Singburi opened long before an influx of Thai eateries hit the London restaurant scene and has definitely more than held its own throughout. If you are looking for authentic Thai food in a no-nonsense environment then this is the place to come.

The Venue
Located just off the main hub of Leytonstone’s High Road, Singburi is well hidden in a quiet, partly residential area. Surrounded by greengrocers, off-licenses and the occasional restaurant, Singburi could be missed if it weren’t for a glowing yellow sign proclaiming Thai Food on the shopfront.

Inside reveals a mellow canteen-style layout, with a decor that screams 1970s. The small room features a mix of light blue, orange, yellow and fake wood panels, which are covered with framed pictures of customers of years gone by, enjoying their meals, and the odd bit of Thai paraphernalia.

The Atmosphere
Singburi is family run and it feels like an extension of the owners’ living room. Customers in the restaurant are as relaxed as the people serving them and, even on a weekday night, the place is near its full capacity of around 40. While chilled out jazz music plays, everyone chatters feely and smells waft from the kitchen in the next room.

The Food
The selection and variety of the menu at Singburi is extensive at more than 30 dishes, from starters to soups, curries to noodles, seafood dishes to vegetarian fare. Starters and soups range from £4.50 to £6.50, with a mixed starter of the usual suspects – stuffed chicken drumsticks, spring rolls and fish cakes – available for a couple more pounds for two to share. While a satisfying selection, this is not a fair representation of Singburi’s repertoire.

The Som Tam – a mix of green papaya, dried shrimp, cherry tomatoes, red chillies and lemon – is a cold salad of shredded ingredients, which is commonly found on Thai menus. Singburi’s version is a spicy and palate cleansing start to the meal. Chillies are added to individual taste, and the flavour starts off as a subtle heat that develops to a full-on roar. There are a lot of different elements to this dish, but even though the dish is hot, individual flavours of sweet and sour shine through. The salad is moist and the white cabbage crisp, and the accompanying dry green beans and shrimps make a nice contrast. Goong Sarong, a starter of deep fried filo pastry wrapped prawns with a tangy sweet chilli dip, is crunchy and light, and there is not a drop of oil in sight.

The seafood dishes are particularly good at Singburi. A selection of large and juicy king prawns, soft squid, large meaty mussels and melt-in-your-mouth chunks of red snapper are found in most of the seafood dishes. The Pad Talay teams the fish up with chunky strips of red and green chillies, onion and peppers, along with Thai basil and ginger. Aromatic and fragrant, the dish has a glossy sheen and is full of colour. The meat is also cooked well. The fried pork and garlic dish features soft and succulent meat, with a slightly smoky touch to it. The garlic is in large pieces and there’s lots of it. The flavour is pungent, but the rest of the dish has a smooth texture – which goes together nicely for garlic lovers. Main courses range from £6.25 to £8.50 and rice is sold separately at £2.00 to £3.00.

The sweets on offer are merely an afterthought, apart from the deep fried ice cream. As wrong as it sounds, the dessert is a ball of vanilla covered with sweet pastry and finished with sesame seeds. It is sweet and creamy, and cools the mouth down.

The Drink
Singburi is unlicensed and customers are not charged for corkage. The usual soft drinks are available such as coke, Dr Pepper and cream soda, as well as orange and pineapple juice. Coffee, tea and Jasmine tea are also on offer. The drinks are priced from 70p to £1.50.

The Last Word
Singburi offers a homely and relaxed way to experience authentic Thai food. The food is fresh and full of different flavours and the staff make you feel like you have been visiting them for years. The photos decorating the restaurant stand as a testament to the many customers the Singburi has delighted over the years.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (5)