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Paolina's Thai Cafe

4.3 (57 reviews)
InexpensiveCoffee & Tea, Thai
Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

Paolina's Thai Cafe Photos

PAOLINA'S THAI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Casual
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

Recommended Reviews - Paolina's Thai Cafe

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Menu
Kevin B.

Paolina's is a charming local Thai Cafe great for a hole-in-the-wall dine-in experience. There's a small room in the back with a couple tables for an intimate setting. The food is delicious, and the prices are affordable. Do take the chili warnings seriously, though! Two peppers was a bit too spicy for me, despite having a relatively high spice tolerance for a white guy! Otherwise, though, the fare was enjoyable and the family was friendly and hospitable. Pay a visit!

Exterior
Wendy L.

By far the cutest Thai restaurant I have ever been to in London. The restaurant itself was downstairs and incredibly small and cosy with its medium oak walls and tables. Service was exquisite and staff were of all genders and ages like a family run restaurant. Upon entering I saw the elders preparing the rice and some carrying heavy loads of dirty dishes downstairs to wash. It was like I stepped out of Kings Cross for a little bit and into a Thai family's home. Deep fried tofu This came piping hot, freshly fried so still kept it's lovely silky melting texture inside which balanced well with the thin crispy exterior sides. The peanut sauce was lovely and thick to cling on to the tofu adding a lovely rounded nutty sweetness to it. Tom Kha A coconut based milk soup with galangal and kaffir lime leaves was very fragrant with warming notes of spice. It was filled generously with lovely fresh and plump prawns and mushrooms. Thai green curry chicken This was a lovely addition of the classic dish. It was thick, creamy, complex flavours with all the traditional ingredients of aubergine, bamboo shoots, galangal and more. The chicken was a bit thinly cut but was still very tender. Portion was very small too but quality made up for it. Kang massaman beef This was one of the best varieties we've had being really thick, savoury, rich in flavour with complexity. Unlike some we've had before it wasn't overly sweetened. The carrots and potatoeswere both fork tender and the beef came chunky and soft too. Cashews provided a lovely sweet nutty finish as well as a contrast to the softer textures. Lard na This was also surprisingly good. I somewhat didn't expect fresh Ho fun in a place like this. It was cooked perfectly, slippery, full of bounce and in a lovely soy based gravy seasoned perfectly. It was better than more than half of the restaurants in Chinatown serving Ho fun. They were generous with the prawns and squid which were both tender and plump. Vegetables were fresh and sweet too. Coconut custard & Sweet Sticky rice This has become Ren's favourite dessert. The custard pudding was like an egg flan, subtle in sweetness with a layer of sliced pumpkins for a more diverse experience. The sticky rice had the most comforting texture being chewy and al dente. The slight saltiness to it against the custard was like maple syrup to bacon being the perfect match and balance whilst the condensed milk made everything creamier and sweet Mango and sweet sticky rice This was delicious and without fault. The sticky rice was slightly salty drizzled over with condensed milk to add a layer of creaminess as well as sweetness. The mango was sweet and juicy provided the perfect contrast to balance not only the salt but the density of the dish too. Truly delicious. I love this little cafe so much. Blended amongst other buildings along King's Cross Road it almost feel like a hidden gem. There's no fanciness to it, just all the classic Thai dishes cooked homely, with passion and at reasonable prices. Can't wait to return.

Lard na
Janice L.

Okay, why isn't there more review on this Thai place located off Kings cross? Oh- my- god. (with Friend's Janice's accent). Delicious thai food freshly cooked right next to you in the store. This place deserves more rave and praise! Don't get put off by the small store front, say hello to a few step down and a few bigger long tables! All their noodle dishes are well made with affordable pricing. Not the cheapest thai, but for what you get, and its portions, it's not a bad deal. Also once saw a group celebrating a birthday dinner here, so, there you go. It is big enough to cater more than 10+ people! Do try their thai ice tea! Yum!

Takeout pad thai

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2 years ago

Excellent Thai food served quickly and at a great price. Highly recommend. (Limited seating so you may want to book a reservation.)

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16 years ago

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10 years ago

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8 years ago

Delicious, authentic Thai food. One of the best in London. Outstanding service. A favourite to eat-in or take away. Hidden gem!

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18 years ago

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7 years ago

Went here via other yelp revues and we weren't disappointed. Fresh food, great flavor. Highly recommended

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16 years ago

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7 years ago

This was one of the best Thai dinners I have ever had. I will definitely visit this place again

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Paolina's Thai Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Paolina's Thai Cafe

This place was a little hidden gem near King's Cross Station that serves up great Thai food at reasonable prices.

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Siam Central - Prawn red curry,egg fried rice & chicken satay

Siam Central

3.9(85 reviews)
1.1 miFitzrovia
££

Decent Thai for a good price in Bloomsbury. Fun area with a lot of restaurants and pubs. The…read moreservice was nice. Cute little restaurant. The food was tasty and fresh. I didn't like the fish cakes, too pungent for my taste. Liked the noodles I had, although I'd go for another meat choice besides beef. Wasn't to my liking. Too gamey and did not enhance the overall flavor. The vegetables in the dish were great. Order the garlic chili crunch sauce to complement any dish. House made and delicious.

Rocked up by pure Chance & what a find! Wasn't sure if we…read morecould get a table,but upon entry was greeted with two smiles & a "Hi,sure come in" Clearly people that enjoy what they are doing,always a good start. We were seated in the middle of the restaurant which was running at full pelt,friendly atmosphere with people clearly enjoying each others company & the food. Having seen the reviews of people queuing up at the weekends to get in,I knew we'd found a winner, & so it proved,fresh ingredients cooked well (sounds basic,but trust me so many places get them wrong). Siam Central covers the lot,great customer service,delivers on food quality texture & flavours,my son had duck mee goreng & I had the prawn red curry with chicken satay on the side with a couple of beers - magical Highly recommend & great value for money in the heart London

Photos
Siam Central
Siam Central - Fish cakes not for moi

Fish cakes not for moi

Siam Central - Pad See Yew next time wouldn't get beef

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Pad See Yew next time wouldn't get beef

Patara - Crab meat store fry

Patara

4.1(154 reviews)
1.2 miBloomsbury
£££

Simply said terrible food and setvice not a Turist trap simply an awful experience. We wanted…read moresome good thai food and ended at this restaurant which needs to change the esthetic things. We sat down and ordered our food boring my wife had glutten allergies. After a king disjointed explanation on cross contamination we confirmed our choices The food came swiftly but it contained thd hot peppers we specifically told the waitress my wife did want. They took the plate away and in less than one minute she brought it back " new plate" bs was simply the previous order they took the chilies out. My steak which I requested well done wax rare instead. The food tasted bland and mediocre overall For 90 pounds we had a terrible meal Do not waste your time avoid this place

Miang PhuketLeaf wrapped appetizer, it's fun to wrap it yourself, shredded coconut, dried shrimp,…read morecashew nuts, chili, chopped onions... I really like this crispy, sweet and sour and refreshing taste (but my hands will be sticky after eating it hahahaGaeng Som PlaSouthern-style sour soup fish, Thai friends said that this dish is a "regular on the table" in their family, the fish is tender and has no fishy smell, but I think the seasoning is a bit too much and a bit heavyMorning GloryThe fried water spinach is very wok-fried, with just the right amount of salty and fragrant, not greasy ~ It tastes very similar to the taste I eat in a street shop in Bangkok!

Photos
Patara - Desert

Desert

Patara - Masamun curry

Masamun curry

Patara - Salad

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Salad

Siam Eatery - Delicious options

Siam Eatery

4.5(42 reviews)
1.3 miStrand, Covent Garden
£

A restaurant doesn't score 5 stars for being perfect - no no, 5 stars are reserved for that ideal…read moremix of great food and feel within its own self-selected category. Siam Eatery has done exactly this, rising to the top of the food chain in the fast-eats Asian category in the busy Covent Garden area. First, the price point is right on with others in their category (think Wasabi and Itsu) at around 8 pounds for a solid meal. You can get away for 5.50 if you're not that hungry and don't want a drink - but then you'll miss out on their stellar Thai Iced Tea. And, might I add, this is the first quick-eats Asian place I've visited that has mastered - let alone even TRIED - Thai Iced Tea. DO IT. Second, mains are wonderful. Customisable and packed with flavour, the curries don't just peg to the meat and veg, there's enough juice in there to create that perfect coated, rich rice base that is why we REALLY love curry. Their everyday special chicken is stunning (think spicy-red curry), while their standard red and green are just as good and full of flavour. The options of red, brown and white rice, or without rice and salad instead, have reached Tortilla-level customisation without having traded options for quality (as Tortilla have done, IMHO). Third, it's crazy fast. Most everything is pre-made, as this category is good at, but they do so well to keep you from knowing it. Everything is kept hot and unpackaged (except for the fridge salads, of course), and made just for you. It really does feel like you've stumbled into a legit curry house here. The spot is busy come lunchtime, though you'll get dinner in 30 seconds flat. And unlike a lot of popular lunch spots around, they're open til 20:00 most nights, making dinner here feasible. There are about 10 seats in this place, but you don't need to eat here. Though it's nice and classy, this is undoubtedly a grab-and-go place. Seriously, though - don't forget your Thai Iced Tea. Would be a shame to miss the cherry atop the sundae at this gem of a curry palace.

Went here on a rainy day to have some Thai food to warm me up. The food definitely was warming, I…read morehad the red Thai veg curry which was super spicy (for me) but very tasty. The cafe is very well positioned for Covent Garden but is off the beaten track so not full of tourists. They have a selection of different warm dishes, varying in spicy-ness and meats. They also sell some lovely looking salads. The price is reasonable for Covent Garden with the veg curry costing £5 and salads £4.80. They also have a few seats inside and they don't charge you extra to eat in which is great! The staff are lovely too and will advise you on what to have if you're not a huge fan of spicy food (I only realised this after fighting my way through the red Thai curry though). I went back again today and had a delicious satay chicken sandwich which was very yummy.

Photos
Siam Eatery - Chicken Satay Rice Salad

Chicken Satay Rice Salad

Siam Eatery
Siam Eatery - Small take-away, but much classier with seating for 10 and a quiet, high-quality feel to it

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Small take-away, but much classier with seating for 10 and a quiet, high-quality feel to it

Paolina's Thai Cafe - coffee - Updated May 2026

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