Last Updated on July 10, 2024
Thai Square, Trafalgar Square:
Officially Thai Square Restaurant isn’t on Trafalgar Square but on the adjoining Cockspur street. To any normal member of the public though, it’s a restaurant with a prime location. And if you sit by the window, as we did, you’ll get a splendid view out across Trafalgar Square.
Londoners like me love the fact that in an area which tends towards tourist prices, Thai Square offers consistently good Thai food at regular London rates. And, the drinks menu too has a good selection of reasonably priced wines, beers and cocktails. We ordered a bottle of prosecco (£32), but there are house wine options for £22 and £23 and beer at £4.50 a bottle. Something to watch out for in London, what may look like a good value menu can sometimes end up as a large bill if the drinks menu is overpriced. Here the prices are fair.
Our inability to pick starters meant we ended up sharing the Thai Square mixed starter platter for 2 people which includes a selection of classics – vegetable spring rolls, chicken satay, prawn dim sum, prawn cakes and chicken and prawn toasts. Beautifully presented, my personal favourite was the crispy prawn dim sum.
We ordered two main courses, a portion of rice (one was quite enough for both of us) and some mixed vegetables with garlic and soya.
Of the mains, my favourite was the Royal Green Curry – a delicious bowl of lobster tails in a mild home-made Thai green chilli paste with coconut milk, aubergine, lime leaves and sweet basil. A delicate sauce, I’d personally have been happy with a little more heat, but I understand that in this particular location there may be a need to serve milder dishes. It was laced with green peppercorns and chillis though, so if you did want to add a kick you could do so easily.
Spicy seabass had us fooled for a while, the fish is served in an inedible fish shell so that you don’t see the fillets to begin with. What we found was a light dish of Thai spiced seabass, fragrant with lime Thai basil and coriander and served with some crunchy roasted ground rice. Vegetables were perfectly cooked and delicious.
All in a rounded meal that somehow left us both feeling full yet not bloated.
We probably would have skipped dessert but in the interest of writing this review picked the TSQ Trio of ices, Coconut, Black Sesame and Mango Sorbet with a red bean, pineapple jam and sticky rice garnish. It was spot on, just enough sweetness and freshness and a portion size that worked well for two people who had probably already eaten enough.
There are twelve or thirteen Thai Square restaurants around London. We’ve tried a few of them over the years and there’s definitely a different atmosphere depending on where you choose. Here in Trafalgar Square there’s a classic charm and relaxed service, despite the high footfall of the area and the popularity of the restaurant. A good place to meet up with friends pre or post theatre, or just to enjoy a good Thai meal
Thai Square Trafalgar Square
21-24 Cockspur St,
London SW1Y 5BN
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