The ‘Pho Mile’ in London’s east end is a must-visit destination for any aspiring foodie. As the name suggests, the stretch of restaurants covers roughly a mile along Kingsland Road – connecting Shoreditch and the even hipper Haggerston.

The area is regarded as London’s best locale for Vietnamese food, with other notable mentions including Cây Tre and Tay Do, which serve up a collection of traditional Vietnamese dishes and the occasional Chinese inspired dish for the uninitiated.

Song Que

With plenty of choices offer, i dropped in on the highly commended Song Que. Those with an eye for decor may possibly describe the interior as somewhat basic, but the tables normally fill quickly, helping generate a bustling atmosphere inside. Service is short and snappy, so not somewhere for those expecting a fine dining experience.

Who goes here:

Expect a mix of first time Vietnamese food explorers to hardened Pho fanatics. Expect anything from large French-Viet families and groups of business men in suits to dungaree-clad hipsters looking for a quick bite.

What to look out for:

The crispy fried pancake with bean shoots, chicken and prawn and spicy-sweet dressing sauce or mussels with black bean and spring onions to start. Stand out mains include the extensive array of noodle dishes, stewed beef noodle soup (pictured) and the fried pork with lemon grass.

Wash it all down with a crisp Halida lager, imported directly from Vietnam.

When to go:

A fraction before 7:00 or after 9:00 to avoid the almost guaranteed queues out of the door. The restaurant is best suited to small groups.

How to find it: 134 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8DY. Take a tube to Old Street station and walk in 15 minutes, or catch an overground train to Hoxton to be one minute’s walk away.

Our nearest homes:

Homes in the Shoreditch area are a stones throw away. Live it up in a church conversion at Old Nichol Street or bask in artistic chic at the uber cool Hoffman Square.