A Modern Seasonal Menu with Deep Vietnamese Roots
With locations in both Shoreditch and Soho, Cây Tre and Viet Grill offer two distinct expressions of Vietnam’s culinary traditions. Cây Tre leans into the country’s iconic comfort dishes—Pho, aromatic broths, and refined classics—while Viet Grill brings hand-pulled noodles, regional bowls, and the layered flavours of Saigon’s food culture.
This year’s festive feasting menu draws from both. It is built around fresh, seasonal ingredients and Vietnamese cooking traditions that founder Hieu Bui continues to champion. If you are exploring more cultural experiences this season, this meal pairs well with many of the things to do in Shoreditch during winter.
Guests start with Hanoi Crab Spring Rolls and an Onion Bulb Salad with Sweet Prawns and Steamed Pork—light, bright, and designed to open the palate. These dishes reflect the balance that defines Vietnamese cuisine: crisp textures, clean notes, and subtle heat.
From there, the menu shifts into deeper, richer flavours. The Lamb Red Curry arrives fragrant and slow-simmered, paired with pillowy Jasmine Rice. For dessert, Banana Fritters and Coconut Ice Cream close the meal with a warm, sweet finish.
But the centrepiece is the Steamed Sea Bass with Japanese Soy—an elegant, aromatic dish enhanced by Vietnamese Kitchen’s signature tamarind sauce. A blend of tamarind pulp, fish sauce, chilli, and lime, the sauce captures Vietnam’s essential flavour profile: sweet, sour, salty, and bright. It is a refined choice for festive dining, and one that stands comfortably among the best new restaurants in London this year.
Cocktails, Vietnamese Wines, and Seasonal Warmth
Alongside the menu, guests can explore a wine list that includes bottles from Vietnamese producers—still rare in London—and European classics. For cocktail enthusiasts, variations of seasonal favourites bring local flair. The Makrut Negroni, crafted with gin infused with heirloom botanicals from the Vietnamese highlands, stands out. The makrut lime adds a vivid lift, balancing the drink’s herbaceous depth.
These touches demonstrate Vietnamese Kitchen’s continued focus on thoughtful hospitality: precise flavours, quiet creativity, and a deep respect for culinary heritage.
Viet Grill’s Private Dining Room: A Space Made for Gatherings
For large groups and teams planning seasonal celebrations, Viet Grill’s private dining room on Kingsland Road offers a warm, secluded space. Located on the lower ground floor, the room is designed for conversations, celebrations, and long dinners. Wooden panelled walls, festive décor, and a homely atmosphere create a sense of retreat from the December rush.
The space includes a private bar, a fully integrated sound system, and a karaoke setup—features that turn a dinner into an evening. Flexible seating allows the room to accommodate groups as small as six or as large as seventy.
On Kingsland Road—London’s famed “Pho Mile”—this room has become a go-to place for celebrations that need both personality and comfort.
A Story of Vietnamese Cuisine Told Through London
Behind the Vietnamese Kitchen group is founder Hieu Bui, whose journey from Hanoi and Saigon to London shaped the menus we know today. Arriving in the UK in 1999, Bui worked in Vietnamese restaurants while studying marketing. The limited authenticity he found in London at the time motivated him to build something different.
He opened the first Cây Tre in Old Street in 2003, followed by Viet Grill in 2006 on Kingsland Road, returning to the neighbourhood where he once worked as a student. A Soho site followed, then the launch of KEU Deli—now known for its banh mi and soups served across sites in Soho, Shoreditch, and The City.
Today, the group is recognised for its commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients brought in directly from Vietnam and from local British suppliers. Fresh noodles and specialist herbs arrive regularly, while vegetables come from Borough Market’s Paul Wheeler, known for supplying many of London’s top chefs.
This combination—local sourcing, Vietnamese cooking methods, and nostalgic flavour—anchors the new festive offering.
A Seasonal Invitation to Gather
In a season often dominated by European classics, Vietnamese Kitchen introduces a welcome shift: a festive menu with colour, balance, and cultural nuance. It brings together Londoners from across creative and innovative fields—teams, collectives, friends, and communities looking to celebrate with intention.
As Hieu Bui puts it, “Bringing the energy of Hanoi and Saigon to the heart of London’s hotspots, Shoreditch and Soho, has been a pleasure. We’re excited to offer these new menus, generating nostalgia from time spent at home during the festive period.”
For Shoreditch’s creative crowd, this is more than a seasonal menu. It is a chance to gather around dishes shaped by craft and history.