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I don’t know about you, but I love finding small, local, family-run restaurants that do amazing food at incredibly good prices. Sadly, in London, it’s proving increasingly difficult as the large chains tend to be the only ones who can afford ever-increasing rents when leases run out. But Mien Tay is an exception.

With two branches (one in Kingsland Road, E2 and the other on Lavender Hill, SW11) Mien Tay focuses on food from South-West Vietnam. The Mekong delta runs through this area, so the menu features plenty of vegetables, seafood, herbs and fish. Although similar to Thai food, the profusion of herbs in the dishes gives them added fragrance and freshness. Even if you haven’t eaten Vietnamese food, it’s very accessible and many dishes are quite mildly spiced – make sure you ask your waiter for advice.

As well as more adventurous dishes like Stewed Mekong Catfish (£6)and crispy  frogs’ legs, Mien Tay serves up a menu that’s packed with mouthwatering dishes – very hard to choose. In the end we enjoyed faultless Salt and Pepper Squid (£6.30), Papaya salad with dried beef (£6.30) and incredible chargrilled quail with honey, garlic and spices (£5.20), which you eat by dipping it into a dish of lemon, salt and pepper. Beautifully marinated and not too spicy, the quail almost falls off the bowl and is a real treat.

Moving on to main courses, a real highlight (also loved by AA Gill, when he visited) is the goat with galangal (£6.80) – one of Mien Tay’s most popular dishes. Steamed whole sea bream with fish sauce and mango (£9.50) was also really good – the flesh was soft and succulent, with the fish sauce and mango adding flavour and texture. I was also thrilled to see one of my favourite Thai dishes on the menu – stir-fried morning glory with garlic (£5.50) – a great way of upping your intake of green vegetables as it’s packed with iron.

If you like hushed, upmarket restaurants with linen tablecloths and silver service, then Mien Tay isn’t for you as it’s bustling and always seems to be packed with customers, which makes for a lively atmosphere. But if you want really good food at unbelievably good prices, then it’s a great choice.

When I visited the wine policy was BYO but there is now a great wine list in place, chosen by Bibendum, with wines from £13 per bottle.

Mien Tay is at 122 Kingsland Road, E2 8DP, 0207 729 3074; Mien Tay, Battersea 180 Lavender Hill, SW11 5TQ, 0207 350 0721 and Mien Tay, Wellingborough, 29-30 Sheep Street, NN8 1BS, 01933 223 031. Monday – Saturday: lunch from 12pm-3pm & dinner from 5pm-11pm Sundays all day service: 12pm – 11pm. Visit www.mientay.co.uk for the menus and photos of the dishes.

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