Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Regional Thai cooking, not tourist-friendly approximations.
Supawan is one of London's more focused Thai restaurants, rooted in the southern cooking of Phuket rather than a catch-all menu. Chef-owner Wichet Khongphoon's dishes, including slow-cooked pork belly and dad's beef curry, have built a loyal N1 following. Booking is easy, the price is fair, and the warm service makes it worth the trip from King's Cross.
If you're choosing between Supawan and one of the more polished Thai restaurants in central London, the comparison isn't really close for a certain kind of meal. Supawan, on Caledonian Road in N1, is rooted in the cooking of southern Thailand, and the kitchen's confidence in that regional focus sets it apart from the broader, please-everyone menus that dominate the city's mid-range Thai scene. This is a better choice than most Thai restaurants in Zone 1 if you want food that has a clear point of view.
The room is colourful and casual, with enough personality to feel considered without tipping into the decorative clichés that often define Thai restaurants in London. At night, the dining space expands into the florist's next door, which shares the same ownership, so the venue has a slightly different shape depending on when you visit. The service team is warm and engaged, which matters in a neighbourhood restaurant where the repeat custom is clearly part of the business model. The atmosphere runs jolly, helped along by house-infused gins and a kitsch cocktail list that takes itself just seriously enough. For an explorer looking for depth and context, the room itself signals something: this is a chef-owner's project, not a chain concept.
The menu draws from across Thailand but is anchored in the south, where chef-owner Wichet Khongphoon grew up in Phuket. That regional grounding shows up in the heat levels and the use of seafood. The moo hong, a slow-cooked pork belly from Phuket, is one of the dishes to order without deliberation. The kung sarong, crispy prawns wrapped in wheat noodles, is the kind of street-food-derived dish that rewards ordering. For something fiercer, the fiery salads are well worth it, including a green mango version with dried shrimps, cashews and peanuts. The 'dad's beef curry' with roasted coconut and pea aubergine is another kitchen-specific recommendation. Vegans have real options here: the laab aubergine, described as silky and umami-laden, is a highlight rather than an afterthought. Round things off with black sesame or coconut ice cream if the heat has built up.
Supawan sits at 38 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DT, a short walk from King's Cross, making it direct to reach from most parts of the city. Booking is easy relative to the competition: this is not a restaurant where you need to plan weeks ahead, though booking ahead for evenings is sensible given the loyal following the restaurant has built. The format is casual dining, and the price range sits well below the ££££ bracket of London's formal restaurant tier. The wine list is short but chosen with spice in mind, which is the right call. The cocktail programme leans into fun rather than technique, and the house-infused gins are a reasonable place to start.
Yes, with clear conditions. If you want technically ambitious tasting menus, look elsewhere. If you want southern Thai cooking with genuine regional specificity, a warm room, and food that holds up to repeated visits, Supawan delivers at a price point that makes the decision easy. It has earned a loyal following in a competitive neighbourhood, and the expansion into the florist next door is the kind of practical detail that tells you the restaurant is working. For food-focused diners who want depth rather than spectacle, this is one of the more satisfying Thai restaurants in London.
See the full comparison below for context on where Supawan sits against London's wider restaurant field.
Further reading: London hotels | London bars | London experiences | London wineries
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supawan | Easy | ||
| CORE by Clare Smyth | Modern British | ££££ | Unknown |
| Restaurant Gordon Ramsay | Contemporary European, French | ££££ | Unknown |
| Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library | Modern French | ££££ | Unknown |
| The Ledbury | Modern European, Modern Cuisine | ££££ | Unknown |
| Dinner by Heston Blumenthal | Modern British, Traditional British | ££££ | Unknown |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Yes. The expanded evening space — which takes over the neighbouring florist under the same ownership — makes Supawan more group-friendly than its daytime footprint suggests. For parties of six or more, contact them ahead of time to confirm layout. The sharing-friendly menu format works well for groups, and the cocktail list keeps things lively.
It works well for a low-key celebration where atmosphere and food quality matter more than formal ceremony. The room is colourful and the service is warm rather than stiff, so it suits birthdays or informal anniversaries better than milestone dinners where you want white-tablecloth formality. If the occasion calls for something more composed, look at The Ledbury or CORE by Clare Smyth instead.
Yes. The casual, welcoming room and a service team described as warm and eager make solo dining comfortable here. The counter-style informality means you won't feel marooned at a table for two. It's a sensible choice for solo diners who want a proper meal rather than a quick bite near King's Cross.
Start with the moo hong — slow-cooked Phuket-style pork belly — and the kung sarong, crispy prawns wrapped in wheat noodles. The chef's dad's beef curry with roasted coconut and pea aubergine is a strong call for a main. Finish with black sesame or coconut ice cream to cut through the heat. The southern Thai dishes are where the kitchen's background shows most clearly, so prioritise those over the broader menu.
For southern Thai cooking with similar regional specificity, Som Saa in Spitalfields is the closest comparison. Kiln on Beak Street focuses on northern Thai and Burmese border cooking — a different region, but the same commitment to sourcing and technique. If you want a more polished setting without sacrificing Thai cooking quality, Kolae in Borough Market is worth considering. Supawan's edge is the Phuket-rooted menu and the atmosphere on Caledonian Road, which has more local warmth than most central options.
Book at least a week ahead for evening slots, more for weekends. The dining room expands at night to include the florist's next door, which adds capacity, but the restaurant has a longstanding local following that fills tables consistently. Walk-ins may work at quieter lunch services, but don't rely on it.
Casual is fine. The room is colourful and relaxed, and the crowd reflects that. There's no dress expectation that would rule out jeans — this is a neighbourhood Thai restaurant with personality, not a fine-dining room.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
