Talay Thai
64 Streatham High Rd, London SW16 1DA, United Kingdom
3.7
128 reviews
8 comments
CVPC+HQ London, United Kingdom
Location reporting
Claim this location
Monday: 17–22
Tuesday: 17–22
Wedneasday: 17–22
Thursday: 17–22
Friday: 12–15
Saturday: 12–15
Sunday: 13–22
Tuesday: 17–22
Wedneasday: 17–22
Thursday: 17–22
Friday: 12–15
Saturday: 12–15
Sunday: 13–22
The food was okay taste-wise, having started with fried squid and Thai dim sum. We weren't too keen on the sauce provided, but that's more about trying something new.
As much as it's essential for the restaurants, the number of delivery items being picked up by the workers was very noticeable and at times, quite distracting.
The restaurant was a presentable area and worth a try.
We give it A****
LDT x
The menu has all your stand Thai food options and is always hot, fresh and super tasty. The service is efficient and the staff are prompt.
We will definitely be back!
Service was good but considering that there were not many people dining in, it could have been a bit more attentive.
The food was ok but... from the dishes I had this is Thai food toned down for the western palate. There was also some compromise with the ingredients.
For example: it was good to see that there was Som Tam (papaya salad) made for vegetarians (no fish sauce, no shrimp) but there was lettuce in it and chunks of tomato rather than cherry tomatoes. As for the chili... couldn't find it!
If you have experienced Som Tam in Thailand you will know that it can be very spicy-hot. Not so this version. Similarly the crushed peanut was not mixed in but rather found in a small pile at the side of the dish.
Kow Neow (sticky rice) was served in a plastic bag in a traditional wicker basket. However it was too hot to touch - and the point of kow neow is that you hold it and shape it in your hand, eating it directly from the hand. This proved an impossibility unless you wait for the rest of the food to get cold.
The Nam Manao (a Thai version of fresh lemonade) was too sweet and sickly. Rather than being just sweet enough to take the edge off the freshly squeezed lime juice.
However, the portions were good despite just not having a really authentic taste. Even the sauces were just a basic bottled sweet chili rather than the home-made varieties that are standard fare in Thailand.
This brings me full circle in this review: I went to Talay Thai to eat real Thai food, not the watered down, adulterated dishes that I was served. I wanted to eat food made for Thais, not food made for farang (Europeans).
Would I eat there again? Possibly, but it would not be my first choice if I wanted to eat real Thai food.