“Here, we eat like we would over there,” the people seated next to us tell us repeatedly, all fans of Monsieur Truong, a former judo champion and bodyguard for the South Vietnamese president. It’s certainly true that his pho is light and divinely subtle, made with a broth that smells intensely of cinnamon and star anise, in which you’ll find tender slices of beef… But there’s so much more to try! Consider the banh cuon (small steamed crepes – we opted for the pork and shrimp version), which are exceptionally tender and delicious when dipped into the carefully-crafted nuoc-mâm sauce; or the bún cha Hà Noi (grilled lemongrass pork), to entangle with glass noodles and lettuce leaves, which doesn’t disappoint either… What about dessert? There’s a tricolor sweet made with lots of love, featuring azuki beans, coconut, caramel and pandan – an extremely comforting combo. // James Patisson

FEELING THIRSTY? : Tea (jasmine, €3.70, iced, €3.50, oolong, €4.50), ginger lemonade (€6.20), iced latte (€6.20)… 
PRICE: : Pho bo (beef) €14.80, bún cha €17.90, banh cuon €8.90.