Pho St Albans

You'll find yourself weaving through Christopher Place's modest parade of shops to reach this spot, and it's immediately clear why locals have made it their regular. The kitchen takes pho seriously — those broths aren't rushed, and the balance of sweet, salty, sour and spicy in every bowl suggests people who actually know what they're doing. Order the beef pho and watch it arrive brimming with fresh herbs, properly thin rice noodles, and broth that tastes like it's been simmering for hours (because it probably has). The bánh mì sandwiches are equally unfussy and brilliant. It's casual, quick, and the sort of place where you're genuinely happy to queue because you know what's coming.