Mien Tay

MagicRusski

Great food in a simple cafe 26th September 2009

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Pro's: Delish food cooked to perfection. Friendly service.

Con's: Smallish portions. Comes out not as cheap as some reviews here claim. Plasticky interior.

In a nutshell: Great place for authentic Vietnamese munches if you don't need a fancy ambience (I, for one, don't).

Full breakdown and details here:
http://niftynoshing.blogspot.com/2009/09/mien-tay-vietnamese-restaurant-london.html

SallyD

YUM YUM YUM! 20th May 2009

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This place is amazing! I went their last night with a few friends and I said I would write a review on internet to tell the rest of the world about this gem.
I go to Kingsland Road quite often but never walk up as far as Mien Tay.
WOW - I am so glad we did last night!
We ordered lots of starters and shared - these were summer rolls, frogs legs, lotus root salad, beef in betel leaves, sizzling prawns and crispy pancake, oh and pork balls in honey and spices.
I can honestly say it was outstanding. For main we share the hot pot - a huge bubling couldron on broth surrounded by fish and huge prawns and squid and came with a selection of vegetables..
We brought some white wine with us which they opened and also kept in the fridge so it was nice and cold and have no corkage fee!
Then the bill came - no joke - it was £20 each including a generous tip.
UNBELIEVABLE - I am taking my boyfriend tomorrow night as he just doesn't believe me as i have been raving about it since I got back.
All i can say is GO GO GO!!!!

bellaphon

Worthy addition to the Pho Mile 14th December 2008

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I think it would be fair to say that there are no bad Vietnamese restaurants on Kingsland Road. I mean it would be pointless and suicidal for any of the Vietnamese proprietors not to comply with or better the standards of the other restaurants along this ‘Pho Mile’ (you heard it here first!) in Hackney.

Miền Tây means west in Vietnamese. This newcomer is only six months old and is already gaining a decent reputation with the help from favourable reviews found in newspapers and food blogs alike. Most of the restaurants on this road are known or should be referred as cafes, simply because the utilitarian décor of the dining rooms is the least of their priorities. Likewise at Mien Tay, it’s quite obvious that one comes here for the food and not ponder on what David Collins might have done with the interior instead. The service at Vietnamese restaurants is generally more accommodating and respectful than your average Chinese restaurant. Thankfully the lovely and ever smiling service at Mien Tay confirmed this.

We ordered three starters and two noodle dishes.

1. The Goi Cuon (Summer Roll) tasted fresh enough but not ultimately as tasty as the found at Song Que a few blocks down. The dipping sauce was too tamed and lacked kick.
2. Chim Cut Nuong (Chargrilled Quail with Honey and Garlic)- this dish alone has already attained legendary status courtesy of the Metro newspaper. Yes it was pretty delicious but nowhere as good as the ones found at Loong Kee or the Viet Grill.
3. Nem Nuong (Chargrilled Pork Balls [more like patties] with Honey and Spices- this indeed was one of the highlights at Mien Tay, they tasted home-made and utterly fantastic.
4. Pho Tai & Tai Nam (with sliced medium-cooked beef and brisket)- to gauge the authenticity of any Vietnamese restaurants, a beefy pho is more than a good enough litmus test. It passed but without flying colours, this accolade belongs to Loong Kee; the stock was a tad too tempered in order to be classed as beefy but the amount of meat that was included with this dish was huge. I’ve patronised at all the places found on Pho Mile but the generosity with the beef at Mien Tay remains unprecedented.
5. Bun Thit Nuong (Grilled Pork with Vermicelli)- this was the second highlight of the night, the grilled pork was wonderfully aromatic and beautifully seasoned. The balance of the ingredients for this dish was perfectly executed and concocted. This fantastic tasting dish alone is worth coming back to Mien Tay for.

Mien Tay is another wonderful addition to Vietnamtown in East London. I can’t wait to try out the rest of the menu.

totuck

High Quality Vietnamese on Kingsland Road 26th August 2008

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In my quest for the perfect Vietnamese meal on Kingsland Road, I've been to nearly every restaurant the street has to offer. This is certainly the best one. In addition to great food, their service is fantastic. Restaurnt service in London is frequently sub-par, even at high end restaurants. It's thus particularly impressive to find great food and great service at a family-run Vietnamese place on Kingsland Road. Must Try: Summer Rolls (under the name Fresh Rolls) & their Coconut Juice.

NOTES: Point to your choice on the menu when ordering to avoid any confusion. Also, be aware that some of the seating is communal (a la Wagamama).