The Banana Tree Canteen

Cheap and cheerful is a winning formula. Add to this an exotic, preferably South East Asian cuisine and your success is guaranteed, just look at Busaba Eathai, from the business mastermind that is Alan Yau. Banana Tree may seem to have taken a fair bit of inspiration from Busaba (even the menus look similar), however the first branch opened in Maida Vale over 20 years go. The cuisine here is “Indochinese”, and their simple formula has seen them grow to a total of six branches over the last two years.

The menu is broadly divided into noodles, curries and chargrilled meats. The green papaya salad, like the Thai som tam, will have you blowing fire for several minutes. The DIY spiced lamb pancakes would be better if the lamb hadn’t been cooked to a crisp, however adding gloopy hoisin sauce, a salad of pickles with ground nuts, chilli oil and a fresh salad ensures there are enough flavours for it to be tasty as well filling.

The Thai Monk’s Vegan Delight is a stir fry with crispy battered tofu, crunchy pak choi, shiitake mushrooms and mock duck, which tastes much like the shiitake mushrooms. A thick, garlicky sauce coats the vegetables, and it’s another hearty dish for just £7.20.

The Tamarind Crispy Fish is slightly disappointing as the battered tilapia fillets are a little on the dry side, but the tamarind sauce has pleasing hints of chilli and lime. On its own the fish is £8.20, however for an extra £3 we add a glass noodle salad, corn fritters, jasmine rice and spicy crackers, making it a mammoth-sized portion, ideal if you’re ravenous.

Those with a sweet tooth will love the uber-saccharine coconut pancakes, bright green wraps containing desiccated coconut and heaps of molasses, balanced with a blob of vanilla ice cream. It’s possibly our favourite dish, along with the cocktails: the Lychee Daiquiri has a kick but remains sweet, and the Cool Rangoon mocktail is a hugely refreshing mix of apple juice, mint, blackcurrant and cinnamon.

The food is good if not spectacular, bolstered by low prices; it’s no wonder Banana Tree are doing so well.