Pandan Leaf Thai Kitchen

Sometimes you get what you pay for, and that's not always a bad thing. When it comes to Thai food in London, very few places really pull off what would be considered an authentic experience. Firstly it isn't actually that easy to get the ingredients needed for amazingly fragrant and delicate dishes you would experience if you were actually in Thailand and secondly, if you did, you would probably pay a pretty high price for the pleasure. 

Sometimes you just want to eat locally, have a tasty meal with a very deep nod towards the country that the restaurant in question is claiming to be cooking and not have to pay a huge sum for it. Pandan Leaf Thai, in Crouch End, in my opinion does exactly that.

Having spent a long time in Thailand, both as a tourist and living and cooking with locals, I cannot say the food here is very authentic. But it is tasty, generous and fairly priced. The staff are friendly and attentive and there is a wide variety of dishes including many vegetarian and meat options. 

If you live locally and want a decent Thai-style meal, this is a great place to go for sure. Will it transform you back to Koh Samui or Bangkok in a mouthful? Probably not. But it will be a nice reminder as you sip on your coconut curry and burn your tongue on a chilly you thought was an ordinary pepper....

I thoroughly recommend this place for a nice, tasty, comforting meal, so long as you understand what you're getting. Nothing wrong with that, in my opinion.