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KaoSarn

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Units 2 and 96, Brixton Village Market, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PR Full details & map

Restaurant: Thai

 
Tricia de Courcy Ling

Time Out says   10 Users say 3/5 Rate it

Posted: Aug 1 2011

This tiny café sprawls around the entrance to the rebranded 'Brixton Village Market' (formerly called Granville Arcade), one of Brixton's covered markets. KaoSarn's tables spill out into the arcade corridor and also the market's outdoor forecourt, making it one of the area's few alfresco dining spots - so make sure you book well ahead, because it's hugely popular.

You'll find cooking just like you get in Thailand, complete with slivers of bird's-eye chilli in some dishes that assault your palate with their heat. The som tam's a must-try, the sharp citruous crunch of green papaya given sour notes by the addition of ground dried shrimps. Our chicken satay was also excellent, and a beef massaman curry correctly rich and sweet. The gai yang - half a chicken, marinated then grilled - was a bit dry and won't have Nando's quaking in its boots, but with sticky rice (curiously, served in a microwave-ready plastic bag) it transported us back to Bangkok's backpacker ghetto, the Khao San Road.

Although vegetarian dishes aren't prominent on the menu, tofu and vegetable versions can be prepared to order; our waitress handled this with charm and efficiency. KaoSarn's rough-edged charm may not be for everyone, but the traffic noise and occasional whiff of ganja (from passers-by on the street) give it some edge for the hipster diners. All that's missing are the loo rolls on the tables, tropical, dripping heat, and the constant beep-beep of tuk-tuks to recreate the feel of a Banglamphu café.

KaoSarn details

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Address

KaoSarn

Units 2 and 96, Brixton Village Market, Coldharbour Lane SW9 8PR

Transport Brixton tube/rail

Telephone

020 7095 8922

Lunch served 12.30-3.30pm Tue-Sat; noon-3.30pm Sun. Dinner served 5.30-10pm Tue-Sat; 5.30-9pm Sun

Main courses £6.90-£11.50. Unlicensed. Corkage no charge

Facilities

Booking advisable, Takeaway service

KaoSarn map

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Comments & ratings 3/5 (Average of 10 ratings)

By mrs le - Jan 31 2012
2/5

book ahead or turn up really early (before 6.30) or you will be turned away - even if there are spare tables which are unbooked (they like to save these for larger groups who turn up). staff like to talk and look at you or mutter something and then look at you. only one member of staff was friendly and attentive. the others were dismissive at best. skewers looked as if they were steamed / microwaved as opposed to grilled. mains are cheap, but don't expect many prawns in your curry (we only had 2). the fried chicken was a generous portion, although abit dry. the dipping sauce is extremely spicy so beware. if you ask for tapwater they will ask "still or sparkling?" no doubt will be added to your bill - which is handwritten in thai - so make a mental note of prices when ordering. overall - average "home" style food, not worth going out of your way for, but ok for a quick bite before going out for the night.

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By mavis - Nov 28 2011
3/5

Not really sure what the hype is about this place. very average food, certainly not the best Thai restaurant in London. Like said in the review, it's more like ( or worse than ) a random street vendor in Bangkok, fine it's cheap, but you also being very rushed while eating, certainly doesn't worth the travel if you are not living near Brixton.

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Philip Corrigan
By Philip - Nov 20 2011
2/5

was looking forward to this place due to it's recent reviews and popularity on TimeOut. I was disappointed though, sad to say. While the staff were nice, the food was very average, the doors were ajar and because the location is on the very outskirts of market, we had to leave our jackets on. Furthermore there was also confusion with bill (the receipt was hand written, very brief and confusing) as the people next to us got the very same bill but had ordered differently to us. Now it is quite cheap will be not be getting two modes of transport to come here again.

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By Neil Moran - Nov 19 2011
2/5

Don’t believe the hype about ‘Brixton Village’, the re-badged, skanky Granville Arcade of my youth (pace Jay Rayner et al). The space is as scruffy, chaotic, slightly sinister and moribund as ever. Had lunch there recently (11/2011) at the much vaunted Kaosarn. While the Thai food was fine – succulent chicken satay and Moo Ping pork skewers, glutinous sticky rice, neatly spiced and perfumed beef massaman – it was utterly overwhelmed by the dimly lit, greasy tabled, claustrophobic and dismal ambience of Kaosarn. This is a joint to grab a very quick snack in and clear off pronto. Oh, and by the way, like most of the other restaurants in the Village, there is no lavatory. Ermmm.

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By Kras - Oct 23 2011
1/5

I personally, having visited this restaurant on two occasions would suggest that it be avoided...the food is good enough, but the staff are exceptionally rude and determined to create a bad atmosphere, on the basis of my experience yesterday, where I was quite literally scorned by a member of the family for asking to sit in a window table, with no reservation card on it, and told to "sit where I'm told to sit"! This establishment doesn't deserve to receive such high ratings if it means they are under the mistaken belief that they can treat customers so badly. Understandably, I walked out on this occasion, and asked them why they were being so rude. I only wished I had done so on my previous attempt to have a pleasant meal there, when I had to wait for an inexcusably long time for my food, while having to endure table after table of other diners being served before me. When I politely pointed out that I had been waiting for rather a long time for them to even TAKE My Order, they were very brusque with me indeed. Not good enough, folks!

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By Russ - Oct 21 2011
5/5

Hands down the Best Thai food I've eaten outside of Thailand at astonishingly low prices. Fantastic, fast and friendly service and it's bring your own alcohol too! GO! NOW!

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By james - Aug 27 2011
5/5

really good taste food , great service will go back very soon

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By Sassa321 - Aug 24 2011
1/5

Awful service, I would never go back there. Food is good value, but service is really, reeeeeeeeeeeally slow! Loose the grumpy waitress and I'd give it 3 stars!

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By Sebir - Aug 15 2011
5/5

Went here for dinner on friday night, we had a huge array of dishes, each as delicious as the last. Fast friendly service and who can not like the buzz that is the Brixton Village. 2 courses for less than £12 each, whats not to like?

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