The chain that can do no wrong, Busaba Eathai seem to maintain their status despite the franchise growing larger by the day. Lengthy queues outside the restaurant daily attest to the popularity of the great Thai food and trendy, relaxed atmosphere.

The Venue
Busaba Eathai restaurants are hard to miss. The chic stained wood panelling and floor-to ceiling windows make for an impressive exterior and the outdoor tables are permanently busy through the balmy summer months. Inside, the clean and modern theme continues with stained wood walls and furniture, high ceilings and low lighting.

The Atmosphere
The restaurant is built for efficiency (note the large shared tables) however the effect is more chic and bustling than high school cafeteria. The low lighting and ambient mood soak up the awkwardness of sitting crammed between the first date couple and the guy who has spent the last 20 minutes extolling the virtues of a CPA to his two disinterested work buddies. The crowd is varied, suits and families sit side by side, and the staff are adept at handling the constant turnover of this unique dining concept.

The Food
The Asian-fusion menu offers much variety and, in keeping with the business concept, the food is always fast. Consistently good food keeps this chain in business, and the punters queuing daily for a bite. Menu standouts include the creamy Mussaman duck curry (around £9) with potato, peanut, onion, and incredibly tender duck, as well as the green curry fried rice (around £7) – a surprisingly authentic offering served with moist char grilled chicken. The sides too are high quality and varied; tender Thai calamari is mildly spiced with ginger and peppercorn, and the fish cakes (around £4.50) are second to none, with robust flavours of lime and coriander, and a mild cucumber and peanut relish. Some of the dishes are spicy enough to make you cry though, so watch out for the Southern Curry (of braised lamb shanks) and the chilli prawn fried rice if you want to make it out with all your taste buds intact.

The Drink
A small selection of international red, white and rose wines are on offer (starting at around £3.50 a glass), as well as a few sparkling options and beer. The focus of the drinks list, though, are the hot teas (including a warm and spicy ginger and honey tea – served with cashew and coconut cookies) and the fresh juices. The mango lassi is a must-try, with hints of rosewater and honey, as is the Guava Collins: a zingy blend of guava, lime, ginger and passionfruit (both at £3).

The Last Word
The atmosphere is fun and relaxed, though the staff and setup manage to keep it all rigorously efficient; Busaba Eathai keep their customers coming back with consistently good offerings of modern and authentic Thai, at very reasonable prices.

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