We came here from the high yelp reviews. There was a long line but it moved quite quickly and it wasn't bad to stand outside. We were both in the mood for some Thai food and were surprised with what we found! The people were working hard and it was very busy. They were really good about properly seating a lot of people in an area. We shared a table with a ton of people but the seating was such a way that it still felt very private. We had the chicken satay for an appetizer and it was perfect. The chicken was juicy and had a lovely flavor to it. Next came the asparagus fried rice with green curry and jungle curry. We were warned that the jungle curry was very spicy, but it turned out that the green curry was even spicier! I wasn't a fan of the green curry at all. I love green curry but this one just wasn't working with me, the spice was too strong and I couldn't enjoy it! But the asparagus fried rice was soooooo good! The dried tomatoes in it really hit the spot. Oh gosh, after I tried it I had wished I just ordered the chicken satay with the fried rice. So, all in all it was a great experience, very affordable and enough food. They didn't give us water, but I guess that's normal if you don't ask for it. My drink was tasty- Guava Bellini, and for the most part the food was very very good. The service was also top notch! You go busaba Eathai! I'd for sure come here again. German time Ich denke dieses Restaurant is am populaersten in London! Um 8:30 Uhr sind mein Freund und ich hier gehen. Es war eine grosse warte schlange aber war es schnell. Das essen war sehr gut aber war der grun curry ein bisschien zu scharf fur mich. Der Kellner war sehr schnell und freundlich. Die Preis ist gunstig und ich bin zufrieden! read more

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Friend and I were in the area craving for Thai food and came in for an early dinner and really just beat the dinner rush at around 5pm. By the time we were seated there was a bit of a queue outside. Loved the interior of the restaurant; really pretty, modern, and sleek compared to any other Thai hole in the wall joint I've ever visited. The communal tables made me kinda go 'eeeek' inside. But after being seated, the concept really works. The tables are huge enough that rubbing elbows and overhearing conversations isn't even an issue. Like the piggies we are, my friend and I ordered four plates to share between the two of us. -Som Tam: Our server wasn't kidding when he mentioned that this papaya salad is HOT. The little dish of grated green papaya, dried shrimp and cherry tomatoes looks unassuming enough, but the sauce they use packs a huge punch. As much as I enjoy spicy food, I was in pain eating this. In the best possible way. -Mussaman Duck Curry: Very different, but very delicious! I've never had a duck curry before this, but now I've gotta say I'm a fan. The duck was super tender and the flavor of the curry was unique to other Thai curries I've tried. A little more gritty in texture and much more earthy in flavor. Don't forget the sticky rice with this! -Sen Chan Pad Thai: Reallyyyy good pad thai. Worth splurging on the extra £1 or so for the crabmeat, they're pretty generous about it! The flavors were nice and the noodles were perfect. Definitely one of the better pad thai I've had. -Spicy, Sweet & Sour Fish: The skin was crispy while the inside meat was still moist, and it came served in a sweet and sour sauce topped with chiles. As hot as this dish appeared, the chilies didn't pack a punch like the papaya salad did and my tastebuds said thanks! Definitely worth ordering if you're a fish fan like me. While the food is excellent, service on the other hand is kind of lacking. While they are extremely efficient at getting you into the restaurant, seated, and ordered, it seems that once the food arrives to the table that we become forgotten about. It took us a long time to flag someone down to get our check, and don't even think about trying to get a refill on your water. A few bites into that inferno of a papaya salad, and my water was already gone with no refill in sight. Should have ordered a beer instead! read more

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Lovely fast and attentive service, interesting group seating. I ordered the sen chan pad thai which came super fast - love the prawns but wish there was more crab meat. I needed to add some sriracha hot sauce as it wasn't spicy enough for me. But YUM - very delicious and very fresh ingredients. I also ordered a nice refreshing iced ginger tea - was a little pricey (2.70) for the little cup but it is nice for someone who doesn't drink alcoholic cocktails. I'll definitely come back for more! read more

Busaba Soho - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

Lovely Food , great taste ... must try nice ambiance. But not advisable for meeting place since it could be very crowded with the sharing table concept . read more

I typically _hate_ chain restaurants for variety of reasons and this one is one of the exceptions. The first thing you will notice is they always have a queue. Don't be scurred by it tho 'cause it cycles thru fast. Their food is good and speedy. They churn out customers like hot cakes! I had their Pad Kwetio, Calamari, Red Lamb Curry and they are all very tasty. I recommend them. Their sticky rice was not sticky enough for me, but it might not be their fault. I had their coconut and raspberry drink, it was interesting, but once is enough for that type of thing. The environment of the restaurant is kinda packed and south Asia like...? It's all wooden desk and benches and shared among everyone. Very cozy, crowded, friendly atmosphere. Very cultural. It's not going to be a romantic dinner here but it definitely will be a tasty one. One more note, they don't serve desserts, BUT you must hold hands and skip over to L'Eto Cafe across the street to top it all off. Definitely will go back. The End. read more

Busaba Soho - Pad kwetio - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

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Busaba is a solid Thai restaurant with a lot to like. The service is fast and efficient. The food is quite good - I've never been disappointed. There is a nice selection of juices and the place is vegan friendly with designations on the menu. In the past I've had the curry and spicy noodles and it was very nice. Stir fry is quite good with a mix of spice, sweet and smoky flavors. I was a little disappointed in the wings as a side dish. They were deep fried and not spiced at all as far as I could tell - a little strange actually. If you go in the summer, be prepared to wait in line, but its a friendly atmosphere as its just on the really active edge of SOHO. Also, the seating is low and at communal tables - which is kind of cool. read more

Busaba Soho - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

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Having eaten in other locations, I am a Busaba fan, but this is the first Busaba at which I tried the pre-theatre menu (I think only this and the Covent Garden location do it) which is an appetiser and main course for £9.90, which is a freaking amazing deal. You do have to ask for this menu though, it isn't given it to you otherwise, and it is limited. I have to say, I was not into any of the stuff we tried. I didn't like the pad thai that much as it was too sweet for me and I really missed my regular order of pad kwetio. I also could not deal with the calamari texture, but my friend was quite happy to eat it. We had the chicken satay sticks with peanut sauce which was a bit bland unless you really cover it with sauce. I had the ginger beef which came with rice and was decent, but nothing really felt above average to me. Usually, when I order pad kwetio, I am super happy and obsessing over Busaba for a few days. I would come back and try something else I think, perhaps you just have to find the dish that works for you. The restaurant itself is nice. There is shared seating and much needed place to hang your coats on the side. Going to the bathroom, I am always surprised by how heavy the doors are. The lighting is nice, not too dark, not too bright and I enjoy being here. read more

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Expected better from a place rated so highly. Came here for lunch on a Friday, got a seat and within a few minutes the waitress came by asking for my order without welcoming me or introducing me to the place or asking about a drink. I ordered on the spot the Red Curry with beef and Thai Calamari on the side. The red curry came quickly, but the calamari and my drink never showed up. The waitress came by again to ask what I ordered and then still I didn't receive the water or calamari during my meal. Overall terrible service, upon asking for my bill I had to ask them to cancel the calamari, still never got a glass of water. The food had potential. I really enjoyed the spice level and flavor of the curry, but the beef quality was very poor, it was so chewy I could barely swallow. The restaurant didn't even try to right their wrong when the bill came round. I won't be back again. read more

Busaba Soho - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

This is a Thai restaurant, and every time I have gone there has been a queue outside, and there is a good reason for this, the food!!! Don't be put off by the queues, it goes quickly, but if you hate queues, try going at lunch. Busaba Eethai have taken Thai food and added a modern taste, but it is still delicious. All in all, it is reasonably priced. I have only ever been here with my girlfriend and her sister, they happen to be experts in here, and the last time we went, I had grilled duck with tamarind sauce, chicken wings, spicy mixed seafood and the coconut prawn curry, then finish off with a honey and ginger tea, well, I wouldnt have ordered that to finish off, but it did come with a buiscuit!! and it was a great way to digest. It is a great place to go after work with the work mates or friends, the service is attentive, but you sometimes dine in a shared dining room and table, which can get awkward in a private conversation, but the plus is you get to meet people. The only downside to this restaurant is that you can't book, so if you do go, prepare for a queue that moves swifly, and prepare for a great meal! read more

Busaba Soho - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

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We loved this place. The food was good, but the service was impeccable. I was surprised by some of the negative reviews, especially about the service. They were friendly and prompt- it was actually the best service I've ever had, including the host. The Auvergne My mojito was a little too sweet. read more

We didn't expect this restaurant to be so good due to it's location so close to the tourist areas but we were mistaken. It was delicious!!!! Everything we tried was amazing. I had the asparagus fried rice with apples and ginger. Wow! The green curry and the lotus crisps were also very good. read more

So impressed with Busaba Eathai, my friend and I went as a last minute choice and it was amazing. Not only reasonably priced but ther service was fast and friendly and the cost for the pre-theatre menu was a bargain at £9.90 for a starter and main course! Very impressed with both the Chicken Satay and Pad Thai, the best I've tasted in Central London. A lovely dinner and definitely somewhere I'd recommend to others and return to again! read more

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This is a fabulous Thai with fantastic and interesting fare. It is not your plain old everyday curries and noodles... there is artistry to this food and it's so fab, in fact, I had two dishes (and appitizers). Yeah, I'm a cow, but in my defense, the portions are not as large as what I am used to in America. Seating is community style and it certainly makes for fascinating people watching. I'm not much of an oberver of random crowd behaviors, but Mark, my dinner companion who introduce me to this deliciousness, was absolutely fascinated. I wished I remembered what I had there, but alas I did not... I blame the fact that just prior to entering the establishment, I had tripped over a bike that had been tipped over and ended up on my arse in the most fantastical 10 point landing. The hostess was very concerned for my well being as was the nearly 50 some odd patrons who saw my performance through the huge glass windows (similar to a big screen plasma). What can I say? Nothing, other than that I'm a clutz and I'm glad I was able to provide some dinner entertainment. Will go back, despite the trauma. read more

I came on a Sunday night and the queue was about five parties deep. It took a while to get seated even though there were several seats available. Tables fit 12 - 16 people and we sat next to a random family. One thing to note about this place is that the food comes out as soon as it is ready so do not expect the starters to come out first. My friend sat there with Pad Thai rapidly cooling on the table while we had our appetizers of vegetable spring rolls, roti, and soft shell crab. In their defense they do warn you that this would happen when we ordered. I ended up with the chicken butternut squash and it was pretty good with a nice little spice finish to each bite. This dish along with the roti is what gave the place an additional star. The most disappointing was the soft shell crab. Soggy would be too harsh but the batter was soft and bland for lack of a better way to put it. The sauce that came with it was overpowering with spice and salt. At that point I could have dipped a napkin in the sauce and it would have been nearly the same. All said and done it's mediocre Thai food. You won't get sick eating it but it won't be memorable. read more

Busaba Soho - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

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Finding decently priced and good food in London is such a challenge (especially when you are thinking in dollars!). I had heard from friends here that Busaba Eathai was really good so we decided to try it. It is definitely popular so it's a good idea to get there a bit early since there was a bit of a wait. It's definitely worth it though! I had the pad thai which was fantastic! The atmosphere is nice and this is certainly one of the good ones in London. read more

Busaba Soho - pad thai - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

Always a fan. There was a long line but the wait was only 5-10 minutes, really. Cozy and packed where you have to share a table, but the food was great. My friend enjoyed his crab fried rice and the pad thai was always a good one (though i hate the dried shrimp pieces they use... great flavor but i hate it when i end up chewing on it). Also the mango lassi was delicious! read more

Tonight we had the red curry beef, pad thai (my wife is so adventuresome), ginger beef and green curry beef and fried rice. My red curry beef was delicious. The beef we incredibly tender and spiced lusciously. It was spicy and is a great dish to order. The only dish that I was disappointed with was the fried rice with curry. My daughter said the beef was very good, but I found the rice to be extremely under-flavored. At this place, you will probably be sitting with other people. They sit you at a fancy type of picnic table. But that makes it more interesting because you can strike up a conversation with another group of people. Overall, this is a great place to grab some Thai food. I give it a low 4 star rating. read more

I was hoping for more given the high review scores. Our wine looked and tasted cheap, food was nice enough without managing to be outstanding. Given the plethora of other places we walked past on our stroll through Chinatown to get here I think in hindsight I could have probably had more bang for my buck somewhere else. Damn you Yelpers, I thought we were all friends here! read more

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I only had soup, so didn't feel I could honestly give a 5 star rating for the restaurant, I'd give the soup 5 stars though - the spicy chicken lahksa or something to that effect (laksa?). Was afraid I'd just eat the solids and leave the broth, as it was coconut based and usually too rich for my taste, but I was wrong. Once I had a spoonful of the broth I knew it would be gone. Delicious meal, I will be back. read more

Busaba Soho - Spicy chicken soup (laksa?) - delicious - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

DRINKS: Ordered Tempranillo Rose. It wasn't chilled well. SERVICE: The wait staff were all friendly but thought they were not attentive. My wine, appetizer and main dish arrived all at the same time, with the wrong drink. I ordered 2nd serving of rice and it took a while to come. I asked for a check twice and had to wait for a while also DECOR/ATMOSPHERE: Nice FOOD/PRICE: I thought the food was priced reasonably, although was a bit surprised to be charged for rice at 2.50 (GBP). I ordered Chicken Liver cooked in dark soy for appetizer. It was just so so. I usually like liver when it uses the low temperature to cook so it doesn't smell and also it is tender and melt on your tongue. But this was one hard and smelled a bit too liver-ish. I ordered curry flavored prawns and eggs for the main dish. It was good. no complaints. read more

Great food, had the green chicken curry and Kohu pork bowl both delicious! Also the Apple/Mint/Ginger juice was a must! Only down side it's super busy and not much room on the tables read more

Super Thai food, sometimes with a few other Asian dishes thrown in. It's got some long tables and some large square ones, so you'll probably share space unless you've got a big group. There's almost always a huge queue out the door - what does that tell you? The menu's large, the food is quality, and you can get well-fed for not too much money. It's a good place to take a large group, or meet friends. Furthers my theory that everything you need is on Wardour Street. read more

Busaba Soho - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

Great food! Loved the ambiance. Must try the green curry and pad Thai noodles. The edamame and spring rolls were delicious as well. Damn good guava Bellini. read more

Busaba Soho - Green pumpkin curry and guava Bellini - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

If you want some really delish Thai food, you found it here. Wide range of options. The fried calamari appetizer is amazing! I ordered a chicken dish from the grilled menu and it was pretty good. I live in the US but if I'm back in town I'll definitely stop by here. Nice atmosphere too. Pretty chill. read more

Tasty food. Great crowd. Community tables. Not the best Thai food I've had, but pretty good. The pandan wrapped chicken was delicious. read more

The atmosphere was pretty cool and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. However the food (chicken pad thai and classic pad thai) was pretty tasteless, and the "sriracha" sauce they had on the table also had little to no flavour. It would be better if we could customize spice levels as well to add some flavour and appeal to a larger demographic. The communal seating may be a bit awkward when crowded, and the restaurant layout was not the best as people will be constantly be walking behind you and hitting you in the back with their bags/elbows. I would not recommend Busaba as your first choice if you're looking for legitimate Thai food in London. read more

Busaba Soho - Chicken pad thai - Thai Near Me - Soho, XGL

Oh no! One of the worst moments of my life occurred here two weeks ago....One of the waitresses accidentally tripped over my clumsily positioned coat. Hot Thai curry EVERYWHERE. One woman actually had to have her hands dressed in bandages. Oh the guilt! Did I confess? No. Instead I've saved it for Yelp. I'm sure God will see consider it almost as good as a confession box. Seriously though, those low benches might look cool but please take my advice, tuck in your stuff! P.S. The woman looked ok and I'm pretty sure she'll be getting free Thai for life... read more

On our first night in London, I wanted something fun and flavorful in the SoHo area, or somewhere nearby, and we landed on Basuba Eathai. The food was excellent, and the servers were very helpful and friendly. The way the restaurant is laid out, it is possible you may have to share a larger table (8 top) with another party. We shared with a nice group from Norway and had a nice chat with them. Very cool vibe and decor. Be sure to look out for the Golden Buddhas around the restaurant! read more

Yup I like Thai and yes I don't actually mind canteen dining, well as long as those people I'm sharing with don't actually expect me to talk with them. I am British after all! But I'm not a huge all singing all dancing fan that the other yelpers seem to be. I am after all a little spoilt. I have had the pleasure of living in east London for the past few years and the explosion of taste from red and green curry with fresh ingredients is something i come to expect and not something that warrants a song and dance about it. This place is basically the Thai version of Wagamma's, reasonable value hawl you through like cattle venue. I once got taken here on a date and I have to say, if this is your idea of romancing me "It's not you, it's me"... read more

I rarely eat Thai anymore and I don't go out of my way to find a Thai restaurant, however Busaba Eathai was recommended to me twice before our trip. We happened to run into it after record shopping and it wasn't crowded. Judging by the other reviews for this place, that was fortuitous. Service was very cordial and prompt. There are low slung square community tables throughout the restaurant, so this isn't a place for a private, intimate conversation. Food was excellent. We had a green curry chicken which was traditional curry with a different variety of veggies which was a nice surprise. The spring rolls were small, almost lumpia-esque. Very good, and the pad thai was very flavorful and the noodles were cooked perfectly al-dente. Following our meal we had a pot of lemongrass tea served in demitasse cups with a small silver pot of honey and some buttery shortbread biscuits. It definitely lived up to the recommendations and was a great way to end an afternoon in Soho. P.S. Check out the loo downstairs, it's quite nice. I don't know if it was because I drank too much, but I could not figure out the symbols on the doors and I almost walked into the men's room. The sinks between the bathrooms connect (like the Standard in DTLA), so if you're cheeky you can stick your hand through to the other side. Not that I did that or anything... read more

This restaurant was just a short walk from school, and my mates and I stopped by infrequently to get our dose of fusion, super swank Thai food. Expensive, but decent grub and the interiors are incredibly warm. The curries are good if not a little mild, most likely adapted to suit the local palate. The sticky rice is awesome, though. read more

I literally just walked in the door from this place and felt the urge to Yelp about it. I was introduced to Busaba right when I first moved to London and quickly made it one of my go-to spots in Soho. It's one of the few places I've found in London where I don't feel screwed when I get the bill. For instance, tonight I had a starter (Thai calamari), main (Pad Thai) and tea which set me back £17 when it was all said and done. Super convenient for a late dinner after happy hour or just before going out. I recommend hitting it up either before 7pm or after 9:30pm as it gets real busy real quick. The whole no reservations thing means that people queue outside down Wardour. I think I waited about an hour once one long Saturday evening when I was absolutely determined to eat there. Service is good...nothing to write home about....but friendly and quick...and the atmosphere is quite nice once you're settled down at a table surrounded by strangers. Now to the food. I've ordered the Thai calamari just about every time I come to Busaba. It can be quite filling though so I'd recommend sharing. Then I generally go for one of the one of the Pad Thai-esque dishes which are always very good. I tried some of a mate's duck/broccoli tonight and that was good as well...and if you order something which requires rice, get the coconut rice or else you'll be hating yourself (along with me) for not doing so later. read more

Delicious Thai at prices that don't bite. A very informal dining place with shared tables & delicious drinks. The pomegranate & elder-flower soft drink was a perfect way to start the meal on a hot summer evening. The southern fish curry was a semi-spicy aromatic curry with fresh tilapia that went well with the white rice. Really enjoyed it. Also tried the beef curry and crab fried rice - the curry was excellent, but the fried rice was nothing special. Can get really crowded in the evenings, but the line movies quickly (yes, there's a line!). The service was quick, easy and efficient. read more

This place is AWESOME. Better then any Thai food I've ever had in Thailand or the States! The service was pleasant, venue itself was very well designed - simple, clean lines and chic communal wood tables which I simply adored (both the communal part and the gorgeous tables). The scents as you walk through the door are of yummy spices and light amber... d'lish. Another added bonus Busaba was that it wasn't insanely pricey - I'm speaking as an American having gone there when the dollar/pound conversion was nearly 2 to 1, so it was hard to find anywhere to go that didn't completely break the bank ;) At any rate, the prices were great for what they provide and we had a lovely time, as I'm sure you will. The only drawback I can think of was that they don't take reservations, so you have to go on the early side if you don't want to wait. read more

Very good for a pile'em in canteen style restaurant. You can tell that from the queue you frequently see outside the restaurant - no reservations at this restaurant. If the windows are open on a nice sunny day, you can even catch a smell of those delicious Thai flavours and spices wafting out of the restaurant. I like their spicy squid and then a plate or bowl of noodles depending on whether I fancy something fried or some warm soup to warm me up on a cold day. Also a decent choice of drinks for non alcoholics. The prices are reasonable for Central London and the food does generally come out fast. And the bonus? It's just across the road from Princi bakery where you can get desserts to die for. read more

Love this place. There's no reservations, so on a Friday night you might want to grab a beer from the local Offy before you join the queue. Tables are shared if you're in a group of 3 or more, or if it's just a couple of you you should be seated by the window. It's great watching people walk by, staring at your food. We've been to Thailand and the food is the most genuine I've ever tasted. Service is great and we're always shown just the right amount of attention by the waiters. It's dimly lit inside so is very cosy, but can get loud. The prices are fine, we've never paid more than £40 for a meal and cocktails. Oh, and you have to nick the orange pens, they're the ultimate trophy. read more

Went on a Friday night and the place was very busy with a line out front, but we were still seated shortly after our entire party had arrived. We were seated at a communal table seating about 12 people total, so our group of 8 shared with another group on the other end of the table. The food is ... thai inspired more than authentic thai (the chopsticks at the table, rather than the fork and spoon are somewhat of a giveaway), but we all found it very tasty. We ordered lots of different dishes so that we could try different things. The ginger beef was very tasty and my wife loved the asparagus fried rice and wild mushroom stir-fry combination. My personal favorite was the thai calimari which was amazing. I would probably go back just for that. It was a fun evening, and we would definately go back. read more

Busaba Eathai is one of the best Thai restaurants I've been to. I've had good Thai food from takeaways before, but usually the places are so dingy that you wouldn't want to actually eat there anyway. This place has food that's a lot better than that and it's got a nice interior as well. I wouldn't recommend it for dates or intimate conversations with the gals, though, the communal tables can be a little awkward. Most people studiously pretend to not be able to hear everything being said by the strangers sitting next to them, but it still can be a little weird when you're talking about last night's conquest or that creeping rash. read more

This is fusion southeast Asian food for yuppies/hipsters. While the food is indeed edible, it's not really Thai food -- it's really a less aromatic, less spicy, shadow of Thai food. It first hit me when I sat at my communal table surrounded by not a single Asian until I entered the door. Bad sign if there are none of my fellow continent-men in an Asian restaurant... not even the servers. Second sign was that none of the traditional drinks that one would find in a Thai restaurant are on the menu -- there are several overpriced cocktails and fruit juice/tea concoctions. Ordered the som tom, pad kwetio, chili prawns, and a side of chinese broccoli. Only the som tom approached the aromatic level of true Thai food (i.e., it stunk a little bit). The rest would be considered flavorful if I were to compare it to English cooking, but it was under-spiced compared to true Thai food. I should be able to smell the seasoning and flavors, but none of that characteristic aroma was present. Overall, this place is a loud hang-out for hip, trendy, non-Asians. Anyone looking for a true Thai food experience should keep on moving. Oh and there is a noodle place in the area called Pho that is equally as bad. read more

Good points: Clean functional polite friendly service tasty food very reasonable prices spacious good location for people watching Bad points: portions not generous service a little too speedy for our mood that evening All in all, a winner. Will definitley be returning due to the location and prices. read more