Best Thai restaurants in London

There’s a Thai restaurant on practically every street corner in London so how do you know which to pick when that pad Thai craving strikes? To help you out, we’ve pulled together a list of all our favourite spots that offer that perfect balance of aromatic flavours the cuisine is so well-known for. It’s safe to say that the food of Thailand holds a strong place in the nation's heart, or should we say belly, but we want to make sure that when it comes to authenticity and quality the top places in London are getting the recognition they deserve.

Updated on 17 February 2020

Now one of the most popular cuisines in Britain, there is certainly no shortage of Thai restaurants in the UK and fortunately for us Londoners the capital boasts some of the finest examples of the cuisine outside of South East Asia. Deriving from the culinary traditions of all the principal regions of Thailand, we have restaurants serving up everything from fragrant curries, to moreish noodle dishes, hot and sour soups, stir fried vegetables, aromatic rice dishes, sensational seafood and so much more - all in a bid to be London’s best Thai eatery. A few years ago we considered ourselves well versed in Thai food if we knew our green curry from our pad thai and our cashew chicken from our papaya salad, but nowadays these westernized versions of Thai signatures have been superseded by more authentic dishes showcasing a whole host of unfamiliar ingredients and mind-blowing flavour combinations.

In our best list below, we’ve tried to match just about any criteria with a mix of restaurants that range from the super traditional, to the more contemporary, the smart to the casual, and the pricey to the more affordable. So whatever kind of Thai dining experience you are looking for in London, our pick of the best Thai restaurants in London should have something for you.

Nipa at the Lancaster London

Nipa at the Lancaster London

Lancaster London, Lancaster Terrace, London, W2 2TY

Housed in the Royal Lancaster, Nipa is the place to go if you are looking for luxury Thai cuisine. Expect authenticity in every aspect, from an all-female kitchen to antiques sourced from Thailand for the décor.

£30 - £49

Thai

The Begging Bowl

The Begging Bowl

168 Bellenden Road, Peckham, London, SE15 4BW

With flavours from Bangkok and meat and fish from Peckham, expect a plethora of traditional dishes that will transport you to The Land of Smiles. Go for the stir-fry clams with Thai basil or guinea fowl and crispy pork skin.

£30 - £49

Thai

Sukho Thai

Sukho Thai

855 Fulham Road, London, London, SW6 5HJ

The minimal décor with hints of Thai culture make for a laid-back atmosphere to enjoy your food. The mostly neutral décor complements the coloured dumplings on offer and creates a nice surprise when purple and green parcels arrive at the table.

£30 - £49

Thai

Isarn

Isarn

119 Upper Street, London, N1 1QP

Housed in a sleek, modern restaurant with dark wood finishes and Thai lanterns, you can enjoy beautifully presented Thai cuisine at a reasonable price here. If it's seafood you’re after, Isarn has its fair share of fishy stir-fry dishes.

£30 - £49

Thai

Smoking Goat

Smoking Goat

64 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, London, E1 6JJ

The original site closed its doors, but the Shoreditch spin-off remains popular as ever. Diners can sit either at the counter or on large canteen-style tables to enjoy the affordable Thai barbecue small plates and seafood on offer.

Under £30

Thai

SquareMeal London Top 100

Som Saa

Som Saa

43a Commercial Street, London, E1 6BD

The cooking here, as with the vibrant atmosphere, is in-your-face: a riot of heat, sweet, sour and more heat that focuses on lesser-known Thai dishes. An indisputable gold award winner for us and a contender for the best Thai in London.

£30 - £49

Thai

Patara Soho

Patara Soho

15 Greek Street, Soho, London, W1D 4DP

The stereotypical décor at Patara makes for an authentic setting to enjoy your meal. Despite being a chain, you’ll struggle to find your usual choices and can rest assured that whatever you order will be of the highest quality.

£30 - £49

Thai

Farang

Farang

72 Highbury Park, London, N5 2XE

Starting its life at various street food markets around London, Farang now has a permanent home in Highbury. Try the Som Tam spicy green papaya salad or Pàk-ká-nàa – roasted cavolo nero crisps served with burnt chilli dipping sauce.

£30 - £49

Thai

101 Thai Kitchen

101 Thai Kitchen

352 King Street, London, W6 0RX

This may sound like you’re average Thai restaurant but there's more than meets the eye with this one. With events such as 'Bugs and Beer' held at the restaurant, you can try the most popular Thai street foods right here in London.

Under £30

Thai

Mango Tree

Mango Tree

46 Grosvenor Place, Victoria, London, SW1X 7EQ

Originally opened in Bangkok, you can now visit Mango Tree in Belgravia for an extravagant Thai meal in a sleek, modern setting. We recommend Kow Pad Pu – an Alaskan king crab stir-fry with asparagus and Tom Yum Goong – a spicy prawn soup.

£30 - £49

Thai

Kiln

Kiln

58 Brewer Street, Soho, London, W1F 9TL

Dishes influenced by the borders between Thailand, Burma and Laos make for an exciting take on Thai cuisine. If you manage to get a coveted seat, expect to see chefs cooking on hot coals right in front of you.

£30 - £49

Thai

SquareMeal London Top 100

Greyhound Café

Greyhound Café

37 Berners Street, London, W1T 3NB

Featuring some strangely named dishes such as ‘bugs in my salad’ and the DIY ‘complicated noodles’, it’s worth giving this place a try if only to see if the noodles really are as complicated as the restaurant claims.

£30 - £49

Kaosarn

Kaosarn

Brixton Village Market, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, London, SW9 7EL

This family-run BYOB restaurant serves up traditional Thai food in a tiny restaurant located in Brixton Village. Expect to find a short but punchy menu filled with pad Thai, green curry and larb – a spicy minced pork salad.

Under £30

Thai

Wild Rice and Mamasan

Wild Rice and Mamasan

28 Brewer Street, Soho, London, London, W1F 0SR

Two Thai restaurants with two different takes on the cuisine are housed here. On the ground floor, Wild Rice features a menu full of exciting sharing plates, while downstairs Mamasan has more of a chilled street food vibe.

Thai

Kin + Deum

Kin + Deum

2 Crucifix Lane, Bermondsey, London, SE1 3JW

If you like to play things safe when it comes to Thai food, Kin + Deum (meaning eat + drink) delivers no-fuss-or-frills Thai food. Enjoy the dishes we all know and love, executed to perfection.

Under £30

Thai

Suksan

Suksan

7 Park Walk, Chelsea, London, SW10 0AJ

Expect regional delights mixed with all your predictable dishes at Suksan in Chelsea. On the menu you’ll find gaigapraw – stir-fried minced chicken with fresh chillis and basil, lobster pad karee, and sea bass in red curry paste.

£30 - £49

Thai

Addie

Addie's Thai Café

121 Earl's Court Road, London, SW5 9RL

Hailed by some diners as the “best Thai restaurant outside Thailand”, this restaurant features Thai cuisine exactly how it’s eaten in Thailand. All is served at a very reasonable price, too, which is never a bad thing.

Under £30

Thai

Asian cuisine is now one of the most popular types of food in London with thousands of restaurants serving up dishes from all over the far east. Want to try out more great places for Asian food? Check out our list of the best Chinese restaurants in London.

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