Hanoi Bike Shop

Launched by Colin Clydesdale and Carol Wright (of Stravaigin and Ubiquitous Chip fame), this Vietnamese canteen is a riot – a funky hotchpotch of gaudy silken lanterns and bare wooden furniture, with disembodied parts of Ho Chi Minh-era bikes strewn around the room. Although the chef isn’t from the old country, the food feels authentic and there’s no hint of ready-made shortcuts – they even produce their own tofu (try their special coriander-crusted version).The menu is a cook’s tour through the native cuisine with fragrant flavours, explosive hits and contrasts in every mouthful: jellyfish salad with chicken and mango; slow-cooked ox cheek stew with water chestnuts; char-grilled sea bream with caramelised pork belly and pickled cucumber – plus exemplary pho soups, fritters, rice cakes and more besides. At lunchtime, you can also drop by for a banh-mi baguette to take out. Terrific value, terrific fun.

Run by the team behind Ubiquitous Chip and Stravaigin, Hanoi Bike Shop is a quirky eatery found in the heart of Glasgow’s West End. Taking inspiration from the food of Vietnam, this casual canteen is bursting with charm and boasts and fantastic outdoor area which acts as a bit of a sun-trap during the warmer months. With a lengthy menu that ranges from light lunch options, to traditional Vietnamese street food and hot pots, Hanoi Bike Shop is a restaurant for all occasions and times of day.

Nestled away down a small lane off Byres Road, the characterful brick building has broken bikes leaning up against the walls and a greenery-covered balcony which looks down over the street. The bike theme continues inside with various wheels strewn around the room, while stripped wood tables and chairs add to the relaxed ambience. The upstairs room is a lighter and airier affair thanks to large windows and doors that open out onto the balcony; a mixture of lanterns hang from wooden beams above.

The lunch offering at Hanoi Bike Shop is mainly focused around banh mi (Vietnamese filled baguettes) with fillings such as pork sausage and fried egg available, and the option to add a half portion of pho as part of a meal deal. The main menu is designed to be shared by the whole table – the suggestion being that two people should order around 3-4 dishes and a couple of sides. Street food options include banh bao filled with salt and chilli shrimp, sweet and spicy fried chicken, handmade dumplings, and crispy spring rolls. More substantial hot pots range from claypot caramel pork belly to chicken congee, while there’s also the option to try the restaurant’s very own, home-made tofu.

In terms of drinks at Hanoi Bike Shop, there are a number of soft drinks available including mocktails and kombuchas, as well as beers, wine and other alcoholic options.