3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
How Deptford secretly became a London food hotspot
The walls at Viet Rest are reminiscent of those found in the kids' play areas of NHS waiting rooms of the 90s; a wraparound mural by self-taught artist Vu Kim Thanh, depicting Ha Long Bay and the world's largest cave, Son Doong. Deep bowls of pho make Viet Rest an apothecary in the winter, especially the beef with golden slivers of fried garlic, while the green papaya salad (£11) is a blessed defibrillator in the heat of summer, with the option of adding chicken, prawns or beef jerky. Bánh xèo (£11-£13) — crispy rice pancakes, neon with turmeric, the size of a folded hubcap, are generously filled. The barbecue goat bún bò xào (£13.50) is smoky as it is supple, alongside cooled vermicelli noodles and a pile of fresh herbs, along with a dish of the liquid electricity that is nước chấm. The menu also features dishes that would make Bourdain bite his lip and light another cigarette, such as canh tiết rau hẹ (£5) — a raw blood pudding bobbing in broth and turfed with herbs, or cháo lòng (£10); blood sausage in rice porridge. Freshly made coconut water, lemon iced tea and of course, Vietnamese iced coffee are all available, too (£3-£4.50)
