I have lost count of the number of times I have walked past Thanh Binh on Magdalene Street. It is a small spot, but it really stands out from its historic surroundings with an abundance of plant life in the window and string lighting that illuminates the glass in the evening.

It is an independent, family-run restaurant that has been going for over twenty years. In these incredibly hostile economic conditions for the hospitality industry, being able to stay open that long deserves a medal. It is clearly a place of quality and somewhere I finally needed to tick off my list.

Walking in, you are greeted by a beautiful display of greenery that isn’t just there to entice you from the street but is present throughout the entire restaurant. It feels more like a garden room than a dining area – a unique atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else in Cambridge. Vietnamese artwork decorates the walls, including a rather beautiful piece above my head using bright red colours that really explode against the plants and cream walls. It is such a pleasant place to be, and massive credit to whoever keeps those plants watered all year round.

The staff are a delight. Each person who served me radiated warmth and a polite formality that made me feel so welcome. They talked me through the menu, which was packed with dozens of exciting options. How many times do you look at a menu and see maybe one or two things you fancy? Here, I think I could return five or six times and find a dish that genuinely excites me. It is filled with proper, traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Prices were a little steep, but that is unsurprising for a small independent in the very heart of the tourist sector, right next to the River Cam itself. Despite this, it is BYOB, which helps mitigate some of those costs.

Fresh Juice

The restaurant offers a selection of freshly squeezed juices, so I asked the waitress for a recommendation. She suggested their signature passion fruit, and she wasn’t wrong. It was a modest size but beautifully presented with an edible flower; you could tell it was freshly squeezed from that sharp, tangy flavour that felt properly alive. That’s one of my five-a-day sorted!

Pancake

I got talking to a couple on the table next to me who had been several times before. They were clearly seasoned pros, so I decided to follow their lead on the first order: a rather delicious-sounding Bánh Xèo Chay. It is a rice flour pancake made with coconut cream and filled with oriental mushrooms, green mung beans, and bean sprouts, served with fresh salad, herbs, and a soy sauce and fresh chilli dip that is apparently a Saigon speciality.

The pancake looked gorgeous with a really healthy, vibrant yellow colour. The salad wasn’t just some generic, out-of-a-bag mix either – it looked and tasted freshly picked. Judging by the abundance of greenery in the restaurant, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they have their own plants in the back they harvest from. Interestingly, I noticed mint in the salad which added a peppery dimension to the flavour that I quite enjoyed. The pancake itself was perfectly crispy and packed with bean sprouts, mushrooms, and peanuts. Coupled with the soy sauce, it really worked and was a fair size for a starter. I’ll definitely be having this again.

Chargrilled pork noodles

For my main course, I ordered the Bún Thịt Nướng. This is chargrilled BBQ pork served with fresh vermicelli, cucumber, bean sprouts, fresh herbs, and spring onion, all garnished with peanuts. It arrived with a side of nước mắm, a traditional fish sauce.

The vermicelli consists of thin, white strands of noodle that were incredibly light and served piping hot. They were clearly freshly made and were a refreshing change from the thicker, heavier yellow noodles you often come across which allowed the pork to take centre stage.

While the portion of noodles was fair, I did feel they were a little stingy with the pork. However, I couldn’t argue with the taste, which offered a lovely sticky, sweet flavour with a subtle smokiness. I would definitely order it again, but if you have a bigger appetite like myself, I’d recommend getting a side of something else to bulk it out.

Authentic flavours in a unique setting

All in all, Thanh Binh is a proper gem. It is rare to find somewhere in the centre of Cambridge that feels this authentic and tucked away from the madness of the city. Between the forest of indoor plants and the polite, welcoming staff, it really does feel like you’ve stepped into someone’s home for a bit of a retreat.

While it isn’t the cheapest spot for a quick bite, you are paying for quality, independent spirit, and a location that is hard to beat. The fact it’s been going for over two decades tells you everything you need to know. Next time I go, I’ll definitely bring a bottle of wine to make use of the BYOB and probably order a side of summer rolls to satisfy my larger appetite, but I’m already looking forward to ticking off more of those exciting dishes on the menu. If you want a unique, leafy, and genuinely pleasant dining experience, this is the place to go.