Au Lac
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One of a small number of London’s ethnic restaurants to have a branch in its native country, Au Lac is a large Vietnamese eatery a few minutes walk off the main strip of Old Street’s nightlife. The menu is suitably exotic, with plenty of richly-flavoured Vietnamese seafood, alongside the Oriental restaurant standards.
Bahn Quon steamed rolls were irresistibly light and tasty and arrived in a pile large enough to make a meal on their own. Char-grilled monkfish was a great seafood variation on the duck pancakes so familiar from Chinatown, with crisp, thin Bahn Quon pancakes. Our waiter failed to warn us when we accidentally ordered a traditional Vietnamese crab dish and was unable to explain to us how to get into it using only chopsticks, but the bits we could get at were rich with spicy aromas that perfectly complemented the salty, succulent crab.
Prices are as low as the portions are huge, yet the restaurant was completely empty on a Thursday evening, with only two others dining in a space that could comfortably have seated 40. The reason is glaringly obvious, in an unappealing décor and a set of too-bright lights that create an atmosphere as intimate as McDonalds, but rather less cheery.
This is a more than decent restaurant, which is excellent value, but it will have to seriously redecorate if it is to attract the limited passing trade on the Kingsland Road.
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Further articles featuring Au Lac on LondonTown.com
Plan the perfect year in London with our pick of the capital's best events in 2013. From January through to December, every month boasts an impressive line-up of entertainment. So, take a look at our guide and be sure not to miss a thing.
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel Deluxe Rooms: 34% off from Ł164
100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 | 5 minutes from Au Lac
Shoreditch is a great spot for going out with Old Street a hive of late night activity. It also happens to be next to the City ...More
London > Hotels > Budget Chain Hotel Standard Rooms: 55% off from Ł108
275 Old Street, EC1V | 6 minutes from Au Lac
Modern and functional, you get what you pay for at this middle ranking hotel close to the City and the reasonable rates mean that it fills ...More
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel Twin Rooms: 61% off from Ł74
419 to 437 Hackney Road, E2 | 12 minutes from Au Lac
This hotel is modern, clean and very convenient if you want to explore the sights and bright lights of trendy Shoreditch. Although close to the City, ...More
London > Restaurants > South East Asian restaurants
74 Kingsland Road, E2 | Same location as Au Lac
Vietnamese cuisine. ...More
London > Restaurants > South East Asian restaurants
65 Kingsland Road, E2 | Same location as Au Lac
Vietnamese cuisine. ...More
London > Restaurants > South East Asian restaurants
134 Kingsland Road, Hackney, London E2 | 3 minutes from Au Lac
One of the best Vietnamese in town and also one of the cheapest, this hugely popular place offers over 150 dishes, all excellent. It’s in a ...More
London > Restaurants > Cafes and Delis
54-56 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, E2 | Same location as Au Lac
This Shoreditch cafe on Kingsland Road is a great spot for the full English. You can breakfast on poached eggs, cooked tomatoes and succulent sausages while ...More
London > Restaurants >
58 Kingsland Road, E2 | Same location as Au Lac
Newly refurbished Viet Grill really stands out from the competition on a road famous for Vietnamese food. An elegant new look incorporating hand-crafted wooden furniture, subtle light fittings ...More
London > Restaurants > Mexican restaurants
22 Kingsland Road, E2 | 2 minutes from Au Lac
Run by the Rebel Dining Society, Death by Burrito is a contemporary Mexican grill and cocktail bar located at the Catch Bar in Shoreditch. Stepping outside ...More
London > Events > Theatre Dates: Thursday 20th June 2013 at 10.30am and 12noon
Rich Mix Centre, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 | 7 minutes from Au Lac
A performance for very young children....More
London > Events > Film Events Dates: 14th to 20th Jun 2013
Rich Mix Centre, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 | 7 minutes from Au Lac
Top Cat and his buddies Benny, Choo Choo, Fancy Fancy, Spook and Brain enjoy the run of Manhattan's alleys, despite the best efforts of Officer Dibble ...More
London > Events > Film Events Dates: 14th to 20th Jun 2013
The Queen Of Hoxton, 1-5 Curtain Road, EC2A | 10 minutes from Au Lac
John Bennett works for a car rental company and has no ambition other than to romance his beautiful and successful girlfriend, Lori. His best friend in ...More
London > Entertainment > Comedy Clubs
66-68 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A | 5 minutes from Au Lac
Don't let the gaudy red and yellow paint that mutilates the exterior of this fantastic comedy club deter you from gracing its hallowed floors. It may ...More
London > Entertainment > Live Music
38 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A | 7 minutes from Au Lac
The Old Blue Last is a legendary pub and live venue in Shoreditch, East London brought to you by the people at Vice - a magazine ...More
London > Entertainment > Cinemas
64-66 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, London E2 | 7 minutes from Au Lac
Housed in the Aubin & Wills concept store, the Aubin Cinema is a intimate 47-seat theatre with velvet chairs and sofas, plumped up with Aubin & ...More
London > Attractions > Art Galleries
340-344 Kingsland Road, Hackney, London E8 | 2 minutes from Au Lac
This cutting edge contemporary art gallery is run by director Rebecca May Marston, a graduate of the RCA's curating course who first took on the Hoxton ...More
London > Attractions > Museums
136 Kingsland Road, Hackney, London E2 | 3 minutes from Au Lac
There aren't many museums that can have William Morris and Ikea under the same roof, but the Geffyre is one of them. The focus of this ...More
London > Attractions > Art Galleries
20 Hoxton Square, Hoxton, London N1 | 4 minutes from Au Lac
This spacious gallery strategically situated opposite White Cube in Hoxton Square opened in 2007 and is run by co-directors Richard Graham, Adam Waymouth and Alex Dellal. ...More
London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
374-378 Old Street, Shoreditch, London EC1V | 4 minutes from Au Lac
A well known deli among the foodies of Shoreditch, this specialist food shop is perfect for those who like a bit of a treat. Close to ...More
London > Shopping > Specialists
Unit 27, BOXPARK, 2-4 Bethnal Green Road, E1 | 4 minutes from Au Lac
Online print specialists, MOO.com, have opened a bricks and mortar shop at Boxpark, bringing their cool brand of personalised cards and stationary to Shoreditch's quirky shopping ...More
London > Education > Evening Classes
10 Sunbury Workshops, Swanfield Street, Shoreditch, London E2 | 4 minutes from Au Lac
Learn some crafty manouveurs at Making Space where classes on mask making, glass engraving, pyrography (burning patterns into wood or leather), chainmail knitting, and book hollowing ...More
London > Education > Evening Classes
4 Luke Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A | 7 minutes from Au Lac
National charity for adult learning which also runs an excellent selection of theatre, literature, history and politics evening classes....More
London > Education > Professional Training
106 Bunhill Row, City, London EC1Y | 14 minutes from Au Lac
City’s Print Journalism course is recognised as the best in London. Although places like Goldsmith’s are trendier, City is respected in the industry thanks to a ...More
London > Leisure > Unique Experiences
Coronet Street, Hoxton, London N1 | 5 minutes from Au Lac
Circus Space is the UK's premier Circus school, providing a BA Hons degree in Circus Arts, support for professional performers and a range of recreational ...More
London > Leisure >
The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, E1 | 11 minutes from Au Lac
Spread over three floors L!FE is a unique space within The Old Truman Brewery where yoga, food and music sit side-by-side. ...More
London > Leisure > Activities
95 Brick Lane, Spitalfields, London E1 | 12 minutes from Au Lac
The third of these increasingly popular 1950s retro-America style bowling alleys opened in late 2008 to much critical acclaim. Located in the Old Truman Brewery on ...More
London > Nightlife > Pubs
63 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch, London EC2A | 5 minutes from Au Lac
This bohemian boozer was an integral part of the Shoreditch explosion. Tucked away down a cobbled East End alley it was originally a mecca for local ...More
London > Restaurants > Gastropub
73 Columbia Road, Tower Hamlets, London E2 | 6 minutes from Au Lac
You might just recognise this pub off the telly - it has featured in the Kray's film, sitcom Good Night Sweetheart and even Blue Peter. The ...More
London > Restaurants > Gastropub
76 Paul Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A | 7 minutes from Au Lac
Take the spiral staircase up out of this busy Old Street boozer and you find yourself in a small, chic dining room with big picture windows, ...More
Nightlife near Au Lac
London > Nightlife >
Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, London E1 | 4 minutes from Au Lac
This dark and (at least downstairs) dingy bar on Shoreditch High Street used to be home of the much maligned Ditch bar and has gone to ...More
London > Nightlife > Bars
65 Rivington Street, EC2A | 4 minutes from Au Lac
Often regarded as one of Shoreditch's best cocktail bars, Callooh Callay is a popular venue with an ambitious, regularly changing cocktail menu. Examples include the Electric ...More
Meeting venue hire near Au Lac
London > Business > Venue Hire
380 Old Street, Shoreditch, London EC1V | 4 minutes from Au Lac
Site of the legendary Whirly Gig parties in the nineties, Shoreditch Town Hall lends itself well to any type of gathering. Re-opened in 2005, following a ...More
London > Business > Venue Hire
City Road, City, London EC1Y | 12 minutes from Au Lac
...More
London > Business > Venue Hire
2 Fournier Street, Broadgate, Spitalfields, London E1 | 14 minutes from Au Lac
Built in 1729, Nicholas Hawksmoor's Christ Church creation was declared dangerous and closed in 1956. Vigorous campaigning, from the poet Sir John Betjeman among others, eventually ...More
Also in Kingsland Road
Our recommendations in the same street as Au Lac
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What's On Today Near Au Lac DRM RLL PLS Clubbing and Nightlife | On 20th June 2013 Catch 2 minutes walk from Au Lac Ed Melech spins house, techno and disco....More A Few Old Tunes Clubbing and Nightlife | On 20th June 2013 Catch 2 minutes walk from Au Lac DJ Food, Posthuman and Tom Central spin house, techno and electro....More Ear Pop Thursdays Clubbing and Nightlife | Until 27th June 2013 Mother Bar 4 minutes walk from Au Lac DJ Chris Lawes plays 1990s R&B, pop and hip hop....More How S That' Clubbing and Nightlife | Until 27th June 2013 Joiners Arms 4 minutes walk from Au Lac Guest DJs spin experimental sounds....More Bipolar Sunshine, Sega Bodega, Pale Concerts | On 20th June 2013 Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen 4 minutes walk from Au Lac Adio Marchant from Manchester presents genre-bending hip-hop, indie and drum'n'bass....More Nothing But Thieves, Native Roses, Fears Concerts | On 20th June 2013 Zigfrid von Underbelly 4 minutes walk from Au Lac The London-based band plays guitar-led contemporary rock songs....More Crimes Of The Futures Clubbing and Nightlife | On 20th June 2013 Plastic People 5 minutes walk from Au Lac ...More Def Digby, Laxmi, The Great Malarkey Concerts | On 20th June 2013 The Bedroom Bar 5 minutes walk from Au Lac The five-piece with members from London and Watford plays dub rock....More Fuzz On! Jam Night Concerts | Until 27th June 2013 Charlie Wrights International Bar 5 minutes walk from Au Lac The London-based jazz fusion four-piece leads the jam session for musicians to join in and perform....More Hip Hop Karoake & Quiz Leisure | On 20th June 2013 The Bedroom Bar 5 minutes walk from Au Lac With quizmaster Big Teddy Ted and DJ Emily Rawson....More London 2013 The AnnualThe best London events, openings, anniversaries & experiences for 2013, from LondonTown.com Book £10 Tablet FREE 
Hotels near Au Lac
From cheap budget accommodation to luxury 5 star suites see our special offers for Au Lac hotels, including Crowne Plaza London Shoreditch from 34% off. |
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