Busaba Eathai

The setting of this restaurant looked promising from the outset. However, the hopes of having a good dinner was immediately quashed when I was served one of the main courses for the night, the 'jungle curry' which should have been named the 'skin and bones curry' since it mainly consisted of chicken skin and gristle, with hardly any meat at all and slops of curry! It also came in such a small bowl that my starter portions of satay were larger! The duck massaman curry was only passable. Service was so-so, but I certainly wouldn't return because of the quality of food served; I am pretty sure that no other self-respecting restaurant would allow such mediocre quality to be served and frankly, it would be shameful to even offer the 'jungle curry' to a famine victim.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Monday, June 02, 2008

This is the best Thai food I have had in London, and offers amazing value for money considering the quality you get. I have been to the Bird Street and Store Street branches for lunch and in the evenings about 6-7 times in total now, and although very busy, always found good service and excellent food. My personal favourites are the Thai Calamari side order and the Massaman Duck Curry main. Warning - it does get very busy, and you often have to queue in the evenings, especially later on in the week.
Comment on this reader review

George Hardy
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 21, 2008

After receiving terrible service, we’ve decided not to go back again. 40mins after we ordered our food, the manager came over with the thin excuse: ‘our kitchen is really busy, so you have to wait another 5mins’. People who ordered after us were served before us – they mislaid the order. Then the food arrived lukewarm. It ruined our afternoon..

The food is pretty good there, but the service needs to improve. I would not recommend this restaurant.
Comment on this reader review

Jessie
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Saturday, April 12, 2008

I absolutely love this restaurant so much. Have been there more than 6 times...

LOVE IT SO MUCH !!!! No compromise for the food quality and value for money !
Comment on this reader review

Veronika - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, March 30, 2008

I absolutely love this restaurant. It is good service, fantastic food at a great price. It is such a nice atmosphere in the restaurant. I always recommend this restaurant to people and therefore can rate this restaurant at Goodge Street Station very highly. It is a great place for any occassion.
Comment on this reader review

Lizanne
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

I challenge anyone to go to Busaba and not return within the month! The food is on par with restaurants like Hakkasan and Nobu but at a fraction of the cost.

Its a must!
Comment on this reader review

- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, July 12, 2007

This place has a really nice atmosphere, like most noodle bars but a little more intimate with square tables rather than rows. Our food came extremely quickly and the staff were friendly and attentive.

The portions were just right and the food was fantastic. I would especially recommend the grilled duck and the thai calamari – Best I have tasted yet!

Good value, quick, nice setting!
Comment on this reader review

Gemma
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Thursday, June 21, 2007

I cannot believe I have only just discovered this place – food great, amazing quality and quick. Staff friendly knowledgeable and efficient only criticism is they could look at increasing the drinks list.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 12, 2007

After ordering our food we waited for over 40 minutes, during which

time an alarm was going on and off.

We asked the waiting staff what was happening, as the noise was

disrupting our conversation - but they didn't know, and we continuted

to suffer the noise disturbance.

After waiting patiently through this noise, for a further 10 minutes,

we were then told to leave immediately just as our food was arriving.

We were very disapointed, and the experience ruined our entire

evening. I was particularly annoyed at the way we were ordered to

leave, with no appology, and no explanation as to what was going on.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, March 08, 2007

After going to Busaba for a lunch, I have found myself there 3 times in the last 3 weeks. Each time, I have ordered something different and have been exceedingly impressed.

I have been seated very quickly the waiting staff seem to come up with just the right suggestions when I don't know what to choose.

The Thai Calamari is absolutely outstanding and the main courses all pull up different surprises.

The Jungle Curry is not for the faint-hearted - very spicy and a formidable concoction of vegetables and poultry; the (strangely named) Muslim Beef Curry isn't particularly outstanding, tasting more like a standard Beef Curry for Brick Lane than Thai and the selection of Pad Thai's are very good. The food quality has always been good and the portions even better - very good value for money.

I have twice accompanied my meals with the Mango Lassi which has great flavour.

The vibe is always good and a great place to bring family and friends.

For people who are new to Thai, this is a great place to start and very affordable.
Comment on this reader review

Eshaan Akbar
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Thursday, March 01, 2007