In the heart of the financial district you will find HOP, a concept that delivers authentic food and a relaxed atmosphere for those who need to make a quick food stop. The five fundamental tastes of Vietnamese food come through in each dish’s distinctive flavour. Serving from breakfast through lunch, you’ll find that this Vietnamese street food is a great addition to Square Mile.
In the thrumming midst of lunchtime rush hour you won’t be waiting for too long in the queue and might even find that the seating becomes quickly available. Even though HOP is centred on the concept of ‘Com Binh Dan’ or ‘Working People Food’, you’ll find an array of people circulating in and out of this establishment. From pristine suits to the trickle of style coming from Shoreditch, here’s a popular spot on Square Mile that not only welcomes everyone but is also somewhere you can be at ease.
The service may be quick and efficient but that does not go to say it lacks in warmth or humour. The staff are delightful, honest and truly seem like they’re enjoying their role and the place they work in. Launched on the 15th of June, HOP has already attracted many City workers to its Vietnamese den. The creator of HOP, Paul Hopper, had travelled around Vietnam and was inspired by delectable cuisine he had discovered on his journey. This creative and adventurous appeal has also been extended to the patterned boxes and pots that HOP’s food is served in, including its vibrant, light and welcoming interior.
At HOP you’ll find a great variety of things to pick up and go, whether you’re looking for a filling hot meal, a crunchy and unique salad or small snack pots to treat yourself throughout the day. The Mixed Vietnamese Greens and Herbs (£2.50) is a snack pot with lime and maple dressing that offers a mixture of textures, combining layers of crunchy and soft to your palette. If you’re looking for something a little more filling go for the Lemongrass Chicken (£6.75) which includes coriander, lemongrass, caramelised onions, steamed rice, shredded salad, pickled and green veg. The chicken was tender with a slight chew, and the lemongrass sauce went perfectly with the pickled carrots.
Vegetarians have the option of the Vegetable and Herb Curry (6.50) made of coconut, chilli, turmeric and peanuts. The curry itself wasn’t too spicy and the ingredients offered subtle flavours without overpowering each other. There’s a bit of a theme going on with the salad. Each dish has a similar salad of pickled and green veg with grated carrots. Fans of vermicelli rice noodles will love the salads on offer at HOP. The Garlic Chive Omelette (£6.25) with lime and maple dressing allows for a lot of crunch with your salad by mixing herbs and crispy salad leaves with thin and light noodles.
The sweet pots are a must as every meal deserves a dessert. The Chocolate and Coconut rice pudding pot, which is around £3.25, will put a whole new spin on your taste buds. The ingredients in this sweet pot mingle together in a surprising mix with sharp notes of chilli. It is the perfect remedy for someone with a sweet tooth and you’d have to try it to truly believe it. Use HOP’s lemonade as a refreshing palette cleanser before dipping into something different. Here you also have the option of drinking a few of their special juices. One of the juices includes kiwi and kale, giving you a bounce and boost for your day.
The concept of quick and delicious Vietnamese food for workers has been applied with a lot of thought at HOP, making it a fun environment to eat in. Before you leave make sure you try HOP’s very own Viet Drip Coffee (£2.50), it is a bit like a mocha but sweeter, smoother and a lot tastier.
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