Chubby Bowl is a casual Vietnamese restaurant at 107 Upper Street in Islington. The compact dining room focuses on richly flavoured pho, banh mi sandwiches, noodle salads and rice bowls, with food also available for takeaway and delivery. Its position close to local theatres makes it a useful choice for a quick lunch or an early evening meal.
Prawn summer rolls wrap vermicelli, herbs and pickles in fresh rice paper and come with peanut sauce. Pork and prawn spring rolls combine mushrooms and glass noodles with a crisp shell, while chicken wings are glazed with fish sauce and chilli. Papaya salad adds fresh herbs, peanuts and fried onion for a bright, crunchy beginning.
The classic beef pho pairs flat rice noodles with a slowly developed broth and slices of beef, while chicken pho provides a gentler alternative. Satay pho brings nuttier spice and chicken curry pho combines two familiar comfort dishes in one bowl. Vegan Quang noodles use tofu, mushrooms, herbs, peanuts and sesame crackers with a small amount of deeply flavoured broth beneath the noodles.
Noodle salad bowls combine vermicelli with choices such as barbecue pork and spring rolls or crisp vegetable rolls. Rice dishes include chicken curry, crisp pork belly and a combination of roast meats, while banh mi fills a crisp baguette with pickles, herbs, sauce and seasoned meat. Homemade lemonade and strong Vietnamese iced coffee make refreshing accompaniments.
Address: 107 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1QN, United Kingdom