While we’ve all hankered after a steaming hot pad Thai, especially after one too many Singhas, there’s a lot more to Thai cooking than just noodles and satay. And, while every neighbourhood is home to a great spot that can always be called upon (usually via Deliveroo) in a pinch, for something with a bit more sense of occasion, it pays to have London’s upscale takes on traditional Thai cooking on your radar. We’ve rounded up the five most authentic and unique Thai restaurants in London, offering far more than your average takeaway.

Nipa Thai, Lancaster Gate

Known for being one of the capital’s more formal Thai food establishments, this gem is tucked away on the first floor of London’s Royal Lancaster hotel, an independent, Thai-owned property opposite Hyde Park. The authentic teak décor, sourced from Thailand, will have you feeling like you’re dining out in Bangkok, while the traditional all-female, all-Thai kitchen, cooks up a feast.

Don’t miss the steamed rice wraps with sautéed chicken, shallots, and roasted peanuts, all served with crisp lettuce and fresh chillies; or the unctuous spring rolls with glass noodles, cabbage and crab meat, served with a delicious homemade sauce. If you’re hard-pressed to choose, go for a selection of starters, before leaning into the myriad tasty soups, salads, curries and noodles. The chef’s special of grilled ribeye and tiger prawns, served with pineapple fried rice, is a surf and turf experience to write home about.

Lancaster Terrace, W2 2TY, niparestaurant.co.uk

Kiln Soho

With its flavours guided by the regions where Thailand’s borders meet Myanmar, Laos and Yunnan, Kiln Soho’s menu is steered by the sourcing of fresh British produce – before adding a seriously spicy twist. With differing cuts of meat available daily, as well as whatever the dayboat catch brings in, dishes vary but range from a Chantaburi curry of cull yaw (mutton) with celeriac, and braised beef shin curry with wild garlic and nettle, to mussels with aubergine and broad beans and slow grilled chicken and soy. With a whole host of dishes to get your tastebuds tingling, even if you don’t quite know what they are, this isn’t your standard pad Thai and satay gaff.

55 Brewer Street, W1F 9TL, kilnsoho.com

Som Saa, Spitalfields

Located in the heart of Spitalfields, this exceedingly vegan-friendly (but not exclusively plant-based) restaurant is casual and delicious. Try the isaan-style deep-fried seabass with herbs and roasted rice powder, or the five spice-braised pork with fermented chilli sauce and a soy-cured egg. Stand-out veggie and vegan dishes include a pounded papaya salad and a fresh coconut cream relish of tofu and yellow bean. And it’s not just the food that’s worth shouting about: the made-to-order drinks and cocktails are all created from Thai ingredients too, developed to perfectly match and enhance the flavours of the dishes.

43A Commercial Street, E1 6BD, somsaa.com

Kolae, Borough

Images: Ben Broomfield

Found in the foodie haven of Borough, this unique Thai grill and bar serves the food of the southern provinces (especially Kolae) – utilising a cooking style where ingredients are coated in a curry-like coconut marinade and grilled over open flames. With all its ingredients fully traceable, its coconut cream is made fresh in the restaurant each morning, with the curry pastes also stone-ground in-house.

Dishes change regularly, according to UK and Thai seasonality, but you may be lucky enough to catch crispy prawn heads with turmeric and garlic, Kolae chicken bamboo skewers, dry curry of crispy pork belly with wild ginger and green peppercorn, or Phuket-style soy-braised middle-white belly and ribs. A dessert of mango custard with sweet sticky rice and young coconut is a winner.

6 Park Street, SE1 9AB, kolae.com

Patara, across London

With venues across London, from Knightsbridge and Wimbledon and Soho to South Ken, Patara’s core menu boasts all the Thai favourites you know and love, from tom yum soup and green, red and yellow curries, to mango crab salad and ginger beef. May we recommend the lightly battered whole seabass, glazed with a choice of special house sauces? Specialist cocktails include a Thai-inspired mojito or long-island iced tea. With all chefs trained in Thailand, the team is instilled with a knowledge and respect for quality ingredients and the ability to blend eastern and western techniques and palates.

Visit pataralondon.com

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