100 Redriff Road, SE16 7LH
020 8691 7777
If you’ve stumbled across this posting via Google, Time Out or London Eating, and have never been to Cafe East before, well congratulations; You’ve discovered a real gem of a food house and one of South London’s best kept secrets. and you should be planning your trip as soon as you finish reading this article.
A bowl of pho loaded with beef, chicken and prawns
Based in Surrey Quays and so conveniently located next to the Odeon and Hollywood Bowl complex (the parking is grrrreat!), this place is bigger, badder and a little bit better than it’s previous incarnation when they were based in Deptford.
They can probably seat around 100 or so people and as a result of the expansion, they have headed into ‘Noodle Bar’ territory and as a result have lost a little bit of the charm that was the old Cafe East (which seated around 25), but quick and nasty oriental food this most definitely is not!
I am absolutely astounded by how consistently good everything is and this is a testament to how well the restaurant is managed. Cafe East is always busy yet spotlessly clean; the service you receive is quick, efficient and friendly; the food looks good and importantly, looks exactly like it does on the menu! Regardless of how the food tastes, Cafe East should be commended on providing something that a hell of a lot of SE / East Asian places fail to do, and that is provide a good service.
Crispy chicken on noodles
I’m glad to say that the food doesn’t let it down and once those big white plates and of food is hits your table, your eyes will lead, your hands will follow and your tummy will be ever so grateful.
The Pho stock could be improved with a bit of added cinnamon and star anise but it may be I’m just a little too picky and particular (so I’ve been told) but apart from that, the beef pho comes highly recommended as does this mixed one with added chicken and prawns (pictured).
The chicken curry is sublime and probably my favourite and even if the chicken is cooked off the bone, it’s prepared long enough to absorb that lovely coconutty curry, yet still retain a soft moist bite.
The banh cuon resembles the Chinese cheung fun which is made from steamed rice paper but the Vietnamese version is lighter, translucent and filled with a season ground pork filling. I love it. My friends love it. My kids love it. You will too.
The Bun Ga Nuong (pictured) which is chicken on a bed of thin rice noodles was deliciously sweet and crispy that I suspect the chicken was deep fried rather than grilled, but when it tastes this addictive, I promised myself I’ll run it off later.
Inside the new Cafe East
In their new locale in the strange commercial new build environs of Surrey Quays, Cafe East have made themselves even more accessible and on that basis, if you’ve been hankering to taste what the fuss is about, then you really don’t have an excuse.
£4-5 for a starter, £6-7.50 for a main. They also have a great selection of soft drinks such as coconut juice, sweetened soya and traditional bean dessert drinks but they don’t serve alcohol. Also be aware they only take cash.
You can also view more photos here.
Possibly Related Posts:
- Panda Panda, Deptford Broadway, Vietnamese Cafe
- Banzi, Vietnamese Restaurant, Surrey Quays, London
- Banh Mi 11 – Broadway Market, Hackney
- Baguette and More-Vietnamese Food Stall in Greenwich that sells Banh Mi
- Mama Pho, Vietnamese cafe on Evelyn Street, Deptford
