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Harden's says

Opening September 2024 upstairs at the Globe Tavern in Borough Market, this Brighton-based project is inspired by the night markets of Chiang May in northern Thailand, combining British ingredients and Thai recipes. Consultant Zeren Wilson is behind the wine list.

survey result

Summary

£45
   ££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

A “buzzy yet cosy space above a busy pub in Borough market” (The Globe Tavern), opened in September 2024 as a ‘Thai-in-a-pub’; inspired by the night markets of Chiang Mai. Early reports are enthusiastic, hailing cuisine “a distinct cut above the normal Thai, with some interesting, mostly well-judged, fusion-elements going on”, resulting in “some really excellent dishes from an eclectic menu (albeit with some misses as well as hits) that leave you wanting to go back and try more!”. Top Menu Tips – “very good curried noodles with BBQ chicken; good bamboo curry and rice and dessert bao”.

For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at Khao Bird?

Upstairs at The Globe, Borough Market, London, SE1 9AL

What the Newspaper Critics are saying

The Times

Charlotte Ivers enjoyed some inventive Thai-fusion cooking upstairs at Borough Market’s Globe pub – “the precise location of Bridget Jones’s flat in the films”, she pointed out.

But, she advised, you have to pick and choose your dishes carefully. Pluses included mutton curry, poached white fish, pork hung ley curry and “pleasingly hot” Shan meatballs. Not so successful were chilli margarita, coconut choc-chip bao bun and white corn ribs with coconut relish, all of which were too sweet, while Sussex veg som tam was too wet.

Charlotte was also amused at the menu’s description of the Shan meatballs as “Ikea-style” and “cola-glazed”: “Is it not the ultimate triumph of globalisation to sit in rainy Britain and eat Coke-glazed Thai chicken balls inspired by a Swedish furniture shop?” she mused.

Charlotte Ivers - 2025-02-02

Prices

Starter Main Pudding
£3.80 £13.10 £6.90
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £31.00
Filter Coffee £0.00
Extras  
Bread £0.00
Service 15.00%
Upstairs at The Globe, Borough Market, London, SE1 9AL
Opening hours
Monday12 pm‑9:30 pm
Tuesday12 pm‑9:30 pm
Wednesday12 pm‑9:30 pm
Thursday12 pm‑9:30 pm
Friday12 pm‑9:30 pm
Saturday11 am‑9:30 pm
Sunday12 pm‑6:30 pm

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