Speedboat Bar, Thai restaurant in Chinatown, London, United Kingdom
Speedboat Bar is a Thai restaurant in two stories in Chinatown, with institutional green tiles on the lower level and yellow walls with turquoise window frames upstairs. The spaces are filled with decorative elements that represent Thai cuisine and culture.
The venue replaced a former Taiwanese tea house called Xu and was opened by chef Luke Farrell, who had already run another Thai restaurant in London. The location had therefore already been part of the Asian dining scene in this area.
The restaurant takes cues from Bangkok's Chinatown canteens, with racing boats suspended from the ceiling and photographs of Thai street life throughout the space. This design creates an environment that mirrors the busy, informal way people eat in Thailand's bustling markets.
The restaurant is located on Rupert Street and stays open until 1 AM on weekends, making it a late-night destination. The menu offers both affordable snacks and more elaborate dishes, so there are options for different budgets.
The restaurant sources fresh Thai herbs from the chef's own greenhouses in Dorset instead of using frozen imports common in many Thai restaurants. This focus on fresh, locally grown ingredients sets the cooking apart from other Thai dining options in London.
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