Hai Ha - Hackney

Got a take away and the portion was very small which I didn’t realise till I came home. Staff are nice but when I called up to explain about how small the portion was the lady who must be the manager I assume was extremely rude and hung on me. I’m not saying I expect a big portion but for £10 three bits of meat and barely any sauce compared to all the other Vietnamese on mare street it’s no comparison. I wouldn’t go there again.

I just ordered £64 worth of food for me and my family via Uber Eats, and it was cold, greasy slops! The crispy pancake and softshell crab were so hard that we couldn't chew them. So shockingly bad was the quality of the food that, for the first time ever, I've actually asked Uber Eats to refund my money. Everything is now in the bin! Why should I have to throw away my money like this? It shouldn't be allowed. PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY HERE!!!

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 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.

We have dined at Hai Ha countless times, both in the restaurant and for takeout, and it never disappoints. The staff is always friendly and the food is consistently delicious. The chili salt and pepper tofu is a standout dish, perfectly crispy and never greasy. The Hai Ha Special vermicelli rice bowl, featuring cold noodles, salad, and three kinds of pork, is a must-try dish that always impresses our friends. The tamarind prawns are also outstanding. We recommend ordering these three dishes and thanking us later! :D