KILN
Kiln had been on my radar for quite a while and last time I was in London, I finally made it. Arriving to a place with high expectations doesn’t work out great normally, but it was all I hoped for and more. The Thai barbeque game here is strong – so much so that I went back for a second visit a couple of days later.
This tiny Thai restaurant in the heart of Soho was taken over the chef of Smoking Goat back in 2019 and ever since it has gone from strength to strength. The menu is inspired by the cuisine of northern Thailand, so you should expect some bold flavours of the country’s Isaan region made, where possible, with British produce, mostly from indie Cornish suppliers. The bar overlooking the grill is where you want to be – right in the heart of the action, where the taos (i.e. ceramic pots) and woks are sizzling on open flames in front of your eyes and the staff are preparing the orders like a well coordinated orchestra. It reminded me of something you’d typically see at a roadside or night market in Thailand. Downstairs there are bigger tables for groups but if you’re a fan of eating at counters, the ground floor is where you need to be.
Now, let’s talk about the food! The dishes are brought to you as soon as they are ready and in no particular order. We were lucky enough to try quite a few dishes and I have to say they were all fantastic – zingy, fiery, packed with plenty of spice yet without losing the natural flavours of the ingredients. Don’t miss the claypot glass noodles with Tamworth belly and brown crab meat; it’s one of their signature dishes and it’s seriously good! They’re fragrant, rich, buttery, soft and crunchy at the same time, we enjoyed every bite. Other great options include the venison laap, the aged lamb and cumin skewer, the slow grilled chicken and soy as well as the raw mutton laap. Expect masterful flavour without any fuss.
Soho is surely anything but short on great restaurants but Kiln is amongst the ones atop of my list. Do give it a try if you find yourselves in the area and leave me a comment to share your thoughts here on the blog or on Instagram!
| INFO |
| Address: 58 Brewer Street, London W1F 9TL, UK |
| Telephone: +30 210 3370035 |
| Website |
