The Best Thai Restaurants in Soho, London

Rosa’s Thai Café has grown into a 10-strong chain since opening in 2008. The Soho café was the second and remains a popular choice for locals who are after fresh and authentic Thai food and a relaxed atmosphere. The menu is full of Thai classics like tom yum soup, drunken noodles and beef mussaman curry, and everything is made fast and fresh.

Although Banana Tree actually serves up an Indochinese menu there are a lot of Thai dishes to choose from, including curries, wok noodles, satay and even coconut stuffed green Thai pancakes for dessert. The lunch offering also comes in at fantastic value with two courses coming in at under £11 – perfect for a mid-week meal.

Patara, an international chain, is a blend of modern and traditional Thai influences. This is reflected both in the restaurant’s interior, a mix of slick dark wood and Thai wall carvings, and in the food, which offers a contemporary take on Thai cuisine. There are lots of recognisable dishes as well as plates that draw on Thai flavours, like lemongrass marinated lamb chops and soft shell crab salad. It’s not quite fusion but Patara definitely offers a broader interpretation of Thai food.

Thai Cottage has been open in Soho for over 20 years and it’s remained firmly traditional since then. It’s a family-run place and you certainly feel like you’re getting an authentic home cooked meal just as you would get in Thailand. The place itself might not be the most modern in terms of décor but it always has a buzzing atmosphere and the food hits the spot in terms of flavour, plus the portions are generous too.

This small and simple space on Brewer Street brings a slice of Bangkok to Soho. The food at Jane-Tira is inspired by the food you would find on the streets of Bangkok, and whilst not as cheap as you’d get in Thailand, the prices are very reasonable too. All the staples, including pad thai, jungle curry and massaman lamb are there but its signature dish has to be the ‘Super Duper Spicy’ mackerel curry. Be warned though, the name is accurate – this curry is ferociously hot.

If you want noodles cheaply, cheerfully and in a flash, head to Tuk Tuk, which serves up a mixture of Thai and Malaysian dishes. The service is on the brisk side but the plates come loaded with food and you can’t fault the prices. All in all, if a craving for pad thai strikes Tuk Tuk will see you right.

Classic Thai food in stylish surrounds is what Thai Tho is all about. The menu is extensive but there’s nothing out of the ordinary for those familiar with Thai cuisine – curries, soups, stir-fries and noodles are well represented and there’s also a particularly good selection of prawn dishes. Thai Tho also has a karaoke room available to hire if you fancy making a real night of it.

Kiln, run by Ben Chapman who’s also the man behind Smoking Goat, offers another take on Thai barbecue. Here British produce, like Tamworth pork and Cornish greens, are combined with Thai flavours and the results are spectacular, particularly the clay pot baked glass noodles. There are a handful of spiced cocktails but the orange wines on the drinks list are a great match for the boldness of the food. If you’re not in a group grab a seat up at the counter so you can watch the action in the open kitchen.

A dive bar meets barbecue restaurant is perhaps the best way to describe Smoking Goat. It’s small and loud and a very exciting place to eat. Rare breed meat and fresh fish are turned into northern Thai food and it’s not something to be approached delicately; from fish sauce wings to smoked lamb ribs to barbecue aged beef short rib with massaman, it’s food to get stuck into, preferably with a few bottles of craft beer.