And he’s still defining the cuisine in the city
Hieu came to London in 1999 and after getting a job in a Vietnamese restaurant and realising how different the food was to what he had been eating back home, he started his own. The first Cây Tre opened in 2003 and classic phở has been the signature dish since day one (even if his mum thinks it’s still not quite right). Viet Grill opened on Kingsland Road, aka the ‘phở mile’ in 2006, serving authentic Vietnamese BBQ dishes. Keu Deli, with a menu of Saigon street food like banh mi and rice bowls, opened in 2011 and has grown to four London locations.
It’s a real family affair – Hieu’s brother works in the restaurants and his uncle’s face is on their own Cậu Vinh sriracha bottles. His parents come over once a year and Hieu goes back to Vietnam regularly to make sure he’s ahead of what’s happening in the food scene over there, ensuring that his London restaurants always represent that real taste of home.
Key Information
Address | 58 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8DP
For more information | vietgrillrestaurant.co.uk
