Viet Shack Restaurant

You'll find yourself on Great Ancoats Street pushing through the door of what feels like a genuine neighbourhood spot—all stripped-back vibes and no pretence. The menu reads like a love letter to Ho Chi Minh City: bánh mì that actually sings with pickled veg and proper pâté, pho broths that have clearly spent hours on the boil, and summer rolls that justify their existence. Prices hover around £5-8 for most mains, which means you're eating proper Vietnamese food without the markup. It's the kind of place where regulars know the staff by name and the lunch crowd moves quickly because everyone knows what they want.