Hai Ha - Menu

Whenever we are in Mare Street, Hackney my partner and I make a beeline for Hai Ha. It is a Vietnamese restaurant with a big smile and a warm welcome. Our waite... read more Whenever we are in Mare Street, Hackney my partner and I make a beeline for Hai Ha. It is a Vietnamese restaurant with a big smile and a warm welcome. Our waiter suggested that we order different main courses from our usual choices and we took his advice. We are very glad that we did. To start with, however, we shared our usual the Ground Pork Meat Wrapped in Betel Lalot with vermicelli salad. It is always scrumptious, the juicy meat is complemented by the luscious leaves in which it is wrapped. The salad is fresh and zingy, especially the fresh bunches of mint. Our main courses were, for me, Slow Cooked Duck in Tamarin Sauce. The duck was succulent and moreish and the sauce had the lovely tang that you get from tamarind. It was a really good foil for the rich duck meat. My partner enjoyed his choice, Wok Fried Sliced Beef with Chili Lemongrass. We washed it all down with tap water and a bottle of their reasonably priced but very quaffable house red wine. Our waiter was, as always, friendly and welcoming. We cannot wait for our next excuse to eat at Hai Ha.

This restaurant in Hackney has been around for years and used to serve amazing food. However, my recent experience was terrible, indicating a possible change in... read more This restaurant in Hackney has been around for years and used to serve amazing food. However, my recent experience was terrible, indicating a possible change in ownership. It was my first time dining in after the pandemic, and I had high hopes. Unfortunately, before our food even arrived, a cockroach fell onto our table and my partner had to kill it. Despite this, we decided to stay as we were hungry. The food looked good, but ultimately disappointed. The catfish hotpot had a gravy that tasted like microwaved jelly, the PHO broth was lacking in flavor, and the noodle dish was dry and had two hairs in it. When we brought this to the attention of the server, she dismissed us and made excuses for the cockroach. We didn't end up paying for our meal, but we also didn't finish it. It has been two days since this incident and I am currently feeling sick. I will not be returning to this restaurant.