Addie's Thai

Addie's is an unremarkable-looking Thai restaurant in Earl's Court, but the fact that it's busy gives it away. It has been for almost three decades, and in a city full of faded gourmet icons, it is astonishing that eating here is as delicious as it has always been. As soon as the (free) prawn crackers are on your table, you will know. They're the grainy, caramel-colored sort, not the terrible, foamy white kind. A decent Thai restaurant can always be identified by the quality of its crackers.

Inside, it’s painted an unfashionable shade of dark red, with tables tucked into cosy nooks along the wall. The menu is intimidatingly vast, but when ordering, this is the kind of establishment where it pays to have a roving eye. A quick spy at the tables in your vicinity should help you decide: everyone gets the papaya salad. This dish, with thin ribbons of pale papaya, carrot and beans sprinkled with peanuts and served in a nice deep bowl, was fresh and frighteningly spicy. (A general warning: dishes here are not designed to suit the Western palate). The pad thai, usually a dull choice, was also superb: served with a traditional latticed pancake of egg on top, the noodles beneath were luscious and slippery, spliced with beansprouts and fat, sweet prawns. The only minor disappointment was a plate of overly greasy vegetable spring rolls.

Aside from that, the meal was nearly flawless. It's also inexpensive, making Addie's an uncommon breed in West London. Make this your neighborhood hangout if you live nearby. If not, this is a restaurant worth making the trip to Earl's Court for.

Google rating: 4.4/5

Phone: +44 20 7259 2620

Address: 121 Earls Ct Rd, London SW5 9RL, United Kingdom

Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway · No-contact delivery

Prices: £11-25

Website: http://www.addiesthai.co.uk/