Thai Express - Chancery Lane

If you're exploring Fleet Street, Holborn and Temple and want something more exotic than a pub lunch which will be served quickly and keep you happily filled until a late dinner pop into this little Thai lunch spot on Chancery Lane. It's very popular with the local business men and women who need to get a good lunch in 30-40 minutes, but it's not a place where you'll be rushed out the door if you've got the time to hang around. Don't worry if you pop in and it seems full, there's a 70 seat area downstairs!

There's a special lunch deal where you choose your meat type (duck and seafood cost a pound more), then pick either a rice-based curry dish or a noodle-based stir fry dish from 5-7 pounds. Throw in a special offer starter, pork satay, spring rolls or a hot and sour soup and you still won't be paying more than about £10-£12 per head. There's the usual green and red thai curry, but also a sweet and creamy yellow curry with lemongrass and coconut milk packed with peppers. The ginger and spring onion stir-fry is well-balanced and portions in general are generous. 

The only slight let down are the spring rolls, the usual frozen, deep friend shtick. But the mains are filling, tasty and attractive.

They organize business lunches and catering. 

Thai Express Website

Song Que Cafè - Best vietnamese in Shoreditch?

Lying half-way up Kingsland Road, fifteen minutes from Old Street tube station the mint green cantine-style interior of Song Que heaves with hungry diners. There are several other vietnamese restaurants and cheapo cafès along this road, but this is the only one with the serious queue at the door, and don't let that put you off, the waiter would free a table up for you if it costs him his daughter. This is no-frills, no trimmings, good-quality comfort food. Mains cost an average of £6 and are extremely generous. Flavours are bold and service is fast with some pretty witty banter coming from the staff. Don't expect to be fussed over and to lounge about once your plate's been cleared, there's others waiting behind you. Do, however, expect friendly and efficient service and a tasty and extensive menu.

Tried and tested:

Spring rolls - crispy and golden but a tad greasy for my taste
Vietnamese summer rolls - these were divine, full of fresh flavours and good texture
Pho Tai (rare beef noodle soup) - heart-warming and delicious, but could've been just a teensy bit more generous with the meat.
Pancake with prawn and chicken - light fluffy egg pancake with crispy beansprouts and very tender prawns
Grilled squid with ginger and spring onions - the squid was fresh and not at all rubbery
Chilli salted squid - this was a strong dish, popping with chilli
Lemongrass chicken with peppers - again, a real fiery kick of lemongrass and crunchy peppers for texture
There's jasmine tea and a varied selection of vietnamese bottled beers as well as the regular beers.


Cost: about 14 pounds per head for two courses and a drink.


134, Kingsland Road
London
E2 8DY
Closed Sundays
Children Welcome