Dartford, Thai Restaurant Guide

“Zingy, fiery” flavours (“so good we liked the food better than in Bangkok!”) inspire raves for this “funky Thai restaurant” near Spitalfields Market – “well worth searching out for its authentically spicy (too spicy for some, note) food”, and also “great for veggies and vegans (ingredients are so varied you can get your ‘30 plants a week’ all in one lunch!)”. After eight years, the team has opened a sibling, Kolae in Borough Market. Top Menu Tip – “stand-out whole deep-fried sea bass”.

“Authentic… fiery… zingy” – Ben Chapman’s Thai BBQ in a converted Shoreditch pub provides “creative dishes that are balanced, well-priced, and most importantly just bloody tasty!”. “Great drinks” too which help fuel the happy, crowded vibe. Top Menu Tips – Fish Sauce Chilli Wings and Tom Yum Mama, Sausage & Mussels.

“Such good Thai food hiding away” near Guy’s Hospital in the shadow of the Shard – this funkily decorated venue mixes Malay influences into its unusual cuisine, with results that have stood the test of time since it opened 25 years ago.

“A fantastic new addition to London’s Thai food scene, and to the serious places around Borough Market” – this “achingly cool” newcomer (“stripped back to the naked brick”) is “well-located towards the end of the market”. A spin-off from Som Saa (see also), “it puts the emphasis on BBQ dishes” and results are “spot-on: full of flavour, with a good balance across the menu in terms of heat and flavour-profile”. But some dishes (e.g. Pepper Curry) are “hot enough to immobilise your central nervous system, so ask! Sitting at the bar watching these guys work and having the chance to chat to them is also a great treat”. Top Menu Tip – “The mussel skewers are definitely the standout dish. The chef explained that they steam the mussels before marinating them in curry paste, hot smoking them, and finally finishing them over coals with a second sauce. The care and time that goes into the dish really shows in the deep, smokey flavour, which was bursting with vibrancy and all of the delicacy and aromatic spicing that you would expect of a top-class Thai”.