The Kiln

"Fiery, sizzling, blazing, scorching. They’re all fitting words when talking about sitting at Kiln’s counter. The perennially heaving restaurant on Brewer Street has an energy that can only be understood when you’re sat at the bar, head bowed over a smoked kipper jungle curry, with what feels like the entire population of Soho pulsating around you. This British-Thai restaurant takes no prisoners. Its changing menu will see an electric northern laap with pollock one month, before it switches to a pork offal creation. Sit at the counter and watch flames dance over claypots as you sip a crisp beer and know that, if it all gets too much, you can always lean on those lush pork belly and brown crab noodles." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, heidi lauth beasley

"At Kiln, the heat of the glowing coals pulsates against your head and, if you’re looking for respite, you better slurp the rest of that jungle curry down first. The Thai restaurant on Brewer Street is hot in more ways than one, but it’s also one of the coolest restaurants in London. It’s walk-in-only and the counter in particular is a bunfight all week but boy is it worth it. There’s electric laab, aromatic curries, and crab claypot noodles you could eat by the trough. Sitting here, you’re reminded of what eating out in Soho should always feel like: invigorating and brilliant." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, daisy meager

"Kiln is one of the go-to Thai restaurants in London. The bar is where you want to be sat at the bustling Soho restaurant, where the clay pots sizzle in front of your eyes, and a bead of sweat forms on your head as you take another bite of ox heart laab. Although we prefer sitting opposite all the action, if you’re in a group you’ll be just as happy eating pork belly and crab glass noodles, and Burmese-style beef curry downstairs. But be aware: Kiln is very popular." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, sinead cranna, rianne shlebak

"The biggest pro of Kiln is genuinely fantastic Thai food, with the downside that, like most hyped Soho restaurants, the queue makes it a logistical ball-ache. Especially if your friends don’t do the ‘give us your number and we’ll call you when your table’s ready’ thing. Eating here by yourself is a good way to get around it, as it’s much easier to grab a seat for one at the bar, which is the best place to be anyway. The portions are perfect for solo diners too (get the aged cull yaw and cumin skewer and crab noodles). " - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, sinead cranna, rianne shlebak

"Thai barbecue—two words that give us happy shivers. Which is ironic because Kiln in Soho is all about heat. Heat from the open kitchen, from oak logs being thrown on the kiln, and from the wood-burning ovens. Curries bubble away and charred meats and fresh grilled fish are slid across the stainless steel counter. This isn’t just one of London’s best Thai-influenced restaurants, it’s one of the city's best restaurants full-stop. " - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna