When it comes to Thai restaurants, London spoils us for choice. From delicious small plates in vibrant tiki bars to renowned restaurants where their green curry is anything but ordinary, the capital is a hotspot for lemongrass and coriander fans: think tom yum, pad kra pao and beyond. Check out our guide below and prepare yourself for flavour like no other. No matter how spicy the food, we know you can handle it.
On the hunt for the best Thai tapas in London? Wimbledon's Giggling Squid would like a word. Grab a Thai beer or botanical-infused cocktail and make your way through the menu of Golden Money Bags, Samui Zingy Prawns and Salt & Pepper Chilli Mushrooms.
Still feeling peckish? Mighty mains like Chicken Kua Kling, Thai Melting Beef and Slow Cooked Jungle Firepot will soon see to that.
The Begging Bowl brings the vibrant flavours of northern Thailand to Peckham, offering a menu of bold, seasonal dishes designed for sharing. Led by chef Jane Alty, whose training under Thai culinary legend David Thompson informs every plate, the restaurant uses rare ingredients like banana blossom and hog plum to create authentic, punchy plates.
With its relaxed terrace and warm, communal atmosphere, it's a go-to spot for adventurous eaters and lovers of Thai cuisine.
With a menu inspired by the chef patron Peter Lloyd's travels throughout East Asia, Sticky Mango fuses the flavours of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and more. Presenting stunning locations in both Waterloo and Tower Bridge, the eatery promises eye-catching decor at each. From the moment you walk in you'll be struck by towering cherry blossom trees, silk wallpapers and traditional Asian fixtures. Treat your tastebuds to a whole load of delicious delights here, such as green mango salad, spiced seared scallops and lobster pad Thai. If you fancy a little bit of everything, pick the nine-flavour tasting menu for £50 each, which includes many signature plates. This riverside beauty also doubles up as a glamorous event space as well as a gastronomic playground, so make sure to secure your spot here for your birthday.
With venues in Soho, Hoxton, Greenwich, Shepherd's Bush and beyond, Busaba will transport you to Bangkok from wherever you are in London. Since opening in 1999, the restaurant has nodded to traditional Buddhist values in its approach to cooking, such as Sookja, which is about avoiding the chaos in life and focusing on the good; creating a 'happy heat'.
It pours love and care into its plates of food in order to uplift spirits with fragrant plates of tamarind duck breast, pandan chicken and jungle curry. Tuck into a flavoursome feast in a sleek, low-lit dining space decorated with soft lanterns, and then finish off with bang banana fritters for dessert, or a busabocker glory.
Discover Kruk, a vibrant Thai bar and restaurant tucked under the train arches in Peckham's buzzing food scene.
Known for its unapologetically spicy dishes bursting with fresh flavours, Kruk is the perfect spot for group dining, vegan options, and enjoying expertly crafted Thai-inspired cocktails. Whether you're in the mood for a casual night of nibbles and drinks or a full sit-down meal, this lively venue promises an unforgettable South London dining experience.
Tucked inside a characterful coach house in the heart of Borough Market, Kolae is the latest must-visit from the team behind som saa. Set over three floors, the Thai bar and grill pairs an open kitchen and counter dining on the ground floor with an elegant private dining room upstairs, perfect for intimate celebrations, group feasts or impressing out-of-towners with excellent taste.
Food-wise, Kolae champions the bold flavours of Southern Thailand, with a menu built around kolae grilling - where coconut curry-marinated meats, seafood and veg are cooked over open flames for maximum smoky impact. Expect hand-dived scallops with chu chee curry, kolae chicken skewers, stir-fried soft-shell crab and rich southern gati curries, alongside superb sides and punchy relishes. With British meat from Swaledale, South Coast fish, stone-ground curry pastes and desserts like young coconut sorbet with salted Thai tea caramel, this is Thai cooking that's confident and firey.
If you're always Googling 'Thai restaurants in North London' and haven't checked out the acclaimed Farang yet, what are you waiting for? What started as a pop-up out of the back of chef Sebby Holmes' car has expanded into an eatery with a Michelin Bib Gourmand to its name and awards from the UK Thai Embassy. Its interiors make for a relaxed dining experience as exposed brick walls surround hungry revellers and foliage dangles from the ceiling. An array of menus are available to explore, from set feasting affairs to a droolworthy a la carte that includes small plates of salted turmeric prawn 'miang' bites, green curried fish cakes and crispy blooming onion aromatic coconut curry.
Blending locally sourced London ingredients with authentic Thai flavours, Kin + Deum is a relaxed spot created by culinary sibling trio Bank, Roselyn and Shakris Inngern. Among pastel interiors and marble-topped tables, you can enjoy everything from pork belly and kale to traditional green curries here, paired with a pink lychee martini or the mandarin mojito.
You'll find Chet's located on the ground floor of The Hoxton in Shepherd's Bush. Upon entry, be prepared to be dazzled as you're met with a gleaming back-lit bar at the core of an Art Deco-inspired, American-style diner. Past coral pink motifs and vintage-looking booths you'll find an open kitchen whipping up Thai bites with an LA twist. The menu comes from cult chef Kris Yenbamroong (who's behind the stateside NIGHT + MARKET restaurants) and features Instagrammable plates like pineapple rice, banana French toast and a scrumptious Bodega sandwich filled with sai uah sausage and umami ketchup.
Featuring traditional dishes with a twist, Greyhound Cafe is a Thai restaurant in Central London that brings the flavours of Bangkok to Fitzrovia. What started predominantly as a fashion label has expanded into food, interpreting its plates as 'street meets couture'. Split over two floors, this joint boasts charming interiors, such as a monochrome bar sporting Thai lettering engraved on tiles, dark-panelled walls, leather stools and low-hanging orbs of light. There's also a striking open kitchen where you can see and hear your food cooking away: think duck confit in red curry with pineapple and lychees, 'the angry pasta' (wok-fried spaghetti and seafood), plus a young coconut crepe cake for dessert. Complete your feast with a signature cocktail, such as the Chaiyo, made with gin and Thai basil, or the stone ginger wine-based Manhattan Mama.
One of London's most cherished Thai spots, Singburi has a well-earned reputation for fiery cooking, its iconic blackboard specials and a famously elusive booking system that only added to its mystique. Over the year's it's picked up all kinds of praise, from Time Out's Restaurant of the Year in 2021 to a place on the National Restaurant Awards list.
Led by head chef Sirichai 'Siri' Kularbwong, it serves up bold, flavour-packed dishes, from wild ginger chicken thighs to smoked pork belly, along with daily changing specials. Whether you're in the mood for a hearty curry or want to pick your way through small plates, this place is well worth a visit.
Serving spicy meat and fish-based BBQ dishes with fresh and high-quality ingredients, Smoking Goat can be found in the heart of Shoreditch with queues of hungry punters out the door. Inspired by Thailand's open-air canteens, you'll find a rustic, communal dining space fronting brick walls and giving a warehouse feel. A trendy spot among locals and tourists alike, it focuses on meats, seafood and clay pots; the kitchen whips up goods like BBQ beef heart with a coriander and peanut salad (£12), 'ceviche' trout belly and flourish herbs (£13), plus massaman smoked short rib (£38). Signature cocktails are also on the menu, such as the vodka and fish sauce-based America Eats Its Young (£10) and the joint's take on a margarita, the Beware Dub (£9.90).
Bold, fiery, and in-your-face goodness, Som Saa's affordable delights will knock your socks off. Founded by Andy Oliver, Mark Dobbie and Tom George, its one of the top traditional Thai restaurants in London that you need to visit. Book your place to dine among distressed, white walls featuring shelves topped with authentic cutlery and dangling plants. Cross shabby-chic floorboards and a glowing open kitchen to take your seat at a cosy table and inhale the likes of gaeng juet pbet (coconut smoked duck bone broth of shiitake mushrooms with tofu skin), and gaeng ped neua (red curry of aged bavette with apple aubergines).
Utterly kitch and eye-catching from the onset, Speedboat Bar is the second restaurant from chef Luke Farrell that transports diners to Bangkok's Chinatown with its drunken noodles and creamy curries. Fixed to the walls are authentic memorabilia and framed photographs of iconic figures; shiny silver tables take centre stage, surrounded by teal tiles and a pool table that beckons you to play to the sound of Thai pop rock until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Choose either a set menu (like the Yaowarat Road for £39 each) or pick a few plates from the menu to gobble up, such as black pepper sea bream and tom yum mamma noodles with squid, pork and prawns. This joint is also famous for its whiskey sodas as well as a Jelly Bia cocktail, made using ginger, honey, calamansi and singha.
For an exceptional Thai dining experience in London, AngloThai in Marylebone offers a fresh and sophisticated take on traditional flavours. Helmed by chef John Chantarasak and wine expert Desiree Chantarasak, this restaurant blends authentic Thai dishes like fermented sausages and Isaan-style grilled meats with British produce and seasonal twists.
The minimalist interiors create a calm, welcoming setting, while Desiree's focus on natural, low-intervention wines provides the perfect accompaniment to the bold and spicy flavours. AngloThai stands out as a unique and exciting addition to the city's restaurant scene.
The best Thai restaurant London has to offer has to be Kiln, serving up a menu of authentic street food from its home in Soho. With a Bib Gourmand to its name, the low-lit haunt transports diners to Southeast East Asia by cooking up clay pots, woks and grills, taking inspiration from Laos, Myanmar and Yunnan. Upstairs you'll find an open-plan kitchen with counter seating available for walk-ins only, whereas its basement space can be booked for up to groups of six. Peruse a menu embodying a low-waste approach and order the likes of grilled rump cap with ubon relish (£11), omm of mussels with aubergine and broad beans (£12), and clay pot baked glass noodles with Tamworth belly and brown crab meat (£7.85).
