Banh Banh Vietnamese Kitchen

Dear diners, please be aware that tables booked for groups of three or less are available for 90 minutes only, or two hours for groups of four or more. Please also note that the restaurant can only hold tables for 15 minutes.

Peckham is well established as one of South London’s favourite food melting pots and it’s hard to stand out from the crowd – but in terms of genuine but cool Vietnamese food, Banh Banh Vietnamese does just that. This trendy eatery in Peckham Rye is helmed by five siblings who follow the recipes handed down by their Vietnamese grandmother (a professional chef), which goes a long way towards explaining why this is some of the most delicious and authentic Vietnamese food you’ll find anywhere.

London is certainly not lacking in Vietnamese eateries these days, but during the Vietnamese street-food revival of recent years quite a few trendy new restaurants have focused more on design and aesthetics than authentic and delicious food. Thankfully for the food-spoilt folks of Peckham they have one ticking both boxes with Banh Banh Vietnamese. Peckham Rye is a competitive area for new restaurants, but Banh Banh Vietnamese seems set up for long-term popularity because nowhere else in the area can match its stylish but casual setting, funky vibe and simple but truly exceptional food.

Banh Banh Vietnamese is run by five born-and-bred Peckham siblings guided by the hand-written recipes passed down from their Vietnamese grandmother, a chef in Saigon during the 1940s. Banh Banh dish up time-tested Vietnamese favourites like pho, papaya salad and beef in betel leaves, all of which can stand alongside the best in London. There are some signature touches at Banh Banh, though, largely using fresh local produce (like fellow Peckham Rye residents Flock + Herd, whose chicken becomes irresistible fish-sauce wings), and the house special is undoubtedly banh khot: succulent tiger prawns encased by mini savoury turmeric and coconut pancakes, topped with spring onion and shrimp dust and served with herbs and nuoc cham dipping sauce. Delicious.