White and airy, gently elevated above street level, and with one long window perching you above Liverpool Road, Viet Garden is a lovely space. Suited better to its Islington setting, perhaps, than the rough and ready Kingsland Road spots might be.
The food is similar, though. Dishes range from summer rolls, pho noodle soups and fried tofu in lemongrass to deep-fried seabass in fish sauce and mango, beef fried in a tangy tamarind sauce and bo tai chanh - a cold dish of rare beef steak with herbs and lime juice. Vietnamese style noodles also prove popular.
Keep an eye out for lunch specials and good-value set menus.