This review took place in December 2018 and is based on a visit to the restaurant without the restaurant's knowledge. For more on BK's review policy, click here.

Among many little shop-houses dotted along Phloen Chit’s Mahatun Plaza stands Hanoi House. Here, vintage wooden shutters open to retro Vietnamese decor, featuring dark wood furniture that does little to tone down the vibrant yellow walls, colorful traditional lanterns and bright lace pillows.

Pondering over what to order isn’t a problem, since there’s only a single-page menu, featuring Vietnamese staples that play it traditional, simple and wholesome—no mashup fusion flavors here.

The eight-hour-stewed beef pho (B150), served in a traditional Vietnamese ceramic bowl, is light and fragrant, while the nam nueng (large marinated grilled pork dumplings, B280) taste just right: sweet, salty and juicy, but not dripping with fat—at their best when wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves, topped off with a bunch of herbs and a heavy drizzle of homemade coconut sugar and lime sauce.

We love the steamed rice roll (B90), it’s not at all oily and comes stuffed full of minced pork drizzled in sweet dipping sauce with a refreshing zingy hit, while the super-fresh spring rolls (B120) are packed with the perfect ratio of whole shrimp to vegetables and rice noodles.

For your carb fix, a plate of Vietnamese fried rice is a must: warm, rich and comforting, with a depth of flavor that hints at curry powder, and a generous topping of shredded pork, Vietnamese sausage, crispy shallots, carrots and peas. The baked fish in a clay pot (B180) is equally hearty and intense in flavor thanks to a mellow both of ginger, scallions, chilis and soy sauce—spoon it onto a pile of steaming rice and it’s just wonderful.

The small drinks menu covers all the boozy essentials, including classic cocktails, whiskey and house wines, though we recommend ditching the alcohol for the Vietnamese coffee (B90), whose distinctive strong bitterness is cut perfectly with tooth-achingly sweet condensed milk. It’s a shame there’s no dessert on offer, but what they lack in sweets they make up for in speedy, attentive service and very satisfying prices—on which note, it’s cash only.