From humble beginnings as a low-key neighbourhood spot, Singburi has gone full blockbuster in Shoreditch’s Montacute Yards. It’s the kind of rags-to-riches story that we all love, and with the city’s obsession for fiery Thai food, it’s no wonder the hype is off the charts.
Inside, Singburi is loud, thrumming, and full of energy. The long dining room curves gently around an open kitchen - a real working kitchen, where meat is slow-cooked high over the grill, chicken thighs are glazed and finished near the searing heat, and white cabbage is blazed into translucency over charcoal-fuelled wok burners. This vibrant setup is Singburi’s beating heart - it makes the whole place feel alive.
That energy comes with limitations, which likely explains the compact menu. On our visit, there are three small bites, three salads, and six larger plates, all designed for sharing. Given the kitchen’s layout, it’s hard to imagine how much more could be done. Singburi may never be ideal for dietary restrictions, and we’re disappointed not to see any shellfish on the menu this time.
Still, what’s there is nigh-on perfect. Wild ginger chicken thighs are juicy, umami-rich, and kissed with char from the grill. Grilled lamb ribs are cleaved into fatty riblets and glazed in sticky, limey sauce. While London is developing a taste for explosively hot Thai food, Singburi offers balance - the electric heat of monkfish green curry is offset by the soothing freshness of a strawberry and watermelon salad. The standout dishes are the simplest: stir-fried cabbage and aubergine pad phet, a glorious, sticky pile of deep-fried aubergine. Cocktails are excellent too, built around exotic, cooling mixes like Palomas and Daiquiris.
Singburi is all thrills, no frills. The menu may be tight, the room a little chaotic, but when the food crackles with this much fire and flavour, none of that matters. Shoreditch is never short on hype restaurants, but Singburi actually earns it.