Long Chim London

Permanently Closed

Long Chim London

Permanently Closed

Authentic Thai dining with vibrant flavors and impressive presentation.

Information

36-40 Rupert St, London W1D 6DW, United Kingdom Get directions

@michelinguide

48,380 Postcards · 8,030 Cities

"Fans of Thai-food legend David Thompson were delighted when his residency in Soho became a permanent fixture. Long Chim means ‘come and try’ and the open kitchen delivers an appetising range of dishes. All regions of Thailand are represented, from the North to the East, from the Central Region to the deep South. Don’t hold back on ordering and don’t miss the spicy pork with crunchy rice cakes, the monkfish curry with cucumber relish or the red curry of chicken with ginger and green beans. The colourful room is run by a warm and friendly team." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/greater-london/london/restaurant/long-chim-1217780

michelin.com

Long Chim London

@infatuation

132,814 Postcards · 3,234 Cities

Long Chim - Review - Soho - London - The Infatuation

"If we were as good at making an excellent first impression as Long Chim is, there’s a strong chance that our ex’s mum would still like our sparse Facebook updates. Alas, we are not, but at this vibey Thai residency on the ground floor of Soho’s Hovarda, staff will tenderly remove your coat, park you in front of a huge mural of a monkey hanging out in teacup, all with the promise of a sweet, alarmingly sippable pineapple Negroni arriving shortly. The golden, mirrored room sizzles and swells with blazer-donned date nights, heartfelt back-pat reunion greetings by the bustling open kitchen, and conversations that sound like an episode of a podcast called The Secret Inner Lives Of Ex-Upper East Siders. The Thai dishes are a comforting parade of well-done classics—hearty chunks of sticky, sweet pork, a skewer of subtle-spice squid with a proper smack of pickled ginger, meaty monkfish bathing in a rich, spice show curry—that all fall within the ‘nice’ bracket. Still, the buzz of the room carries the meal so that it still feels worthy of a low-key celebration or a last-minute meal in the area. video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley video credit: Daisy Meager Pause Unmute Food Rundown Long Chim Rolls Well, it beats a sad breadstick, that’s for sure. This is a spring roll-adjacent starter, and we’re into the crispy fried shell and stringy, moist cabbage innards. Give it a generous dip in the accompanying soy sauce for a little more flavour. photo credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley Breaded Cured Pork A crispy little beefy nugget with a slightly sour flavour and subtle tingle. Although we found ourselves looking to match-make it with the nearest spicy prik nam pla. It’s a bit dry. photo credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley Aromatic Curry Of Monkfish With Cucumber Relish The monkfish has a thick, creamy bite, ideal for soaking up the pond of rich, buttery curry. This cheerful, luminous number is one of the few things on the menu that isn’t afraid to bring the heat. Nose-dabbing napkins at the ready. PlayMute video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley Sweet Crispy Pork With Five Spice This was the only Long Chim dish that caused us to get a bit possessive. Pass the plate of sticky, near-caramelised pork? No, sorry. You should seek out the little jelly-like fatty pieces quietly, so as not to alert any nearby, hovering forks. PlayMute video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley Black Tiger Prawns Baked With Vermicelli, Spring Onions And Celery It could very well be a simmering Oedipus complex but we sure do love it when someone lifts the lid off a steaming ceramic pot for us. Especially when it contains a messy mass of stringy vermicelli, even if the aromatic flavour is a touch one-note. PlayMute video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley Grilled Sticky Rice With Banana Consider yourself on a banana excavation mission. Go on, get that spoon digging. If you catch the right mouthful of sticky rice and sugary banana, you’re in for a chewy treat. PlayMute video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley" - Heidi Lauth Beasley

https://www.theinfatuation.com/london/reviews/long-chim

Infatuation - Reviews

Long Chim London

Christie C.

Google

What an experience. Most exciting and friendly staff. The chef and manager were outstanding not only with their customer service but also with the food presentation and drinks. You will experience a unique atmosphere and especially the food. We have been guided through the menu and we're treated as royalties. We are looking forward to returning and experiencing more of the food

Lise N.

Google

Fantasticly fresh flavours, highly recommended for an absolutely authentic Thai dining experience. Have managed my way through many of the menu items and have never been disappointed. My favourite is the Crispy Whole Seabream with three flavoured sauce. Even the simple sounding Stir-Fried Sugar Snap peas is sumptuous! The complex flavours of the dishes shine through and combine into a delightful dining experience. Obviously fresh ingredients and an excellent eye for detail. Well worth a visit for anyone who wants to try Thai.

David Z.

Google

Everything was delicious, and they had a great patio. The crispy pork was fantastic and I would come back just to get it again. The mayo sticky rice was amazing as well. Friendly and prompt service. Would recommend highly!

Tammy J.

Google

Pure heaven!! Food is authentic, fresh and flavorful- DELICIOUS. Cocktails are proper with a good kick. Service is excellent, Apple and John really look after us and makes our tea time extraordinary, thank you again ! Atmosphere is lively and we love the decor. 10/10 !!

Yuji C.

Google

The food was nothing to write home about. You’re paying for this modern Bangkok fusion experience, which for me was not worth it. For food, we ordered the spring roll, which was long and skinny and stuffed with some veg. We ordered a prawn and vermicelli dish where the noodles and prawns both lacked depth and the dominating flavor was just sour. The duck in the massman curry was OK. And the panang curry was my favorite dish but I found that for the price I paid there was way too much fat on the beef included in the dish. One note about the atmosphere is the bright neon flashing light deep inside the restaurant which made me feel nauseous and the waiter was accommodating to help us move. Thank God, we moved before the last member of our party arrived who has epilepsy…. Also found the furniture very awkward to interact with. The chairs in the back were difficult to pull out and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I will not be returning.

Adam N.

Google

David Thompson showing why he is the master of Thai food. A very different style of cooking than what has been the new Thai openings in London over recent years. Incredible depth of flavour in everything. The lamb with cumin is worth the trip alone. Quite exceptional. Go.

Delilah C.

Google

Nice interior and decor. Food had a lot of flavour/spices but some of their main dishes (prawn, lamb) were a bit dry. Prawn and glass noodles was overcooked. The long chim was their best dish. I enjoyed the dinner but I gave 4 stars cause I been to better Thai places and I expected a bit better from the famous chef.

Charley B.

Google

You know that feeling when you're craving authentic international cuisine and stumble upon a place that absolutely nails it? That was our experience at Long Chim on Rupert Street in Soho on a sweltering Monday evening. We were wandering through Soho with a serious hunger for Thai food, and to our surprise, we managed to snag a table right away—a rare feat for a David Thompson restaurant! I've been fortunate enough to dine at Nahm at the Como Metropolitan Hotel in Bangkok, and the flavors there blew me away. What's fantastic about Long Chim is that it delivers that same incredible authenticity but in a much more affordable and relaxed setting, perfect for an early evening dinner. Long Chim's ethos is all about bringing the vibrant and complex flavors of Bangkok street food to a more refined setting, while keeping that energetic, bustling spirit alive. David Thompson, a renowned authority on Thai cuisine, focuses on dishes that are true to their roots, using traditional techniques and bold, aromatic ingredients. The menu is designed for sharing, encouraging diners to explore a range of tastes and textures, much like you would find at the best street food stalls in Thailand. The decor perfectly complements this vision, creating an ambiance that feels like a high-end restaurant in Bangkok. Think solid dark wooden furniture, stunning South-East Asian influenced murals, and just the right touch of funky neon lights that add a modern, urban edge. It’s a beautifully curated space that immediately transports you. To kick off our culinary journey, we opted for the Spicy Pork in Betel Leaves, and it was hands down our favorite item on the menu. The flavors were incredibly deep, with a fantastic spicy kick that was perfectly diffused by a cold bottle of Chang Beer—the obvious and best choice for a Thai meal. For our mains, our knowledgeable waiter recommended the Sweet Crispy Pork with five spice and chillies, which was already on our wishlist, proving great minds think alike! We paired that with a rich Green Curry of Beef with wild ginger and green chillies and a refreshing Green Papaya Salad with chillies, peanuts, and dried prawns, all accompanied by fragrant jasmine rice. Every single dish was exceptional. The spice levels were just right, the meats were either perfectly tender or wonderfully crispy, and the overall flavor palate was incredibly complex and authentic to Bangkok. This is definitely a cut above the standard Thai offerings you often find in London. Adding to the fantastic food was the service, which was swift, friendly, efficient, and wonderfully non-fussy. It made the entire experience feel like a truly great decision on what was a sweltering day in central London. A spot on the open-front/patio of the restaurant made the combined heat of the sun and the chillis much more bearable. If you're searching for an authentic taste of Bangkok in the heart of London, Long Chim is an absolute must-visit. It’s a culinary gem that delivers on every front!