My favourite restaurants: Saiphin Moore

It’s funny to think that once upon a time, Rosa’s Thai was an independent restaurant serving Thai food from an east end 'caff' in Spitalfields – but then all formidable restaurant chains must start somewhere. Chef-founder Saiphin Moore opened Rosa’s Thai back in 2008 following a successful stint as a street food stall on Brick Lane, where she cooked the dishes and flavours from her family home in northern Thailand.

As a child Saiphin would pitch in with work on the family farm, or help out at her grandparents’ grocery store, before cooking the family meal with her mum at the end of the day. By 14, she’d set up a noodle shop in her parents' living room, serving ultra fresh noodle dishes using ingredients grown on the land around her. That noodle shop could easily have become a half-forgotten anecdote from her childhood, but a strong enterprising streak saw the chef forge an illustrious career in food, one that included launching multiple businesses around the world, from Thailand to Hong Kong and the UK.

While Rosa's Thai's ethos of serving approachable, affordable Thai food hasn’t changed much since those fledgling days, the restaurant has become a phenomenally successful UK wide chain, serving spicy bowls of Tom Yum noodle soup and countless plates of Pad Thai to diners up and down the country. There are now 44 Rosa’s Thai restaurants in the UK, with 26 in London alone.

Being the founder of one of the UK’s most successful restaurant groups hasn’t stopped Saiphin from spreading her wings to pastures new though. In 2016, she opened sister restaurant Lao Cafe on Chandos Place, which focuses on traditional Laotian cooking served in a relaxed, family style. She’s also the co-founder of Thai noodle spot Slurp Noodles, and the now-closed Chinese-inspired restaurant Hoh Sek Noodles.

At their core, Saiphin’s restaurants are built on the flavours and family recipes she grew up eating at home in Thailand. But if you’re keen to see where the Thai chef eats on her days off, keep on scrolling. We stole a few minutes from her busy schedule to find out which restaurants she keeps going back to across the UK, from a killer Korean BBQ spot to her favourite old-school Italian.

Bari Bari, London

Saiphin says: 'This Korean restaurant has a tabletop BBQ where you can bring a big group to cook, eat and chat together while you grill marinated meats. You can spend hours chatting over the grill while enjoying a drink - I take all my friends there for a family style meal. My favourite is the gablbi beef bulgogi, which I grill, then wrap in crunchy lettuce and their spring onion salad. It’s similar to how we eat Laab Gai (minced chicken salad) which is typically eaten around Songkran (Thai New Year) as it’s believed to bring good luck.'
Where: 24 White Church Lane, E1 7QR
Book now: Bari Bari

Maray, Liverpool

Saiphin says: 'We used to go here a lot when we opened our restaurant in Liverpool. The food is healthy and light and I enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant overlooking the docks. My favourites are the Disco Cauliflower, topped with a perfect mix of harissa yoghurt and tahini, as well as the Lamb Arayes. We don’t eat much lamb in Thailand so it’s always a treat to see how other cultures cook it.'
Where: Unit 4 Britannia Pavillion, Liverpool, L3 4AD
Book now: Maray

El Tico, Jersey

Saiphin says: 'Being so close to the sea, you just know this place uses the freshest seafood. I always go for the moules marinière, plump mussels in a rich Jersey cream and white wine sauce. I used to spend afternoons here while I watched my son surf on the beach right in front. It's a great place to catch the sunset, too.'
Where: Grande Route des Mielles, St Peter, JE3 7FN
Book now: El Tico

Il Bordello, London

Saiphin says: 'This is my favourite restaurant in London. The menu is full of classic Italian dishes and is the perfect place for a generous portion of delicious, warming comfort food. They use the freshest ingredients, especially the seafood. It is always packed in an old-school restaurant way which gives it such a special atmosphere. It’s a lovely local, where the staff know your first name and look after you so well - it’s like a home away from home. It’s been open for almost 30 years and is definitely a local favourite of mine.'
Where: Unit G01 Metropolitan Wharf, 79 Wapping Wall, E1W 3SS
Book now: Il Bordello

Bistro Bardot (The Turk's Head), London

Saiphin says: 'This is my local pub so I’ve been going there for years. It used to be a cafe serving breakfast, and when my children were small I’d bring them to sit in the garden. It’s now a French restaurant so I love visiting for lunch, and as it’s located in the park it has a great atmosphere outside.'
Where: 1 Green Bank, E1W 2PA
Book now: Bistro Bardot

Find out where the chefs eat on their days off with more killer restaurant line-ups from two Michelin-starred Alex Dilling, The Camberwell Arms founder Mike Davies, and Henrock head chef Mark McCabe.