pretty rice crockery at Busaba Eathai
The day after eating at Sake No Hana, Jon and I went to see the Babylon exhibit at the British Museum (which, by the way, wasn’t thought-provoking or even entertaining. It’s like someone googled “Babylon” and threw the results together in a cramped exhibition space).
Needing lunch, we continued our Alan Yau kick and walked over to Busaba Eathai, his Thai canteen.
And you know, it’s all about the details. Busaba Eathai could’ve been an anonymous, assembly-line Wagamama-type deal, but instead, the small things like pretty ceramic crockery for plain rice made me smile.
Busaba Eathai interior
Sure, it’s communal seating, but the dark wood and the sleek lanterns made my lunch seem more festive than a quick meal in a cafeteria.
green chicken curry at Busaba Eathai
And the green chicken curry was packed with tender chicken (not over-cooked like it is at, say, Wagamama), Thai aubergine and crunchy bamboo. The curry sauce was even spicy? Excellent. I could’ve drunk down the curry sauce alone. Actually, I think I did.
ginger-honey tea at Busaba Eathai
Feeling a bit under the weather, I ordered some ginger tea. When I was a kid, I used to cry when my mom made me drink the stuff. Now I crave it when I’m sick. (Moms everywhere are smiling smugly as I write this paragraph).
Anyway, Busaba’s ginger tea was sweet with honey. The buttery, crumbly shortbread-pistachio cookies kept things indulgent, rather than medicinal.
Overall, I had a pleasant, cheap and tasty meal (the vast majority of main courses cost less than £8).
Busaba Eathai is now my go-to place for lunch when I visit the British Museum.
Busaba Eathai, 22 Store Street, WC1E 7DF, 0207 299 7900; closest tube station: Goodge Street. [Two other locations; one in Soho on Wardour Street, and the other near Selfdriges on Bird Street.]
I had a really bad experience at the Store Street branch. I ordered a chicken jungle curry which seemed to come garnished in chicken skin – the really flabby, goose-pimpled kind, and then the waiter shouted at me for questioning it. I demanded it off the bill (I’m a stubborn one) in the end.
The Wardour Street branch, although always busy, seems better- I loooove their calamari.
I love this place! Next time, try the chicken wrapped up in pandanus leaves–so good.
I remember this opened at the end of my London days in the summer of 2000. Glad to hear it’s still doing well.
Just remember the original SOHO location, must be the Wardour Street one.
Lizzie – Sounds like an awful time (though I must admit I had to look up what a “jungle curry” is – what a terrible name!). Although I really enjoyed my lunch, and the location is handy to the British Museum, I’ll keep in mind your gross chicken skin experience.
NYiL – will do.
Ann – Seems like ages ago when you lived in London, doesn’t it? How’s Zicasso doing? I’ve checked out the site a few times, and it’s a great idea, though I think the last time I used a travel agent was in 1995, when I traveled to the Philippines and had no idea how to do anything.
Don’t forget to try the homemade lemonade. It’s to die for!
Ha, that is quite funny. I, too, am an American girl living in London and I wrote a review of Busaba on my (new) food blog. I think I was a little less gentle though
Check it out if you like: http://www.dandelionandburdockblog.com/?page_id=93
Will definitely be coming back to your site for ideas on places to eat out!
Vanessa – from your post, it sounds like I feel about Ping Pong the way you feel about Busaba Eathai (which I think is one of the better chains in London). lol.
[...] hard to find good Thai food in London. I’m not sure why. Usually, I end up at Busaba Eathai or Rosa’s, which aren’t perfect, but are cheap, serve a spicy-sweet green curry and are [...]