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Hoa Sen Restaurant
Review
About
Family-run, authentic Vietnamese restaurant with a twist! Cosy place for all Vietfood lovers . Let us take you to a buzzy Hanoi street!
Features
CUISINES
Asian, Vietnamese, Street Food, Soups, Dining bars
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Delivery
Free Wifi
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Takeout
Wine and Beer
Location
Covent Garden
Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?
Reserve a table
Order delivery
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 12:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 - 22:00
Monday
11:30 - 22:00
Tuesday
11:30 - 22:00
Wednesday
11:30 - 22:00
Thursday
11:30 - 22:30
Friday
11:30 - 22:30
Saturday
12:00 - 22:30
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3.9
112 reviews
Excellent
66
Very good
13
Average
6
Poor
7
Terrible
20
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California Walker
6 contributions
Jul 2023 • solo
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!!
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
roonie49
Harwich47 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
Popped in around 5.30 sat afternoon. spoke to staff an asked if we could book a table for around 6pm ish that evening. No problem, see you at 6pm ish. I said but can we book the table? No youll be fine ..........Got there just after 6pm "Have you booked sir ?" No i was advised i would be ok ? Anyway we got a table only to be told it was ours only for an hour ! All a bit confusing really considering we asked to book a table and they said no need . We both had the beef Pho, literally arrived in minutes. But from then on everything felt so rushed ! Staff trying to take away part eaten plates of food and at one point I had to stop them taking away a half full pot of jasmine tea ! Yet lots of tables remained empty the whole time we was there. Overall very good but a shame we felt pressured to scoff our food down and leave
Written 17 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
spuddybike
London335 contributions
Jul 2024 • friends
I’ve been before after a bit of an evening session and enjoyed it, so a few weeks later pooped in for an early evening meal with friends.
It was as I remember, great choices with a Vietnamese influence to suit pretty much all dietary idiosyncrasies.
Summer rolls were spectacular, fresh and tasty. Best dishes to my taste are the Pho and soups, but the duck was judged excellent and the salads, punchy and crisp.
Unusually the wine selection was interesting but not overpriced.
Great place to eat out of the way as you head into town and the prices are reasonable for the quality of both food and service.
Written 28 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simes1965
Camberley167 contributions
Feb 2025 • couples
Expensive prices not matched by the quality of the food. They stay open late so I guess, when everyone is closed these prices are the only choice.
Noodle dish was essentially tasteless and the meat content not enjoyable.
The food came within 5 minutes of ordering never a good sign.
Wouldnt go back
Written 15 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hisherflavors
Tel Aviv85 contributions
Dec 2022 • family
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.
Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg ST
Geneva153 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
We come out of it.
After hearing so much praise, we expected much better.
Unfortunately quite mediocre.
You are offered a table in the middle of a group even though there is space further away and when this is pointed out, the waitress sighs, unhappy.
The service is bad.
We are served the starters after 4 minutes then the first course after 6. And then nothing.
The food is sent to us because the waiters are all sitting down at the table!
Finally the second dish arrives after 15 minutes.
the meat is of poor quality and fatty. Overall disappointing and above all, salty. The dirty table, the dirty floor, the dirty toilets.
And 12.5% service with that? Honestly, skip your turn, if the cleanliness of the kitchen is like that of the restaurant you will remember it!
Written 11 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aileen W
London10 contributions
Oct 2022 • friends
Served by the most sour man - everything seemed like a huge effort.
Starters (Summer Rolls) arrived AFTER the main and were so incredibly bland they were basically lettuce with one prawn.
Such an incredibly disappointing experience. Get yourself down to Kingsland Road, Hackney. Wonderful Vietnamese food, half the price and amazing service.
They had the absolute cheek to add a service charge on - I have never asked for it to be removed before, but in this instance there was no way I was paying almost £6 to be snarled at and served inadequate food.
Written 29 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James H
2 contributions
Feb 2024 • couples
When ordering my girlfriend clarifier she wanted the classic pho, and when repeating back the order clarified this. The waitress then brings over seafood and when my girlfriend says this isn’t what I ordered the waitress gave her a stern look as if it was her fault. I had seen the same waiter bringing things to the wrong tables etc, she seemed in a confused mess.
The food itself was edible but very bland, and gave my gf stomach pains. Didn’t taste so fresh, was like reheated leftovers.
Written 4 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sioned J
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • family
We visited this restaurant last night as 2 adults and 1 child. The service on arrival was efficient and friendly and spring rolls and chicken wings arrived quickly for our 9 year old whilst we looked at the menu.
We had summer rolls and crispy crab parcels which were delicious then the most amazing duck with tamarind and baked sea bass. The meat and fish was melt un the mouth with amazing flavours.
The restaurant was full to the brim which we saw as a good sign and we will definitely visit again for more delicious food.
Written 31 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicki B
London1 contribution
Mar 2022 • couples
Honestly the worst restaurant I’ve ever been to. The food was inedible (there wasn’t any chicken on the bone, and it was questionably pink), we had to queue to get in despite having a reservation (not the end of the world of course, but a tad annoying), it was overfilled, too loud to have a conversation and so cramped people walking to get out knocked my chopsticks and napkin on the floor (not their fault there literally wasn’t enough room to reach the door with where the table was placed). They got peoples reservations wrong whilst we were sat there (tried to sit a party of 3 at a table for 2), couldn’t explain the dishes on the menu to the table next to us, and we could overhear all this because of how crowded it was. The servers attitude was appalling, I never got a replacement set of chopsticks despite asking. I’ve never left a negative review before, but it was just such a bad experience I had to share to stop others making the mistake of eating here. London has many amazing restaurants - this is not one!
Written 17 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trudy F
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • business
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.
Written 29 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K&M_BS
6 contributions
Apr 2023 • family
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.
Written 7 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MariaBhandari
188 contributions
Jul 2023 • friends
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.
Written 16 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
xithaki
London192 contributions
May 2021 • friends
Simply the worst! Ordered their supposedly special bun hue. Bun hue is known to be over the top flavourful and spicy. Their version is just hot and that’s IT. Otherwise, rather bland.
The meat were carelessly hacked. The chicken were chunky and had raw chicken taste. A better restaurant would have hand shredded the chicken breast. I only prayed that I don’t get sick.
Simply can’t understand why this restaurant had high rating on Google. Fake Vietnamese!
Written 13 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew B
1 contribution
Nov 2021 • none
The food was good but this was rendered completely null and void by the terrible service. We got our starters fine but everything spiraled down massively from there. One of our party of six got their main course 45 minutes before anyone else and the rest of us only started getting ours after complaining. Even so, mains arrived staggered and without sides and without condiments and even spoons for the soups. It was a complete disaster. We asked to order more drinks only to be told okay but then to be totally ignored. Genuinely have probably never received worse service in a restaurant in my life. Will never be back. The waiter who presumably messed up our order was too busy dabbing and bopping unapologetically to the music to realise just how terrible he was.
Written 7 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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