From 16 December until 4 January, the restaurant will be open for dinner only with a preview menu offering a 50% discount on the food, but full price for drinks.
The House of Ho’s modern Vietnamese menu will echo Bobby’s 18 years living and working in both Hanoi and Saigon. His quirky, contemporary approach to Vietnamese cookery always maintains a respectful nod to the country’s fascinating culinary culture. But this is Soho, and Bobby loves to travel the world, so there will be a healthy combination of authentic and adventurous on Bobby’s menus at The House of Ho.
Signature small dishes on the launch menu include Smokey aubergine and crispy shallots with warm scallion vinaigrette; Apple-smoked pork belly with braised cabbage; Lemongrass monkfish; Duck “a la banana” (shredded confit duck banana blossom salad); Seafood ceviche with mangosteen truffle vinaigrette; “Shaking Beef”; Molton Marou chocolate cake; and Sweet Corn Che. Prices range from £4.50- £15.
The international wine list comprises approximately 60 bins, including a selection of sakes, chosen to complement the flavours of the menu. Prices start at £21 (bottle), and there are 12 by the glass from £5.25. Both classic and innovative cocktails are featured, enhanced with homemade bitters and syrups, including house favourites such as the ‘Ho’rny Devil (lemongrass vodka, Vietnamese Devil’s Chilli, fresh coconut), ‘Ho’-Groni (Campari, Tanqueray 10 gin and pomelo bitters), and Nam Fizz (lemongrass shochu with Prosecco and lemongrass); prices range from £7-£9.
The 90-seat restaurant site has a prime Soho location with one of the longest frontages in the area. The interior features an impressive 10-metre bar, a semi-private area for up to 10, light oak wooden flooring with patterned tile borders, bamboo tables, and mixed seating upholstered in leather.
Bobby Chinn was born in New Zealand to a Chinese father and Egyptian mother, and has lived in the USA, New Zealand, England, and latterly Vietnam, where he has been since 1996. He now resides in London, but will oversee his Vietnamese business interests from the UK. Bobby has hosted the award-winning World Café series on the Discovery TLC since 2007, and a new edition of Bobby’s cookbook – Vietnamese Food – has just been published by Octopus.
From 6 January, The House of Ho will be open from Monday to Saturday, with lunch from Noon-3pm, and dinner Monday-Wednesday from 5.30pm-10.30pm (until 11.30pm Thursday-Saturday).
House of Ho, 55-59 Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 6HW.
