I have no idea how this place survives. First while I was waiting to be seated I was asked twice if I was OK. I had to explain that I wanted a table. After this the service was actually good. I had the classic Pad Thai and it was horrible. It showed up and looked a very sad shade of grey. The taste was really off. I was able to make it edible with added hot sauce. The shrimp seemed cheap and low quality. This is anything but authentic Thai food. I recommend skipping this place. read more

Was recommended by another flight attendant so we decided to check it out. I loved the atmosphere. The colours, furniture, accents, really a lot of fun. Started with the calamari and it was ok...well prepared but missing something so I added Sriracha and it boosted the flavour ten fold. I then asked for Asian greens and the chicken satay....whoops. The satay was missing a peanut taste to it and the greens were so wet and soggy. My friend ordered dry sweet potato fries...dry as the Sahara dry. Also the Pad Thai and she hated it. The jumbo shrimp were cocktail shrimp and it tasted like no care was put into it. I will give it a second go ONLY because of the staff. They were quite attentive and all smiled save for our first one who was grumpy...the rest made up for it. A special thank you to the serving staff and especially the young lad from Colombia (we had an opportunity to chat) he was tops and so kind. They did well in choosing the service staff...if only their kitchen staff cared just as much. Give it a try...it could of been an off night when I went. read more

Busaba Soho - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

Everyone is so glowing about this place - maybe I just didn't get it. The lunch was OK but not stunning. Maybe my tastes are different. I do enjoy Thai but it wasn't really special. I guess Saltyard quality spoiled me and now I want excellent stuff everywhere I go :-) But everyone here loves it so ignore me and go and grab a spot and get yourself some nummy food! read more

This is the original Busaba Eathai; there are now a few others dotted around the West End. The food really is amazing, especially the curry and fish cakes - you can't really fault it. Best of all, the prices are super-low. I would agree with other reviewers that the communal tables are a bit annoying: it is awkward listening to others' conversations and worrying that they are listening to yours. Though maybe I should just lighten up a bit; I guess that's how they keep prices cheap. Also, if you don't want to queue for ages, why not check out one of the other branches, nearGooge St or Selfridges? These are less well known and a bit quieter. read more

FOOD: there are a lot of thai restaurants in london, and this place is probably one of the better ones out there. we've been to the store st. and wardour st. locations and have never been unsatisfied with the food. some of the dishes are your typical thai dishes that are good, but not very memorable. some of the appetizers we have gotten there, however, are Dee-licious. SERVICE: hmm... there have been times where we've complained about the slow service (being the first ones to sit at the table, and being the last ones served...) but other times is fine, so i guess that one time was just a mishap. because of limited seating, they do try to have a quick turnaround, but they do not rush you. AMBIANCE: communal seating is something that's not very typical in chicago restaurants (except maybe dim sum places), so this was kind of different, but we liked it. it is always very lively and crowded here, but in a good way. good for groups and a good time. read more

We popped in here at 11pm for a late apres-movie dinner. We were seated at once and told to order immediately as the kitchen was closing. No sooner had we sat down there was a waiter at our elbows asking for our order! The staff were very friendly, even though we had come in very late. The tables are large and they squeeze you in where there's space, but it still manages to retain a fairly intimate atmosphere. The decor is chic and modern, with small, golden buddahs lined around the ceiling shelf and large windows that allow you to watch the world go by. When the food arrived (quickly) it was delicious, with rich flavours and fresh ingredients. I had the chicken and butternut squash stir-fry which had dried chillis and cashew nuts. All round good place, suitable for any party from friends and family to a date, and reasonably priced too! I'd go again. read more

Stumbled on this place a few weeks ago after a movie with the boyfriend. By the time we came out of the cinema it was quite late and most places (unbelievably!) in Soho weren't taking any more customers but they let us come in at 11pm for our meal which we thought was pretty decent! The food was a little overpriced but a great menu and now they have opened one in Shoreditch I imagine it'll be up there with Wagamama in no time! I recommend the Ginger Beef and the Wing Bean salad if you fancy something light and healthy read more

Great for groups. You may end up sitting with another group as well. It's a little noisy but service is excellent and so is the food. Loved the Mussaman duck curry and the phad phak. read more

I don't remember how many times I've been here.. let's just say I've been to 4 different locations and had one basically as my front porch (they keep opening new locals - not my fault they are scattered everywhere ;)) One would automatically think that if there are way too many chains the food takes on a different personality of it's own and decides to stop being so great. However, Busaba has definitely kept it's demeanor and deliciousness - even though sometimes it can get a bit salty - that's what the rice is for..! I'm all about trying different things on their menu, while my friends like to stick to their usual... but if you want to stick on the safe side, try the Thai Calamari Pad Thai, and Green Curry... standard. All I know is that it's a definite go to when I'm craving some Thai food that's not too ridiculously priced, even if the service can be spotty. read more

When we visited London, we stopped in while touring the Piccadilly Circus area. This was the best food we had in the UK. I loved the restaurant itself, great decor. read more

Busaba Soho - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

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This place has a quaint and enjoyable atmosphere, a break from the chaos of the city. The food is quite good, albeit a bit untraditional. I had the calamari which has a presentation and flavor I've never experienced before, both of which I enjoyed - a lot. I liked it enough to come back four times to have if during my stay in London. The basil, chili, prawn was quite nice too. Simple snd clean. Highly recommended. read more

An all time favourite place of mine. Love the ambience, the food and service is great. I've been coming here for years and I'm never disappointed. I bring all my friends from out of town and they love it to. Thai calamari is just the best! read more

For a quick meal in an informal setting I'll normally take my friends here. The menu is varied, and the food really very good. From all the Thai places I have eaten at, the restaurant certainly had one of the best Pad Thai's I had eaten for a very long time! My friend's Duck curry was also really enjoyable. I'd agree with some of the other reviewers that it's a shame you can't book a table if your group is smaller than 12, but the queue does go down quite quickly. read more

update 15 June 2010 Received a thoughtfully-written email from Lesley Vaughan of Busaba Eathai's Operations department in response to my Qype review, reassuring me that BE does its best to ensure "you have a great experience while dining at Busaba any time of the day" and that policy is by no means to shoo customers out before they've had a chance to down their Thai calamaris and Chiang Mai noodle soup. So, I'm impressed by their prompt and sincere response, have enough good experiences to let this one go, and am mollified and grateful not to have to carry yet another grudge. And also grateful for their offer of a goodwill voucher, which I'll use the minute it arrives. A *update 2 June 2010 I was totally taken aback the other night, having asked if the kitchen was still open on arrival at about 10.30 and then waited nearly around 20 minutes for the food to arrive, to be told some 15 minutes after it had arrived that the the restaurant was closing and "would we mind finishing up". When I explained that the food had taken a long time and I'd had to remind the staff three times that we were waiting, the response was that "it's normal, when it's this busy, for food to take a little longer, and 'I can give you another 10 minutes, but no more'. Had the waiter who originally shown us the table told us, at the time, that the restaurant would close at, say, 11.15, we would have been able to choose to eat elsewhere. Even though the woman who asked us to hurry did her best to be polite, it's incredibly rude to ask people to either bolt or leave food that they've paid for. Especially when they've already got a mouthful of food. As usual, the food was great, but the evening was spoiled and my guest, an American friend on business, was horrified. Now Rosa's has opened three blocks away, offering better service and value for money, a more intimate dining atmosphere, and is an authentic Thai business, I'll be dining there instead. This is a real shame, because as you can see below, Busaba used to be one of my favourites. Sadly, this often happens when you're so busy you can take customers for granted. Bye bye, Busaba. It was great, for a while. --------- Food here, and I've noticed there's a prompt for tagging the calamari, is terrific, and, for the quality, reasonably priced; 1 1/2 courses each (pricier prawn/monkfish and a calamari to share, Coke/Wine) at 15 per head. If it weren't for the unbelievable, conversation-stopping racket, this place would get my five stars and I'd eat here nightly. A fantastic venue for lunch, when it's quieter, or for grabbing a quick bite with a mate when you've 'ad a few, super. But don't go their after a late afternoon's shop with your mum or aunt, like I did, because conversation will die... Clean lines, bare wood, stone floors, trestle tables and low celings create soundboxes; they look great, but amplify ambient sound. This is a neat trick - if people can't talk, they'll leave after eating. So you keep the tables turning... Interestingly, Wagamama and Cha Cha Moon have the same issues. Coincidence...? read more

Great location in the heart of Soho, with very good Thai modern food and a good and casual atmosphere. It is the only place in London where there is always a huge queue waiting to enter outside, so you can wait for around 20-30min outside easily. Once you get it, you are placed on any table where there are seats, and most likely you will be sharing the food with strangers, unless you get one of the seats that face the outside window. This is one of the aspects (sharing your table with strangers) that people find charming about this place, and other people really dislike. The food is great, even if you are not so much into exotic food, so I would always give it a try. It is different, and I do recommend it. read more

We've eating here a number of times, and the food is generally predictably good. Not amazing, but good, and there are definitely standout dishes as well as some disappointing ones. The thai calamari are fantastic, not chewy and spicy and overall tasty. The Som Tam green papaya salad was good, not great and a definitely a little more bland than I have had it before, but overall a good starter. All green curries are to be recommended, I specifically like the chicken one. Paired with coconut or sticky rice it is sweet, spicy and simply good. The Massaman curry and Pad Thai were good, again a little bland with something missing but good enough. The Jungle curry, on the other hand, was NOT good, we were actually rather disappointed. It tasted like burnt barbecue, a little like over-chargrilled meat with an odd aftertaste, I basically only had a couple of bites and the boyfriend finished it (he was too hungry to leave it!) Price - rather high for what you get, and the general atmosphere and hustle out the door once you're done. We ended up leaving over £50 for dinner for two and a couple of beers each, which the food is just not really good enough for. One other great drawback - there are no desserts. None. There are some amazing Thai desserts that go wonderfully after a spicy curry or soup, and there are none on the menu, leaving the experience rather unfinished if, like me, a little sweet bite after dinner is a must. So overall rather good food if you're craving thai, a little overpriced but with some fantastic dishes. read more

When I entered the restaurant, the feel was of warmth and the food made the experience unforgettable. I visit Busaba every time I am in London and this has never changed. The menu is simple and quite interesting. I always get side dishes with main course dishes because they just make it a lot better. The fruit drinks are refreshing and a must try. Overall, an absolutely amazing restaurant with every penny worth spent. read more

Came here with my family and friends. Amazing Thai food place! Everything we ordered was just amazing! I personally got the shrimp pad Thai and calamari! Sooooo delish! I would definitely be coming back here when I'm back in London! read more

Busaba Soho - Shrimp pad Thai with coconut water. - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

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The slowest service in all of London. Just know that if you're going to come here. It's expensive. It's loud. And the service is ludicrously slow. And when the food finally arrives it's so underwhelming. It's like "huh, I waited all this time for this??" And then it's rather bland too. Do not order the Classic Pad Thai. It's easily, hands down the worst I've ever eaten. I actually had to return it. The waitress was lovely and seemed to totally understand. And because she was so nice I bravely ordered something new in its place. And now I'm nervously waiting and waiting for the new order. But all in all this experience has been kinda frustrating and bizarre. I'd give this place a miss if I were you. read more

We are here visiting from Canada and stumbled on this restaurant... Mediocre Thai food. Don't bother with the ginger beef. Unless you are a vegetarian. read more

Busaba is one of my most favourite places to eat in Soho. always busy, you sometimes have to wait for a seat but once seated orders are processed quickly and the food is always very good - I'd recommend the Jungle curry if you like something with a kick or the Swordfish for something lighter. Seating is quite informal, so expect to share a squared table with others unless your party is large enough to fill the space, in which case you'd be advised to book in advance. I love this kind of seating as you can view others foods and interact quite easily without appearing to be nosey. The staff are informative though not always helpful; friends have felt rushed at times though i personally have never had cause to complain. If you're looking for a venue to stay all evening after meal is comlpeted then this may not be for you. Portions are good but do take a side dish or two to ensure that you don't get hungry on the way home. Pricewise it is okay; it's on par with venues like Satsuma nearby though it's not for those just wanting a quick snack. Overall a great venue with some brilliant dishes perfect for a relaxed meal during the evening read more

Everyone who's ever eaten at Busaba Eathai has raved about it. I've been here once before and though the food was good I honestly didn't think it had anything special over any of the other myriad of Thai restaurants available at London so it has always puzzled me that the lines out the door can often go down the block and around the corner. Which is where it went just after we joined the line. On the night we went to the Wardour Street restaurant at about 7pm the line was fairly reasonable with about ten or so parties before us but it didn't take long before the line behind us had more than quadrupled. People are willing to wait though, a surprisng thing in hurried London, as the food is that good and in all honesty the turnover inside the restaurant is reasonble and the wait not that long - for us it was about half an hour. The restaurant is overwhelmingly buzzy and loud once you get inside. Its not exactly the kind of place which encourages intimate dining and dates. It is also communal style dining so you will definitely be sharing the table with others. Even in a group conversation is difficult and between the four of us we barely said a word at dinner it was that loud. Busaba is known for its speed, reasonable prices and consistent quality. The service was pretty good tonight - friendly and quick (once our waitress turned up.) Food arrived pretty quickly too which was pleasing. With drinks (not including service) the meal was £15 each which isn't too bad for a main meal and shared starters. Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly as its sister chain Wagamama does the same thing, service is not automatically added to the bill which makes a pleasant change. As food goes I guess its pretty good Thai though in all honesty nothing out of the ordinary. The options on the menu are fairly diverse with both typical and not so typical options. Service is also quick and friendly. My only objection is just how loud it gets in the restaurant which makes conversation really difficult. Go for a quick meal option. read more

This was recommended my my coworker while I stay in London. Great place for medium spicy pad tai, shrimp, ginger beef, etc. I went here twice and the service is good, food is fresh, and seating was open (shared tables with other attendees) Price is reasonable. 4 dishes and 2 beers, it was about 35 pounds. A place i would like to visit again when craving asian food. read more

The Thai theme with low lights and chilled atmosphere were nice and table service were prompt The starters were lovely However the portion sizes for the currys were small and you have to order rice as a separate which is disappointing due to the cost of the curry dish alone would have thought it'd include rice. Best to order a noodle dish I ordered a Pad Thai Which is a winner ;) read more

Fun, "fusion" type of atmosphere. Low lights, large square communal tables that can be intimate or as social as you desire. We went for a late dinner and lucked out by finding this place. Many restaurants were closed but Busaba was still open and full of life. We had the pad Thai and pad Thai kwetio (sp?) because we were craving noodles and washed it down with some white wine. Reasonable prices, good service and good food. We were warned the pad kwetio was spicy, but my theory is that the farther north you go the less scared I am of sweating due to food.....and I was right. Not spicy, but still very tasty. We had a great experience and would try this place again in the future. read more

Food is pretty good, but not extraordinary here, except the aromatic vegetable curry. That is an excellent curry with pumpkin. I actually don't remember what else we ordered except the pumpkin curry. Oh yeah, the simple papaya salad was just ok; we've had better plenty of places in the UK and US. A very pretty restaurant with posh decor in a fashionable part of London. After a dreary, rainy day visit to Harrod's (skip it, not worth your time), this meal was just the ticket. The pot of green tea was also good. read more

Busaba Soho - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

It's a chain restaurant, but chain restaurants in London apparently don't have the same reputation as in the US, so I decided to still give it a try based on my friend's recommendation. We came here as a group of 6 and there was already a line out of the door which we decided to wait in, but honestly we were seated down within 15 mins. This isn't really a place where diners sit for hours after their meal so just be aware of that. Food was delicious although the noodle dish I got claimed it would be REALLLY spicy and I didn't feel any spicy-ness whatsover. Oh well. read more

Good appetizer Frawn Crackers, Jasmine Beef I think is what's it's called highlights of our dinner. Ambience is thumbs up and good service.

I'm so surprised by the line to get in & the high ranking on yelp. I was underwhelmed by the food and the service. Not sure if I ordered wrong or what but the food was just average (not bad but not great). read more

This place (and indeed the other restaurants within the chain) really has me torn. On the one hand, the food is genuinely pretty good, but on the other, the set-up and layout is just really uncomfortable. The square tables mean that anymore than two of you and you can't speak to each other comfortably, or avoid what the strangers next to you are talking about. Unless you can take up the whole table (around 10 of you), then you're in for an awkward meal. The staff are occasionally rude, and will either squash you in uncomfortably, or make you wait a lifetime because, despite there being empty seats, the square tables make it difficult to cater for small groups. With regards to the food, the grilled duck is always fantastic. Pink, tender and tasty. The seafood noodles are, again, always a safe bet. The quality of food isn't really in doubt, but the overall experience makes me hesitant to return (although I always seem to end up there at least once every few months). read more

There is almost always a queue outside, but it moves quite quickly. Not a place to linger that's for sure. It is decide outside, be seated, eat, leave. It is loud/ noisy and you share the table with everyone who can fit there as well. Having said that, it is consistently good food and for London really affordable. I especially enjoy the Mango Lassi with a drop of rose water in it. Everything else is good Thai food (at least from what I know). If you like the rush and bustle, go there, but take friends with you (don't be a threesome they have to wait the longest). read more

Great place for a quick Thai meal in the centre of London. OK, it doesn't have the pungent aroma of a Bangkok Soi, and the food is most definitely westerised, but it is consistently great. Communal tables mean make for a nice buzzy atmosphere, and it means it's actually one of those few places where it feels OK to eat alone - in London on business means a lot of solo meals and this certaionly beats a big mac and fries or sittting alone at a restaurant trying to look as though your waiting on friends! Everyone loves the thai calamari. It's crack cephalopod, and one order is never enough. If you don't like the squid then you are destined to live a souless unhappy life! All the Thai staples are there, servings are just beyond tapas size, and in general I reckon one dish, the calamari (obviously) and a bowl of rice will see you through. Oh, and the duck is also sublime! No desserts, have never seen anyone have a coffee, and they do usher you out kind of quick. But if you want to have a quick, tasty meal in the centre of London, then this is a great choice, just make sure you have two portions of calamari!!. read more

I absolutely adore Busaba, the food, the decor, the service. I keep on going back for more! Well done! read more

First I have to say we went there just to see how is the place...we weren't disappointed! It's a great atmosphere and I like the tables by the window. Food was really great. The option of side dishes was good! Really nice. The only thing which is maybe not the best...you might have to share the big tables with others. It's actually a great opportunity to meet people and have a chat- but for a romantic dinner for two- no! But in general...a place to go...! read more

I don't get it. Every weekend eve there's a huge line out front. The food is good but not line worthy. Highly recommend the calamari "side" (though its more a starter) and the noodles. Avoid the flavourless soups and curries. An extra star for being one of the very few open during the Christmas and New Year holidays. read more

I came here not expecting much but walked away impressed. II was here with a couple friends and was swiftly seated by the waitress. We were placed at a shared table, but it wasn't a problem for us. In fact, I think many tables in this establishment is shared. The decor and ambiance were nice.... although the place can get a little loud and rowdy. I ordered the Green Curry Fried Rice with Green Curry Chicken. The fried rice and the chicken were both spicy. The curry had the perfect amount of gravy and the chicken was grilled before cooked in curry. My only complaint is the lack of vegetables. The dish literally came with fried rice and the chicken.... Nothing else. The rice was not fried with anything aside from green curry paste. Overall, I thought this place was above average. It wasn't too expensive for the area and the food was above average.... Definitely a place worth visiting again when back in the area. read more

the calamari. OMG...best I've had. EVER. good service. good ambiance. definetly worth a visit. read more

Great atmosphere. Quick service and well priced. Food was tasty but not spicy (we asked for spicy dishes) like the waiter warned. Definitely worth visiting but can't give it a 4 when compared to other restaurants. I would come back though! read more

Love it love it love it. Not sure anyone who is used to sharing table with other people... but they have these large square tables and they sit few parties at the same table as more customers arrive at the restaurant. I enjoyed the atmosphere very much and the dishes are quite good! Being in soho, you definitely are surrounded by a hipper and beautiful group of people. This is a great spot to stop after all the walks around town especially after the national gallery. read more

I have been here a few times, the food is pretty good (I like their use of more exotic Thai ingredients), however I often find the serving sizes a bit on the small side and the service a bit slow. Try the calamari starter. read more