Kiln — Restaurant in London

A Taste of Authentic Thai Grill in the Heart of London

Nestled in the bustling heart of Soho, Kiln is a remarkable Thai grill restaurant that offers an authentic culinary experience reminiscent of the vibrant street food culture in Thailand. It's one of London's hidden gems, catering to those with a penchant for Thai cuisine that transcends the usual offerings. Kiln sets itself apart as a small, unassuming venue with a unique twist on dining, offering a memorable experience that is a delightful alternative to traditional restaurants.

Atmosphere and Ambiance: Kiln's cozy interior is characterized by its compact size, making it an ideal choice for an intimate dining experience. However, it's worth noting that booking a table for a group is limited to the downstairs area. For those who prefer a more spontaneous dining experience, there's a walk-in option. The popularity of Kiln often results in a queue, but the wait is absolutely worth it. The counter seating provides a front-row view of the bar and the bustling kitchen, allowing you to witness the chefs skillfully preparing your dishes. The use of hot coals in clay pots and flaming woks is a captivating sight that adds a layer of authenticity to the dining experience.

Menu and Food: Kiln's menu, though not extensive, is a testament to the culinary creativity of the team. The offerings are constantly evolving, ensuring a fresh and exciting dining experience every time you visit. This commitment to variety and innovation reflects the dynamic nature of Thai cuisine. The wine selection mirrors this ethos, with an ever-changing list that complements the dishes perfectly.

The food at Kiln is a true celebration of flavor. The dishes are characterized by a delicate balance of spices and an array of high-quality ingredients, some of which are sourced locally in the UK. While the menu might not be vast, each dish tells a unique story, and you can instantly sense the thought and care that have gone into their preparation. The noodles and the chicken and sausage dish were standouts, showcasing the chef's dedication to delivering dishes that are both tasty and authentic. It's worth noting that the cuisine at Kiln leans towards the spicier end of the spectrum, so be prepared for a flavorful adventure.

Ambiance and Service: The restaurant is bathed in low lighting, creating an intimate atmosphere that perfectly complements the culinary experience. The slight haze from the grill and the background soundtrack transport you to a different world, enhancing the feeling of escaping to the bustling streets of Thailand. The attentive and friendly staff make the experience even more enjoyable. They are knowledgeable about the menu and are more than willing to help with any questions you may have. The prices are fairly reasonable, considering the quality of the food and the unique experience Kiln offers.

In conclusion, Kiln is a hidden gem in the heart of London, offering an extraordinary Thai dining experience that transcends the ordinary. It's a place for those who appreciate authenticity, flavor, and a bit of spice in their life. With its small size, constantly changing menu, and commitment to quality, Kiln provides a culinary journey that's worth every moment of your time. So, if you're looking to "fly outside Europe" through your taste buds, Kiln is the perfect destination. Just be prepared to wait in line – the experience that awaits is...

Maybe it was my mistake going to Kiln on a Friday evening. I was initially told that there would be a one hour wait at 18.51, and thought that would be acceptable, so decided to stay in the mobile queue. When I returned after 54 minutes, I was told I had another 12 minutes according to the system. It wasn't for another 40 minutes before we managed to even make it inside to a crowded waiting area where we could order drinks. My partner and I ordered two soft drinks, thinking those would be fast to reach us. Having been dehydrated from waiting outside for longer than expected, the drinks only came 10 minutes later. Granted the lemongrass and green chili sodas were quite tasty at first, they were also filled to the brim with ice so soon didn't taste like much. For £4.50 each, these glasses were the first instance of daylight robbery.

In total, we probably spent 30 minutes from getting into the restaurant to getting a table. There, we were promised another glass for tap water, but this glass never arrived. Thankfully, my soda-priced ice had melted by this point, so it made little difference.

Before we even placed our order, a waiter had mistakenly started giving us our neighbouring table's food. We informed them that we were ready to place our order, and they said that they would ask their colleague to come. No such colleague came for another 10 minutes.

The menu we received was different to that online--notably, there was no claypot glass noodle which I was looking forward to trying. I saw it being prepared in the kitchen area, so my guess is that they change the menus when they run out. In any case, had I been informed of this during the 2 hour wait, I probably would've gone elsewhere. We ordered the pork neck starter, stir-fried spring greens, tamworth loin chop, dry red curry mackerel, and a bowl of brown jasmine rice.

For some reason, the service team thought it made sense to serve the half-bowl of brown rice with the measly piece of pork neck we ordered as a starter. I assumed this would mean that the mains were coming soon. This assumption was wrong. By the time the red curry mackerel came, the rice had gone cold. The waiting staff thankfully offered us a new bowl of rice. I felt bad that this first bowl of rice was needlessly wasted, though.

After finishing the rice and mackerel, it took a while before the loin chop and spring greens arrived. Granted, we were warned that the loin chop would take longer than the other dishes to arrive. These were tasty enough, but again the portions were tiny in comparison to the price point.

The only fast part of the service was when we asked to pay. When we left at 10pm, there were still masses of people outside.

Overall, one of the worst dining experiences I've had the misfortune of being excited for. I regret the £50 we each spent on ~2h of waiting around, overly loud music, tiny portions, and extremely slow service. Will not come back again, and will actively be not...

Wanted to try KILN for awhile now especially after learning that it was the sister to the Smoking Goat in Shoreditch (loved that too) and when I heard it recently won the ‘Best Restaurant in the UK’ accolade, I absolutely had to go.

We walked in just before 6pm on a Sunday and the resto was already full, so we waited for about half an hour before we were seated. It was well worth the wait.

Started off the meal with one of their homemade KILN cocktails and went for the most Thai-sounding drink on the menu, the Turmeric gin and tonic. It arrived with a slice of grapefruit which balanced the refreshing drink and I thought was a real nice touch. I’d go so far to say it was hands down the best G&T I’ve had so far in a restaurant.

Between the 2 of us, we shared:

Claypot baked glass noodles with Tamworth belly and brown crab meat; absolutely tasty. The noodles were very well cooked, neither wet or soggy. I thought it could use a slightly bigger portion of pork belly and crab meat but for £6.75, I shouldn’t be complaining. It went very well with the sour-spicy (lime, fish sauce and bird's eye chili) condiment on the side.

Raw beef larb; this was unreal. It was also my Partner’s favourite dish. Served with fresh lettuce, the raw beef was moist and packed with flavor. Personally I thought this was slightly salty (and I LOVE MY SALT) but when paired with the crunchy lettuce, the flavor balances itself out. A definite must order.

Wild ginger & beef neck curry from Burma; this was divine. It wasn’t a thick curry but extremely light and very tasty. It wasn’t overly spicy at all like some Thai curries but the grated wild ginger in the broth made it so unique and surprisingly refreshing. The beef neck was tender and cooked to perfection. This was my favourite dish!

Laos style brill; We wanted to try a fish (that was different from a curry) and were in luck – it was their last brill of the day. The baked brill came with juicy sweet tomatoes and heaps of fresh dill. The fish fillet was fresh, moist and retained all its flavor. Overall, it had a bright flavour and was easy to eat. I really enjoyed this one.

Aged lamb & cumin skewers; we were nearly full now, and seeing that they have desserts, we decided to try one last dish on the menu and ordered a skewer each to top the meal off. O.m.g. it tasted like little grilled morsels of heaven. The lamb wasn’t dry or burnt, in fact, was soft and still slightly pink in the middle. It had just the right amount of cumin, wasn’t overpowered with spice at all and the lamb fat was so juicy, it just melted in the mouth.

This has become one of my favourite restaurants in London – KILN exudes friendly, casual vibes like you’ve walked into a friend's home kitchen and he’s not only cooked you affordable, sharing friendly plates of exceptional food, but he's even put great tunes on his record player for you so you feel right at...