Siam Eatery

If you want to eat well on the cheap in Covent Garden, you have to know where to look. But funnily enough, this great-value hole in the wall is right under everyone’s nose, close to several of Theatreland’s most prominent venues. Although it only has a handful of stools, Siam does a brisk takeaway trade, serving generous pots of South East Asian classics, from tender beef massaman and flavoursome Thai red curries to spicy chicken panang with brown and red rice. The contemporary décor is minimal but nicely done – most attention centres around the bubbling hotpots and noodle soups on display behind the counter. Staff are endearingly friendly, the dishes arrive swiftly, and most orders weigh in at around the £5 mark. That’s not bad when a regular-sized portion will fill most people up for the rest of the day.