The Churchill Arms

Kaprow (30s, Female, London)

This has got to be the best bargain in town. I've been coming to Churchill Arms for the past 13 years and the prices have only gone up about a pound a dish since. So what keeps me coming back? Some of the best Thai food London has to offer and bills much closer to Bangkok than Kensington. There isn't as much variety here as you may find in a 'proper' Thai restaurant (if only they added som tam to the menu, I'd be in heaven) but it really can't be beaten on value. The speciality is one-plate meals, which means stir-fries and curries come complete with rice, while large mounds of noodles cover an entire dinner plate – all at just over five pounds a pop. Unsurprisingly, it's very popular and the management runs a strict table-turning policy in the cramped dining room (don't be surprised if they ask you to vacate your table the minute you've finished your food) so, if you want a more relaxed meal, it's worth trying to bag a table in the bar, which gets equally busy but at least you can hold on to your table. Takeaway is an option too. You order by number and the best dish by far is No.8 with chicken or prawns (a stir-fry with chilli, onions, thai basil, french beans and peppers). We also like No.15 (chicken and cashewnuts), No.1 (pad thai – order it spicy with prawns!) and the very garlicky No.13.