The best Thai restaurants in London for 2026, ranked

London Thai is in a properly good place in 2026. The Smoking Goat / Som Saa axis has been the gold standard for years and the rest of the field has finally caught up — Singburi, Plaza Khao Gaeng, Speedboat — to the point that the top ten is genuinely competitive.

I have eaten through this list properly over the last six months. No chains, nowhere I have only been to once, and no places that lean so far into "fusion" they have lost the plot.

For Thai pop-ups and supper clubs, the London food events feed catches them.

1. Smoking Goat

Still the best Thai room in London. The Shoreditch space is loud in the right way, the fish sauce wings are a religion, and the lamb shoulder massaman is the destination plate. Walk-ins still possible at the bar if you arrive at 5:30.

The chilli vinegar dressing on the cucumber salad is one of those condiments that lives in your head rent-free.

2. Som Saa

Sister-energy to Smoking Goat, slightly more grown-up room, slightly more refined plates. The whole sea bass with three-flavoured sauce is the headline and is genuinely worth the price tag. The nahm prik and the sour orange curry are the second-tier orders.

Booking is properly necessary. They release seats four weeks ahead.

3. Singburi

Leytonstone Isaan room. BYO. No booking unless you know to call after 10am on the day. The crying tiger is the move, the sai krok is the second order, and the larb moo is the third. The room is small and the queue is real.

This is the proper Thai spice level, do not order "Thai hot" unless you mean it.

4. The Begging Bowl

Peckham Thai with a quietly serious kitchen and a slightly fancier room than you expect from south London. The bone marrow curry is the headline, the daily specials are usually the play, and the cocktails are above average.

Sundays are genuinely calm. Saturdays are mental.

5. Lao Cafe

Covent Garden Lao-Isaan crossover. Sai oua, larb, papaya salad, the works. They do a proper "Lao hot" if you ask which is to say it will hurt and you will love it. The papaya salad has actual fermented fish in it which is correct and rare.

6. Plaza Khao Gaeng

Arcade Food Hall in Soho, Southern Thai stall, easily one of the best plates of food in central London. The dry beef curry, a roti, and a soft drink, and you are out for £18. Cannot be beaten on a weekday lunch.

7. Speedboat Bar

JKS Soho concept, Bangkok-Chinese, with a pool table in the back. The fish maw soup is genuinely a destination dish and the wagyu massaman is what you order if you have a proper budget. The room is fun in a way most restaurants do not bother trying for any more.

8. The Heron

Pub upstairs on Edgware Road, Thai canteen in the basement. No booking, queue at 7pm, cash easier than card. The pad krapow with the fried egg on top is one of the best plates in London and costs about £9.

This is the cheap-eats hero of the list and I love it.

9. Farang

Sebby Holmes' Highbury room. The aubergine relish with sticky rice is the move, the lamb belly massaman is the second move, and the green curry is genuinely above-average for a green curry which is a low bar but worth saying.

10. Esarn Kheaw

Old-school Shepherd's Bush Isaan room that has been quietly excellent for decades. The waterfall beef is the move, the room has not been refurbished in many years, and that is exactly correct for what it is.

Worth knowing

A few near-misses. Kiln is technically still around but the buzz has moved on and I find the food less consistent now. Rosa's Thai is fine and reliable but is now a chain so it is off the list. 101 Thai Kitchen in Hammersmith is properly good and would be top twelve on a longer list.

How I use the list

Date night: Smoking Goat or Som Saa. Spice-tolerance test: Singburi. Cheap and brilliant lunch: Plaza Khao Gaeng or The Heron. Saturday-night chaos with friends: Speedboat Bar. Sunday neighbourhood meal: The Begging Bowl.

For Thai pop-ups, save the cuisine on the London food events feed and the supper clubs will surface.