Cay Tre Soho

Beyond the Vietnamese norm

Sapa style rice roll, with grilled pork belly

When we talk about Vietnamese cuisine, people will most likely think of spring rolls and pho, but there is so much more. Beyond the most famous Vietnamese dishes, there are so many unknowns for your average joe, many Vietnamese restaurants in the UK play it safe and only serve the typical dishes. Cay Tre Soho is one of the rarer places that offer beyond the standard. On the menu, you will find plenty of authentic dishes such as rice rolls and fish stew, an ideal place for anyone who would like to explore Vietnamese cuisine further.

Crab and pork parcel

Beef wrapped in betel leaves

Anchovie chicken wings

The beef wrapped in betel leaf was an excellent dish, well marinated spiced beef, it was almost like a mini burger patty with plenty of fresh herbs and spices taste, especially from the lemongrass. The steamed rice dumpling was another very enjoyable dish, it was loaded with prawns and chopped pork belly, wrapped in a sticky layer of rice sheet, the additional shrimp foss and dried shrimps on top uplifted the umami flavour to another level. What I didn't like was the coconut rice pancake, it was basically stir-fried beansprout and chicken inside a thin layer of pancake, the pancake was tasteless and lost all its crispness from the moisture of the stir fry, it was a total let down.

Shrimp and pork rice dumplings

Coconut rice pancake with chicken and prawns

Classic beef pho

Besides the coconut rice pancake, I enjoyed the overall experience very much. The big fresh and umami flavours you would find in Vietnamese cuisine were displayed in such a comforting manner. The classic dishes such as pho and chicken wings were done properly too, is it the best Vietnamese in London, unlikely. But given the very reasonable price and the casual format, this makes Cay Tre Soho an excellent choice for a Vietnamese feast. Be aware there is another Cay Tre in Hoxton, with a much smaller menu so you wouldn't find dishes like rice rolls and crab parcels there.

Food 3/5

What I paid:
£32

Average cost without drinks and services:
£25

42-43 Dean St, London W1D 4PZ

https://www.caytrerestaurant.co.uk/locations/soho