What is everyone's favourite Thai place in London?

[Giga060282]

I haven't really found a Thai place yet that I go to regularly - would appreciate some advice!

[YummaYum]

Haven't been to 101 yet and have wanted to try it however, I can't eat gluten anymore (I have been recently diagnosed with coeliac's disease). What's the english speaking level of the staff?

I have a basic knowledge of the sauces I'd need to avoid, but wasn't sure if the staff/chef would be receptive to my queries about the ingredients/preservatives in the fish sauce (most, but not all are gluten free) or other receipe ingredients. What do one of you who have been there think?

Thanks.

[t_g]

i find that usually at least one of the staff there can speak english fine, so you shld be ok i think? good luck!

[fifi]

for cheap and cheerful thai places in west/north west london i love spicy basil (kilburn), boys cafe (harrow rd ) and number 1 cafe (ladbroke grove).

[bleep75]

My favourite used to be the Thailand in New Cross but haven't been in a while - they used to make (grind) all their own sauces - I also like suchards in London Bridge but careful what you order - the gang dang is good but some of the sauces taste out of the jar.

[quinlahe]

there is a Thai restaurant in Blackheath village just off the main street called Laicram. The food is delicious and the service is really friendly. It is always packed every time I go and the food is always fresh and amazing - the best thai I have found in London and a real neighbourhood favourite!

[Giga060282]

Thanks everyone! Anything more central or South East?

[Nii]

Mannatah in West Norwood is supposed to be good.

Sri Thai supermarket in Sheperds Bush is another you should try, they do lunch time takeaway meals - if you're ever in the area.

Of course there's always 101 - the best.

[JFores]

What sort of takeaway meals does Sri Thai do? I used to go there for kaffir limes ages ago.

[Sharmila]

It varies day to day, but usually includes a sourish red curry with chicken and bamboo shoots. Then they often have a really wonderful green curry. My favourite is their minced chicken with basil and thai aubergines in it though. It's gorgeous. From time to time they also have som tam, which I always enjoyed. They really don't tone down the heat at all. The owners are also really nice. I always meant to ask them if they would open a restaurant or similar but never got around to it and now I don't work nearby anymore.

[PhilD]

I wonder if there is something historical about West London and good Thai food. IIRC it was the first area in the late 80's to see small Thai cafe's serve authentic Thai food. Often they were British "egg'n'chips" places by day and Thai in the evening, cheap and BYO. The Bedlington in Grove Park was probably the famous one back then. Is West London an area that Thais gravitated too, and settled in, and thus still the best place to find more authentic food?

[helen b]

Mantannah in Norwood is indeed good, and have also heard very good reports on Mangosteen in Gipsy Hill, though Time Out suggests you ask the staff for their recommendations as some dishes are much better than others. Haven't been there for yonks but Thailand in New Cross was brilliant at the time: mother cooks in what looks like a converted front room with her daughters serving. Great larb, weeping tiger and a bizarrely comprehensive whisky selection!

[greedygirl]

I wasn't terribly impressed with Mangosteen - tasty enough but I can make better Thai/Viet food at home.

[helen b]

Oo that's a shame, was on our list of local places to try. What did you have (so I can avoid!)

[abby d]

i used to live locally and really liked mangosteen. i particularly liked the range of dishes on the menu. their early eve deal is good value and a nice way to try them.

[greedygirl]

I really can't remember now - went a couple of times and was not massively impressed by anything. BUT I had been cooking quite a lot of Vietnamese food myself at the time, having just come back from a trip to Vietnam, so maybe my expectations were unrealistic. (This is often the case, tbh.)

[YummaYum]

Sukho Thai in Fulham!

[NellyNel]

I had an amazing meal at the Blue Elephant - but I guess thats more of a special occasion place - I think it was pretty expensive...
but very lovely!

[t_g]

101 thai kitchen

[skut]

seconded

[limster]

Love that place, haven't been back in a long time....gotta go soon. Have a soft spot for the thai satay stall at Brick Lane Market (good peanut sauce) and think that Addie's Thai in Earl's Court is also pretty good for certain things.

[t_g]

you shld go back limster! they changed the menu at the end of last year

[limster]

Thanks! Will do, hopefully soon. What are your favourites there since the menu change?

[t_g]

oh man i cant remember! i just know that there's lots of different types of som tum now - last time we went we had one w/ raw blue crab in it. and they've started putting the specials on a piece of paper at the front of the menu so you dont have to rely on them to translate the blackboard.