a shoreditch keeper for sure.

Diogo N.

Yelp
Delicious food: Pho Lunch Sea Food. Although it is a small place, you feel like home.
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Bella W.

Yelp
Cay Tre is one of my favourite restaurants in London. I go to Song Que for cheap and cheerful, but if I want a nice leisurely dinner.. I go to Cay Tre. There is an excellent spread to choose from, and they do excellent seafood dishes. I've tried the famous La Vong grilled fish, and would highly recommend that when you have a table of 2 and up. The waiter will come to your table to cook this starter for you, and it is all very exciting while you look on in anticipation. Your tastebuds won't be disappointed either. For something different, I'd recommend the cat fish - I was pleasantly surprised by how well it was done.. topped with a sweetish gravy of sorts, the flesh is tender and moist. I've never had anything like that anywhere else.. That said, I'd avoid simple noodle dishes like the pho, as Song Que does it better. The beef pho at Cay Tre is a little bland, and portions aren't as big as Song Que. They do a starter portion, but that is hardly worth ordering. I'd recommend Cay Tre if you want to order dishes (that go with rice). Otherwise, if you're just in for a quick bite.. I'd rather go to Song Que, where noodle dishes are their speciality.
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Suzanne H.

Yelp
I have been here twice and both times I was really pleased. The service is quick, the prices are low, and the food is FRESH! You can decide if you want to be healthy, and get some Pho with fresh vegetables and clear broth, or you can be naughty and get some delicious fried calamari or duck pancake. Or you can be like me and get all of it, and just hope that the vegetables cancel out the fried. I would highly recommend it to anyone on a budget, looking for healthy food in the Hoxton area.
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Siobhan K.

Yelp
Great Viet for fresh, tasty & inexpensive food. Great Pho! BYO too! What more could you want!!
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Christoph N.

Yelp
Yes, my lamb shoulder curry was super tasty, but oh my did we have to wait to get to that point. I did book a table for 8 people at 8.30pm, but wasn't sitting before 9.15pm and we had to be gone for 10pm, so yes, tasty, but I felt like a lack of organisation made us eat in a rush...and you don't really want that on a Friday do you? Yaa, definitely potential here, but disappointed with the way they treated us.
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Amanda W.

Yelp
Lovely Pho! Been here a number of times and it's definitely one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Shoreditch, in my opinion. Tends to get really busy so booking a table might be a good idea. Slightly noisy as well but okay for a quick dinner.
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Alan W.

Yelp
This was Pho-Tastic. Actually my first ever time having Pho and will not be my last. I had the "Bun bo hue" meaning the imperial capital's spicier version of "pho", made with round white noodles, lemongrass and whole chillies and in my case Beef. Soooo delicious. Amazing flavorful broth. I've never had anything like it. The lemongrass and the chillies together gave it quite a unique flavor that I don't think would be too spicy for anybodies taste buds, but was PACKED with flavor. The beef was cut nice and thin and soaked up the broth nicely. My only complain is that the noodles while cooked perfectly seemed immune from soaking up any of the flavor. Pull them out of the tasty broth, they were as white as snow! There might is some crazy Vietnamese technique where they combine spoon and chop stick usage to pack both in one bite, but I could not figure it out. BIG TIP: The small portion of this Pho was 4 pounds(pretty good deal), but the large is only 6 pounds and I'd say it is 3 times big. Splurge and take the extras home for takeaway/. I will back to try more of the menu asap because I am already craving some Pho. Soo close to 5 stars(and could be soon)!
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Osunlade O.

Yelp
Best go to spot in hoxton!! The food is always quality and at a great standard..staff always accommodates and there are the beers!
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Jennifer H.

Yelp
I have been to this place a couple of times, cuz it's right down the street from me, luckily :) Cay Tre is great and always packed for that matter, so prepare to stand in line (they do have take out though)! The Pho is amazing and pretty cheap considering the size (especially for Shoreditch). The only reason why I am giving 4 and not 5 stars is, because i think Cay Tre should offer more vegetarian potions, but despite that it's an amazing restaurant where you get great quality for the price. The restaurant staff is Vietnamese as far as i can tell, so their English is not the best, but it adds to the flair. Additionally, the food doesn't take like a European-version-of-Vietnamese-food, which I love (and i am hoping to find for Thai food some time soon!)