At the edge of Shoreditch on Kingsland Road lies what I think is the best Vietnamese restaurant in London. On the surface Song Que, pronounced "song key", may appear a little run of the mill. However, whatever this restaurant lacks in decor it makes up for it with authentic, tasty and cheap food.



We had a team lunch there recently and were greeted by one of most funny and friendly waiters. He had a particular fondness for Danny, our website editor, and there were times that the rest of us felt like a third wheel. We started with Vietnamese wraps of Tofu and Prawn. These were accompanied by a delicious BBQ style sauce. The wraps were fresh and a nice way to start our meal. I had a bottle of Halida which is a nice thirst quenching beer for the summer.



We then chose three main courses to share – duck with ginger and spring onions, beef with crispy noodles and chicken with lemongrass and chilli. The Duck was cooked perfectly and bursting with flavor. The beef was tender and juicy. But the star dish was the chicken. Normally I find chicken breast dishes a bit dull but the combination of chili and lemongrass works wonders.

At the end of lunch the bill came to just under £60 for 6 people. I left feeling that this was my type of place: unpretentious, great food and great value.

Song Que Restaurant
134 Kingsland Road,
London, E2 8DY

About the author: Eric Hossinger is part of the online team for JamieOliver.com