We were at the Hoa Sen for a bite to eat before a matinee performance at the Gillian Lynn theatre. Atmosphere was great, service prompt and very helpful, food excellent. We ate prawns tossed in lemon grass and chilli, crispy golden chicken with rice, and...veggie crispy spring rolls followed by coffee.More

Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, and what better way to indulge than with a special meal out? That's what we thought when we booked a table at Hoa Sen Vietnamese Street Food in London. However, what was supposed to be a delightful...Christmas dining experience turned out to be quite the opposite. Upon arriving, our excitement quickly turned to shock. Without prior notice, the restaurant had hiked its prices to an astonishing 200%! Yes, you read that right. Having booked online and even visiting in person the day before to confirm, we were given no indication of this price surge. A special Christmas menu with a premium is understandable, but this felt like nothing less than highway robbery. Seeking an explanation, we turned to the staff, hoping there was some kind of mistake. Their response? A nonchalant shrug and a statement that it was the "manager's decision." Their justification was that limited dining options on Christmas Day gave them the leverage. Well, leverage to disappoint customers, maybe. It's a fundamental rule in any business: treat your customers with respect. Surprises like these, especially during the holiday season, leave a bitter taste – and not the kind you want from a dining experience. Our Christmas spirits dampened; we decided not to stay. Instead, we sought out an establishment where customer consideration isn't an afterthought. For anyone considering a visit to Hoa Sen in the future, maybe think twice. If they can change their prices without notice during the holidays, what other surprises might be in store? For us, one visit was more than enough.More

Read a review in a listing of ’overlooked gems’ and decided to try this restaurant in spite of mixed reviews on Trip Advisor as I was going to the British Museum which is close by. I made a reservation for 6pm and when I arrived...I was very rudely told that I could only have the table for 75 minutes because there were other reservations! If they didn’t want to give me enough time to enjoy my dinner, why give me a reservation? Why does my reservation count less than someone else’s?! I decided not to have an appetizer so that i could finish in time — just dumplings and fish. The sea bass with green mango was excellent, but for 17.50£ it could have included some rice! Just one piece of fish and about 8 sticks of green mango. And a 12.5% service charge on the Bill in spite of the rude service that several have mentioned. Oh, and there were empty tables when i left and no one waiting so why demand that i finish in 75 min!!More

A good friend found this restaurant by chance when we were going to the Gillian Lynne Theatre to watch 'Crazy for you' musical. Nice atmosphere, great service and amazing food! 10 out of 10. We ordered Prawn Summer Rolls, Hanoi Style pork Rice Rolls, Classic...Pho and Hanoi Street BBQ pork. To drink we had Ice Coffee and Pink Lady Mocktail. We paid £67 with 12.5% service charge. I will definitely go back with the family.More

On 29th June, 2023, around 7:30pm, we asked for the bill with a company discount. The self-claimed manager had no idea what discount it gives to companies and claimed there is always no such type of discount. Rudely refusing to communicate with any other staff,...she questioned us to show evidence to proof such discount exists which was ridiculously wrong. Without secured wifi, we had to use a hotspot on a mobile to show the email from my company with a laptop. She then point and touch the screen of my computer to look at the email, with clear statements in the email she still claimed there is no such discount, which we all got in the very same restaurant just weeks before. After some other staff tell her that this is a legit offer, she changed her argument and suggested we need to show her proof of a staff from that company, as if getting access to the company email is still not enough. I showed my staff card and she changed her argument again that everyone on the table have to show all of their cards to proof everyone is from the company. My guest at that time was already very embarrassed and we all felt humiliated. I then suggested I will pay for everything as a company dinner and the manager stormed away and come back throw the bill on the table. We get the 10% discount and paid the 12.5% service fee after all the hassle that costed each of us 30 minutes plus from the moment we asked for a bill. To me, food quality do not matter anymore in this occasion and unfortunately I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone I know, purely due to the utterly poor professionalism of this unbelievable manager who manage the restaurant. I hope the restaurant owner will not tolerate this kind of behaviour, not even a single time, as this will seriously impact the reputation of the restaurant. At least for now and in the near future, you already lost everyone from my company, which may contradict to your original intention for giving our company the discount.More

Came here for lunch. Best pho I’ve had in London. Delicious food and friendly service. Highly recommended.

This spot in central London is a great base point before a night out, a trip to the comedy club just across the street, or to the West End. The spring rolls are amazing!

I am a big fan of viet food. This place was a total disaster! Starters arrived simultaneously, before I ate my soup the fish was cold. I asked to take it away and bring my main course when I finished starter and it arrived- re-heated,...full of oil with cold rice. The quality of the food overall was terrible, service not attentive. Simply POOR! Never again.More

We really enjoyed the food. Monkfish red curry was fantastic, Duck dish really good. Prawns with chilli and lemongrass really good. Starters really tasty. Would be a 5 star. Only a three star, however, due to the service. Staff were fine but left you in...no doubt that you needed to eat your food and get out. Just means I'd never go back.More

Visited on Saturday evening before visiting the Gillian Lynne theatre. We hadn't booked and the restaurant was busy, but we were allocated a table and told we had it for an hour. The menu included all our favourite Vietnamese choices, with lots of vegetarian and...vegan dishes. We ordered the set meal, which cost £26ish. My partner had a coke and I had tap water, which the staff kept topped up. There is a selection of Vietnamese beers though. Service was quick and all staff were friendly. Recommended.More

This is a good value restaurant with a fine selection of dishes. Being right in the London theatre district, it is a perfect place for a pre-show meal. We had a lovely dinner here before crossing the road to the Gillian Lynne Theatre opposite. It...was quite crowded so a bit more ventilation would be a good idea.More

My daughter chose this restaurant during a recent theatre trip to London. She has visited Vietnam and has described the food as her favourite ever. I wasn’t too familiar but was absolutely delighted at how wonderful the food was. Starters of crispy crab and chicken...wings were delicious and hot! My pork belly stew was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten! So very full of flavour, I couldn’t stop eating it!! I would recommend the restaurant to anyone in the theatre district area. We are real foodies and will visit again whenever we come to London, loved it so much.More