12 Of The Best Thai Restaurants In London, From Kiln To Singburi

Kiln should be nicknamed the king of the meats, with its fusion of northern Thai flavours and locally-sourced Tamworth pork and seafood straight from British shores.

But let's be clear, there's so much more more to Kiln than its roasted meats (the kitchen uses wood-burning ovens and grills). The restaurant - which won the 2018 National Restaurant award - has an innovative approach to Thai cuisine which has allowed its chefs to craft a wide selection of new dishes including a clay pot of silky, glass noodles, mutton laap served with pink radicchio and hogget.

The restaurant's sprawling drinks list perfectly offsets the chic 14-item food menu. The crisp turmeric gin and tonic paired with their southern-style venison with basil is a must.

Address: 58 Brewer Street, W1F 9TL

Book a table here.

A Thai restaurant with a twist can be found at London Secret Garden, which actually is quite hard to find (the clue is in the name).

Located at the back of the Crowne Plaza minutes from Gloucester Road tube station outdoor area comprising of private pods.

Each pod is named after a late famous singer - there's Prince, David Bowie and Aretha Franklin pods - and is available to book, meaning a private Thai meal for you and your friends in a hidden location that feels less central London and more countryside.

However, the unusual setting does not mean the restaurant is a gimmick. The food is seriously good here. There are two tasting menus available, we chose the six course menu which came with crisp salt and pepper squid and chicken skewers to start before moving on to Beef Rendang, steamed sea bass (which was so fresh) and the most flavoursome Coconut prawns, cooked in a rich sauce and served with jasmine rice.

Address: 100 Cromwell Road, SW7 4ER

Book a table here

Who doesn’t adore a cosy pub? Well, the Faltering Fullback is as snuggly as they come and the perfect place to lounge around inside on a sunny or grim Sunday afternoon.

In addition, the north London institution has a great beer selection, a big screen for sporting matches and a beautiful Thai beer garden at the back for summer. It may have previously made the top 10 for Time Outs Pubs but, for us, it’s the pub's pad Thai that really gets our tastebuds interested.

We recommend you try the pub's Naa Pad Pring (stir fried beef with chilli and onions), paired with an ice-cold pint. After all, if it's good enough for Daniel Radcliffe - who stared in the 'Beginners' video from Slow Club here in 2012 - it's good enough for us.

Address: 19 Perth Road, 19 Perth Road, N4 3HB.

No reservations needed but check out the menu here.

Patara London is up there with one of our favourite Thai eateries, so you're lucky we're sharing its name with you.

Begin your night here with a plate of crafted, flower-shaped dumplings, followed by a bowl of rich coconut-braised beef seasoned with lime, mint and lemongrass and a warm, soft-centred chocolate pudding, topped with Madagascan vanilla ice cream.

Chase this all down with a refreshing glass of Thai Pimm’s and you're sure to leave Patara with a full belly.

The international, contemporary Thai chain recently won the Open Table’s Diner’s Choice Award (2019) for its artful menu filled with authentic Thai delicacies and, it's not hard to see why.

Address: 181 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JN

Book a table here.

This contemporary Thai munching ground is home to a signature green papaya salad (served with grill chicken) and cosy Thom Yum/Thom Kha soups.

Better yet, the Upper Street-located eatery has a £9.95 lunch special and its dinner offering is packed with delicious nibbles, such as corn fritters mains like roasted duck, curry monkfish green curry, silken tofu and vegetable thom yum. For the ultimate post dinner night cap, their Japanese Nikka Single Barrel Whiskey is essential.

If you’re feeling particularly lazy, keep in mind that Cafe Isarn also delivers.

Address: 116 Upper Street, London N1 1QP

Book a table here.

Instagram’s favourite London pub is best known for it's sprawling flower displays along its windows, which attract keen photographers and tourists from across the world.

While the flowers may welcome the selfies, it’s the pub's spicy kaeng par curries and delicate pad siew noodles that keep visitors coming back for more.

The award-winning heritage pub was one of the first to serve Thai food in London and, with former landlord Gerry O’Brien at the helm, the pub was awarded the Evening Standard’s Pub of the Year in 1999 and even managed to snag a Chelsea Flower Show Award in 2018. Oh, and it also recently won the 2029 Certificate of Excellence (Trip Advisor) so, you know it's a good place to start the night.

Address: 119 Kensington Church Street, Kensington, W8 7LN.

Book a table here.

Midweek dining doesn’t have to be one pot meals and microwaves. That's why you need to head down to the east London high street and nab a table at the locals' favourite Singburi.

Glitz and glamour might not be on the menu but its delicious menu is the real reason why diners love it so much. Despite its popularity, the prices are relatively low which is great for frugal diners with hearty appetites. Dishes on offer include 'Nok Gradta Tod' (crispy quail), 'Gang Om Bai Yor' (curry of monkfish cheeks and Bai Yor leaf) and 'Nam Ngiaw' (northern pork rib and tomato soup).

With the chance to bring your own booze (BYOB), we suggest taking that bottle of Pinot Noir that’s been sitting on your shelf since Christmas and settling in for a night of aromatic delights.

Address: 593 High Road Leytonstone Leytonstone, London E11 4PA England.

Book a table by calling 020 8281 4801

Are you in need of tucking into some ash-baked celeriac? Or maybe you're after a gola peanut curry charcoal-grilled on a banana leaf?

Well, let us suggest an outing to Begging Bowl in south London. Its careful balance of western ingredients and south-eastern flavours make for a perfect Thai treat, with dishes like stif fry tofu and garlic chive cakes. For the full works, make sure you go for the £16 three-course set menu, finished off with a Traditional Thai Roselle (Thai rose hips and demerara sugar syrup.)

This Thai ‘tapas style’ restaurant is a true grassroots movement and their recent renovation - supported by a successful crowdfunding campaign - means it can continue serving banana roti pudding to even more hungry diners.

Address: 168 Bellenden Road, Peckham, SE15 4BW.

Check out this South London Delight - here.

Esarn Kheaw is the perfect place to visit when you some hot, tasty food that packs a punch. Its specialities include homemade sausages and a grilled catfish fillet with hot chilli sauce, which are all prepared in the same kitchen as was first used when the restaurant opened 25 years ago.

If you're craving a comforting Thai green curry, the 2018 Time Out Love London Awards runner up offers regular crowd pleasers right alongside their boiled and deep-fried ‘son-in-law eggs’, and the usual selection of Thai teas, beers and wines.

Address: 14 Uxbridge Road, W12 7LJ.

Book a table here.

Kao Sarn is a must-visit if you're in south London any time soon.

This family-run franchise has been dominating the food scene in the likes of Tooting and Clapham for year and, it's with good reason. The delicious street food restaurant- led by head chef Nucharin Lapakulchai - aims to bring diners the magic of Bangkok's markets with dishes including 'Kha Na Mu Krob (a stir-fried vegetable dish with crispy pork belly over rice) and 'Boat Noodle Soup'.

Take your own bottles of Singha and taste the best Thai street food experience this side of the Pacific.

Address: Granville Arcade, Unit 96 Coldharbour Ln, Brixton, London SW9 8PR

Find out more information here.