Lai Rai

A truly unique dining experience! Not your typical Vietnamese restaurant which I loved. There was a lot creativity in the food and drinks menu! Definitely will be coming back.

Commendable and super rare to find a Vietnamese restaurant outside of Vietnam without Pho on the menu. This restaurant really delivered. For foreigners, Pho is synonymous with Vietnamese food but this restaurant invites you to a much broader range of the Vietnamese cuisine. 100% worth it. Restaurant offers small sharing plates with a steeper price than other Vietnamese restaurants but it’s unique and worth a try. For 2 people, we had 4 small plates and 2 sides (both carbs) and we were full. Staff was friendly. Place is tiny and maybe sits 16 people all together. You’ll need to book before.

We came for dinner and enjoyed the bold yet fresh flavours. Between the two of us, we shared the chao com (prawn lollies which were delicious), bahn da quet la vong (tofu whip which was nice but not a must order), banh trang tron (rice paper salad with beef jerky, quail eggs and green mango which had interesting texture but over good flavour profile), bo tai chanh (beef tartare which was one of the favourites and full of flavour), the ga gion cao nguyen (crispy chicken leg with a lovely fresh herb sauce) and the vem cot dua (mussels in a very delicious creamy coconut broth with lemongrass and mint). For dessert, we shared the soy sauce ice cream but it wasn't to my taste. The service overall was attentive and friendly.

Very pleasant experience, with a lot of potential. The staff were incredibly friendly, the atmosphere was lovely. The food in general was good, but there are a few areas of improvement. Some dishes felt like they were missing something. A few dishes were on the dry side (likely intended to be served with saucier dishes) but because the plates were brought out when they were ready, there was long gaps between them, meaning they couldn’t be enjoyed together. With a little more attention to timing, this could be a fantastic spot.

An unforgettable experience! I tried a dish I’ve never seen anywhere else — creative, beautifully presented, and packed with bold flavors. This is not your typical Vietnamese spot — it’s a culinary adventure. Can’t wait to come back!😻😻🙌🏻🙌🏻👏🏻👏🏻

probably one of the most exciting dining experiences I’ve had in London (and I’ve lived here most of my life). the creativity in their menu is something really special; the salads and vegetable dishes especially are a standout. these aren’t just sides - they’re packed with flavour, textures & thoughtful combinations I haven’t seen anywhere else in here in London. you can tell every dish is crafted with intention, from the bold seasoning to the playful plating. it’s fun, communal and warm <3 the vibe is also perfect! Whether you’re catching up with friends, going on a date, or just want to share great food in a lively yet intimate setting. (note for my fellow nut allergy sufferers: they were very accommodating so I enjoyed the true Vietnamese dishes as much as my friends did!) i enjoyed the PM menu & will definitely return for the banh mi during the day Lai Rai is a very rare gem - it’s magic and I highly recommend!

Great new Vietnamese diner-style spot with a cool, unique menu! The vegan food was all excellent and the Papaya Jellyfish Salad and Coconut Mussels were a standout

Delicious Bahn mi sandwiches. First time having them in the UK, so based on my past experience I would have liked more pickle as well as coriander sparkle, otherwise delicious. Excellent crusty baguette also. Both the Front staff were brilliant - warm, welcoming despite just 15 mins before closing time. Will definitely go back and try more of the menu. Really tasty iced jasmine tea drink also.