Hohaki — Restaurant in London

On the back of strong online reviews, myself and 6 friends decided to give this restaurant a go.

However, based on my experience last night it is unlikely I would return.

Poor service last night (where it took 20 min for drinks to be served after ordering, 40 min wait time for entrees and 50 min wait time for mains) may be overlooked because the restaurant was fairly busy.

However, from observation it was evident that the delay in food arriving to the tables was due to staff prioritising food orders to take-away, which I find difficult to excuse. It was clear that patrons dining in were playing second fiddle to those ordering to go.

Furthermore, when the mains did finally arrive, they did not all arrive at the same time for our table of 7. I had already finished off my main course before a couple of my friends received their main.

But the biggest disappointment of the night was the food itself.

It's evident from Hohaki's website (from their photo gallery & description) that they particularly pride themselves on 2 signature dishes....the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup 'Pho' and the Vietnamese baguette 'Banh Mi'.

Any seasoned Pho eater will know that the key to a good Pho is the quality of the broth which typically takes over 10 hrs to make to ensure the intensity and depth of flavour is present in the broth. Unfortunately, this was lacking in the bowl of Pho served last night. It had the flavourings of a Pho broth but not the depth of flavour one would expect from simmering beef bones and oxtail in a pot of water for hours. It was very much a watered down version of Pho broth.

On the Banh Mi front, which was the main draw card for many of us who dined there last night, we were disappointed to be advised by the waiter that they had run out of Banh Mi (this was at 6.45pm). For a restaurant which promotes the deliciousness and authenticity of their Banh mi, and the fact that Banh mi takes prominence on their food menu, it was a huge let down that we were unable to sample their Banh mi last night. When a dish is intended to be one of the main drawcard for the restaurant (which it clearly is), then the owner should ensure that this menu item is available at all times particularly during standard...

We had a terrible experience at this restaurant. It was supposed to open at 11:00 AM, so my family and I arrived at 11:30 AM, thinking we’d be able to eat. Instead, we were told to wait for an hour. After that hour passed, we went back only to be told to wait another 30 minutes. We reluctantly waited again, hoping the food would be worth it. After waiting an additional 20 minutes, we still weren’t served, so we ended up leaving without ever getting to eat. If you’re considering going here, I’d recommend...

Authentic Vietnamese spot near Spitalfields that delivers on flavour and value.

Friendly service and prices are lower than the London average, which makes it an easy go to if you’re craving something fresh and satisfying around the area.

Here’s what I had:

⭐️ Bun Cha Hanoi - the BBQ pork was nicely grilled and full of flavour, paired with fresh herbs and salad that balanced everything perfectly

It’s a great little spot for casual lunches or low key dinners. Nothing fancy, just solid Vietnamese food...