The food was ok, service friendly, but the gentleman did not understand everything we said. We ordered the Sriracha Ho Fun noodles, Sikhrong pork riblets, and an appetizer combo platter, all food was ok, nothing exceptional. Overall a positive experience. read more

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Was craving for good Thai cuisine tonight and found Busaba not far from where we're staying. Heaven I'm in Heaven I was in Heaven from the very first bite. The perfect marriage of flavors - tangy, salty, sweet and spicy - tamarind, lime, fish sauce, honey and Thai peppers hit the right spot in my tummy. Had the Som Tam Salad and Calamari to start. Their version of Calamari is very unique. Then followed with Khao Red Pork (rice bowl) - tender juicy pork stewed just right in a sauce reduction. We also had the Tamarind Duck Breast - grilled just right to perfection with juices mixed in honey tamarind sauce. And not to be missed is the Sticky Mango Rice. Ambiance is very modern and nice - dark brown square dining tables and benches that sits many. The concept of sharing food brings this communal seating idea. Servers are very friendly too. I highly recommend this place. read more

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Ambience was pretty good with good lighting. We ordered a green curry and Asparagus fried rice. Asparagus fried rice was yummy although a bit on sweet side. Green veg curry had fresh veggies and would recommend both dishes read more

Busaba Bloomsbury - Green curry, jasmine rice, Asparagus fried rice - Thai Near Me - Bloomsbury, XGL

Came here for lunch on a weekday and seems like this is a great hangout spot for people working in the area with the big communal tables. On some weekdays they have a 25% student discount (don't need to show ID) so I decided to take advantage of that deal. Also they did have some other great £10 lunch deals as well. Got the Classic Pad Thai and wasn't the biggest fan. Although there was quite a bit of food, the pad thai itself was quite bland and I was surprised that they didn't have any spicy chili sauce to go with it, only Siracha. The shrimp was pretty tender and juicy but the tofu was quite tough to chew on, didn't really seem like a tofu. I did appreciate the little shrimp bits in it though that gave it slightly more flavor. Overall, very okay food at Busaba. Would only come back because of the student discount. As a side note, you are not allow to overlay this discount with the lunch deal discount. read more

Busaba Bloomsbury - Classic Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Bloomsbury, XGL

I write these reviews during a pandemic as I have more time and didn't realize they're like a year or so later... My bf and I were looking for a place kind of late for dinner and we found this place open late...walked over...it was beautiful inside but like a lot of the places I visited in London, there was no air conditioning and so it was really hot and uncomfortable (for me at least from a girl coming from Los Angeles where we have AC everywhere since we're always in summer it seems) The people were very nice but service was painfully slow...it took forever to get our food to the point I was starting to not be hungry anymore The food was ok...and they forgot our dessert...was really looking forward to mango sticky rice I remember... For the cost and what I got I probably wouldn't go again unless I didn't have other options... read more

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Mediocre soup (tasted like canned tomato soup) on disgusting dirty table. Avoid this place.

While the atmosphere here is great for large groups, (super large, communal tables), the food was lacking in flavor. My go-to dish was the classic pad thai, and compared to the pad thais I've had before, this had to be one of the most bland ones I've tasted. I'm grateful it came with shrimp and tofu for the price, but the noodles themselves were extremely plain and lacked the kick of a pad thai flavor. There were so peanuts thrown on top of the dish, but I'd definetly order something different. read more

Busaba Bloomsbury - Classic pad thai - Thai Near Me - Bloomsbury, XGL

Modernized Thai food. No Thai Red curry. No Tom Yum soup. No Tom Kha soup. Not even any Asian looking diners. The menu is a bit limited. The ambiance has a cool lounge feel to it, I like the interior and music. Most tables are very large ones where you sit two people on each side, kind of like a square communal table. But you sit on benches, with no back rest. Not ideal when you are tired and just want to slide down and relax. The server was very friendly and welcoming. The padang chicken is wrapped in leaves, grilled and has an unusual flavor. The soups are only served in main course size. I had one with coconut, kaffor leaves, fish, shrimp, mushrooms and noodles. I liked and you get a reasonable amount of seafood. I'm conflicted between three and four stars, what makes me not consider returning is the style of seating and the atypical modernized menu. read more

Busaba Bloomsbury - Thai Near Me - Bloomsbury, XGL

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It was great thai food. The pork belly rice is okay, the panda chicken is okay, the pad thai is great and the mango sticky rice is okay but interesting concept. I dont like setting of the place though very weird seatings. Nevertheless, this is recommended to try if you miss or want thai food. read more

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This is a communal table style Thai restaurant. The service is good. The food is good, but watch the heat- it can be hotter than the menu suggests. My daughter took us because it was one of her favorite places during grad school and it definitely had a young vibe. I recommend the prawns and calamari. read more

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I've been to Busaba twice, and both times got the same thing - the lunch thali, which comes with a pot of tea, and then a starter and a main from a list. Both times I've had the spring rolls for starters and the chili beef with egg for the main. Obviously as it's marketed as a thali it all comes out at once. The spring rolls are pretty bad. Both times. This time they came sitting in a half inch of sweet chili sauce, which didn't make them any better. But the other two options from this list didn't appeal to me (chicken wings or chicken satay). I very much like the chili beef, which is mince and rice and similar to something I make at home, but better than mine. They put a fried egg on top, but it's cooked within an inch of its life (and clearly in a huge amount of oil). It's tasty, but there's no runny yolk or anything. So while it seems like it'd be a dry dish, there's enough juice? oil? from the mince to keep things tasty. This meal will set you back £10, which is pretty decent. It's a small portion, though, and a lot of the seating is at uncomfortable communal tables. read more

Busaba Bloomsbury - Bangkok thali with spring rolls and chilli beef - Thai Near Me - Bloomsbury, XGL

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Busaba has an express lunch deal of £9.95 with a rice or noodle dish with a loose leaf tea. Of you are a University of London staff, there is a 10% discount which makes it a good deal. They do get packed pretty fast, so be sure to head in at noon. The service was fast and it didn't take long to wait for food to arrive. The 2 choices of tea were: lemongrass tea or coconut and mango tea. The tea was actually quite nice but also different. I ordered chicken rice, have to say the sauce was so addictive and spice in the rice was properly done! The only downside was chicken pieces were not on the 'tender' end. But overall, still a pleasant experience at relatively cheap price! read more

The flavors are very different from the usual Thai places. The calamari is amazing! I wish I could find this dish in NYC. As the others have said, the atmosphere is great here and I really haven't had a bad/mediocre dish here. read more

Busaba Bloomsbury - Thai Near Me - Bloomsbury, XGL

This Thai restaurant is great for late night bits in Central London. It was easily going and the service was friendly and outgoing. The servers spent time making sure you fell comfortable and asking about your day. The Food was average, but filling. Drinks satisfying without being overly expensive. It's a nice place to hang out with a few friends. I was however searching for a Thai dessert when we found this establishment, but there was none to be had. When you can find them, Thai desserts are delish. Cheers read more

Good food and nice style! I love Thai iced milk tea but they do not have it on menu: wired for a Thai restaurant read more

Busaba Bloomsbury - Thai Near Me - Bloomsbury, XGL

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Lovely food / Great speedy service / nice staff what more could you want? Its a nice place to chill except when its really busy at peak times read more

Busaba Bloomsbury - Interior winter - Thai Near Me - Bloomsbury, XGL

I'm a regular at this spot, due to my lawschool being close by. The food is delicious for a chain restuarant. Will recommend the Pad Thai for sure! My favourite dish here! The price is pricey,but then again, you pay for what you get. However, if you are a student you get discount which is a plus. Overall the place is good. The staff are friendly , food is great, and the atmosphere is cool. read more

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Things I like: -Communal dining -Simple, delicious Thai-ish food -Pleasantly prompt food arrival -Hot soup noodle on rainy days. (Ok, everyday) -Chinese broccoli with garlic and shiitake -Vermicelli noodles Things I don't like: -Chain canteen-style Thai dishes served at independent, high-end Thai restaurant prices -Walking into someone's private lunch party to go ambiguously marked toilets -Having to ask for things more than once Things I reeeeeally don't like: -Having to ask for things more than twice It got to the point where we nearly walked up to the counter to pick up our own waters after watching them sit for over 5 minutes... in an empty restaurant. And lucky for them, there was more than just the soup we ordered to pick at, or I may have caused a Eatthai-riot at my lack of a soup bowl and spoon. "I'LL GIVE YOU FUSION!" Overall? Sigh... you know I'll be back. Damn you delicious soup noooooodle! read more

Average and forgettable. The decor was definitely smooth and sexy for canteen-style eating, although the whiff of burning incense I got at the front door was surely a cardinal sin against the restaurant gods. The service was prompt, albeit confused, as English was not the first language of any of the servers (and not in the rather forgiveable 'I'm from Thailand' way; more in the 'I just got here from Poland' way). I ordered up the pad thai, the first dish I order during any new Thai restaurant experience. It was merely all right and not nearly peanutty enough for my taste. Robert D got some spring rolls which turned out to be quite bland, even with the accompanying sauce, and he ordered the Mee Siam as a main. When asked what he thought of it, he answered, 'It was a bit beige'. There you have it, folks, it was a bit beige. Enough said. read more

Recently visited this place on a trip to London. Let's just say I wish they had a similar place back in Los Angeles! The interior is very elegant and modern - high ceilings, low lighting and large communal tables. My fiancée and I shared dishes. We really enjoyed the Green Curry Fried Rice, a sort of deconstructed Green Curry Chicken which we both enjoyed. We also had the Sen Chan Pad Thai, which was also very tasty and somewhat unique. Finally, the Honey-Ginger Tea was great too. In short, this restaurant is probably not the most authentic, but it's a great modern adaptation of Thai cuisine, set in a great space. read more

The food was so good we had to come back a second time on our one week trip to London. The hostess was happy to see us and helped us right away which was a really nice feeling; usually the host/hostess doesn't make that much of an impression but this made us feel welcomed and excited to be there. Both times coming here the food was fresh, ready quickly, and tasted fantastic. This is a must-try spot. If I lived here I'd be a regular. read more

After all of the hype, I wanted to love Busaba. Really. In spite of the customer service horror stories, I was totally caught off guard by the amiability of the wait staff--but perhaps this was an off day? On to the food. For starters, the Chinese broccoli with garlic and shiitake was just alright....cold and woefully underseasoned. The pad thai with prawns, dried shrimp and tofu was, by far, my fav. There was a lightness to it as well; it felt 'healthy.' The rice noodles are different, but a welcome change from the thicker ones. After eating for the UK and continental Europe, I didn't feel like there was a lump of gloopity glop in my stomach...which seems to be a trend with heavy Thai meals. I would go back for the pad thai. With a group. read more

This is the chilled out older sister of the Wardour St restaurant. You know, the one that's been to college, settled down a little and has a husband now. She's fine with how she looks and enjoys hobbies and a happy work life balance. Not like her upstart, hipster always rushing around younger brother who is just too cool for school. Yep, that's the Store Street Busaba. Store St Busaba is usually less busy, you normally get service that reflects this and you know what, I think it like it more in here. More light in the day, intimate and secluded at night. And it's right by the TCR Odean for that double whammy date night. I know how to treat a lady. But seriously, do yourself a favour and get the Thai Calamari. Kapow. read more

The interior of this restaurant is very sleek with a dark wood finish while alternating candles and Buddha statues line the ceiling. It is dominated, however, by several large communal tables. The food was quite good. My dining companions and I ordered the vegetarian egg rolls and chicken satay to start. For mains, we had the pandan chicken, the green curry chicken, and the green curry fried rice with grilled chicken. Poultry and curry were the main themes this afternoon. The rolls were fairly basic and the chicken satay, surprisingly, didn't come out on wood skewers. On the other hand, the main dishes were all exceptional. They are not afraid of a little chili pepper heat here. While the green curry is spicy, it's not inedible nor overpowered by the heat at all. As with Wagamama, this is a good place for solo diners. Note to my fellow San Franciscan yelpers: Busaba's menu will remind you somewhat of the King of Thai Noodle chain. However, the food is ten times better and the setting is far sexier. read more

I love Thai cuisine and Busaba Eathai did not disappoint! As soon as you walk through the door, the wonderful aromas hit you and, let me tell you, the food tastes as good as it smells. We shared an assortment of starters and each of us enjoyed a different main. The waiting staff were lovely and the food was very quick to arrive. The decor of the place was also gorgeous - dimly lit and intimate. That being said, the majority of the tables are structured so that your party can be seated on a large square table with another party, so for those looking for a romantic one-on-one setting, I'd recommend requesting a table to suit this beforehand. Not the cheapest place in the city, but not the most expensive either - well worth the money! read more

Pad Thai is the official national dish of Thailand and ordering it is a good first test of any Thai restaurant's quality. Unfortunately, Busaba failed this test badly: 1. The taste of Busaba's Pad Thai was simply sour yet bland and dull. 2. The Pad Thai was advertised as "King Prawn Pad Thai". The prawns were all normal size. 3. No apparent effort made to make the dish look appetizing! read more

I've been going to Busaba for way too long. My first trip was 7 years ago to the Wardour Branch with my classmates after our very first lesson at Central St Martins. With its communal dining, we thought it was the best place to hold a large group of people all on one table and no need to book in advance... Since then I would say I've been there at least once every two months. I've been alone (sit at the window seats so you can stare at passers by), on dates (again, sit at window sits for intimacy), and in big groups, all scenarios accommodated equally. I love Busaba because its fast, healthy and tasty. I've been in and out in less than 25 minutes before on a rushed lunch or stayed for an hour and a half for dinner - although its very ethos leans towards people getting in and out fast. Don't be too afraid of the queues - they tend to go down very quickly. And the staff are efficient, and usually always the same (I hate places with a high staff turnover...) I review on Yelp because I want to share my favourite places first - not the ones that piss me off - so you can avoid being pissed off at Busaba by doing the following: - Going for lunch or in the evening eating a little earlier than dinner time (5-6pm and you can pretty much walk in), or a little later. - Going alone at peak times (you'll always getting pulled to the front of the queue where the twosomes have to linger a while longer) - By going to the STORE STREET branch at peak times. The Wardour one at peak time is raucous! and the queue can get ridiculous! - And my final tip - if you are on a budget get the Green Curry Fried Rice. Its a one plate meal, and quite big so you dont have to order a separate curry and rice. I also order tea, because you get this cute little biscuit with it which serves as my dessert (I WAS a student back then...) I often feel like a smug Londoner when I see the queue at Wardour and walk 10 mins round the corner to Store Street where its often possible to waltz in... read more

So during my lunch break from class, one of my classmates suggested eating Thai so we came here. Walking in all the tables are "communal" tables or "group" seating meaning if you're a group of 2 you'll be seated with a bunch of strangers...that's fine. So we get seated quickly. But, I was slightly annoyed the girl next to me was taking up the WHOLE seat...oh well. Anyway we looked the menu and the server came to take drink order. I asked for ice water while my friend, she asked for hot water. After looking at the menu for a bit, we decided on what we wanted to order, but we couldn't get anyone to take our order. We flagged down a server and she said to wait for another server to come. When we got our drinks, a server gave us both ice waters but we quickly corrected him and he went off to fix our order. After we finally ordered our meals, I ordered the Tom yam talay (the mixed seafood lemongrass noodle soup) while my friend ordered the chicken curry. Our food came quickly but I was very disappointed with my food...the noodles didn't go well with the soup plus a majority of the seafood were tiny ugly looking clams. My friend seemed to enjoy her chicken curry though. All in all the food was only ok. The flavor of the soup was good...but the stuff inside the soup was NOT so good. RESULT: will I go back? Maybe...to give it one more chance...but probably not. I'll try someplace else instead. read more

I've been here twice, and I'm not going to lie, I played it safe and ordered the same thing both times: Pad Thai Jay (basically the vegetarian version of Pad Thai). As a general Pad Thai lover, it is super delicious. Everyone I've gone with tends to love their food, and the atmosphere is perfect for a small or larger group, as you sit around large tables and share with other people but have enough space to not feel crowded. The service is very good, and the wine menu has an excellent selection. This is the place to go for Thai if you're on Tottenham Court Road! read more

Busaba Bloomsbury - Pad Thai jay - Thai Near Me - Bloomsbury, XGL

As far as Thai restaurants go this was OK. Don't get me wrong - the food was tasty but I've had much better. I had the green curry fried rice which according to the menu is a new addition. It came with grilled chicken on the side. The sauce the chicken came in was tasty but the chicken was dry. A good thing about this place is that the spice level indicator on the menu is correct! My dish had 1 chilli and it was the perfect level of spice for me. The sad thing about this place is that there is no dessert!!! What?!? It's my favourite course! Service was fine but nothing amazing. I probably won't rush back! read more

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I had the Thai Beef Salad which had a very strong flavor. It was quite good, but one of those dishes that you've had enough of after a few bites due to the strong flavor. The portion size was underwhelming, not a full meal by any stretch of the imagination. The bottled beer was barely chilled - a big disappointment because beer is best ice cold!They have a placemat that advertises 5 off if you download their app. What they don't advertise up front is that you must enter your credit card info into their app then use the app to pay. A bit of a bait and switch because i was not keen to do that. It's not a place I would return to. read more

Busaba Bloomsbury - Thai Beef Salad - Thai Near Me - Bloomsbury, XGL

Came here a few weeks ago. Pretty meh. We sat down pretty quickly for lunch, but waited 50 minutes (not exaggerating, we kept the time) for our food to come out. Another party of four sat across from us about 15 mins after we came in and they got their food before us. When it came out the orders had been mixed up. Service was slow in general. The food was not bland but not very good or authentic. Some dishes were over-sauced and meat was on the drier side. Student discount was a nice element, but I wouldn't go back again. Maybe it was just this location of the chain that wasn't very good. read more

This is not the first busaba I've ever been to, but certainly the worst one. I just moved back to London& wanted to have a quick meal. First thing, no clue of value lunch set anymore. Not sure if Busaba cancelled lunch set all together or just the issue of this one. terrible things follow. I had a hand up for 5 min to get the waiter. Seriously, not even the waiter who was responsible for my table. I ordered ginger beef& a bowl of rice, and I barely saw beef. The meal was hardly warm neither. The portion was so small that don't even have a feeling of had anything. Waited& Waited to get my bill just like when I tried to order things. I'm not saying the waiter was rude, but really he would be much better to be another costumer who shares table with you instead of a waiter. Busaba once was a nice place for lunch, but I am so disappointed this time that may never go there again. read more

Love the simple decor and the menu options were divine. The food was really good--loved the duck and the calamari side. Service was ehh--like half of the orders came out and then it took 5 minutes for everyone else, and they were a bit short with us. Concept is good, but be prepared to wait--and maybe not as worth the wait as you might think. read more

I really enjoyed the food here- so much that we went back a few times. The Thai Calamari was just fabulous, I know I'll be craving it back home and won't be able to get anything like it! Service was prompt and efficient. Food came quickly and was hot and fresh. I thought prices were moderate (2 drinks, 2 apps and 2 main dishes came to about 30GBP). The Pad thai was very good. My husband got the jungle chicken and really enjoyed it. I am not in love with the communal dining. The last time we went we were sat at a table with a handful of tipsy annoying students (one who tried to perfect her alabama accent the entire dinner). Would go back and would recommend. read more

OTG (Oh Thai God). Had a most delectable meal here at Busaba. To start/share you've got to try the Thai calamari- comes out looking like quilted 'curls' but it is delicious- as it the Chinese brocoli (lots of garlic and mushrooms thrown in, almost tastes as if it's been steamed with broth yum yum). I went for the lemongrass chicken and glass noodles in coconut soup. The chicken is quite pungent in flavour so mixes well with the delicate broth. We also ordered the chili cod (great with coconut rice) and one of the spicy beef curries (sorry I'm not plagiarising the menu very well here, the 'given' names for the dishes are a little more appetising and exotic sounding than my bastardising descriptions). Even the juices are exquisite- grapefruit mojito is memorable and even the simple lycee juice and coconut water (having had more than my fair share of coconut at this point...) is superb, if it is as simple as it sounds I might have to try this one at home. Will just quickly mention the decor is very lustrous, high ceiling and seductive all-timber interior decorated with figurative gold shrines on the mezzanine platform (this is nice- don't think chintz). Friendly staff and communal dining on square tables. It fills up quickly... here comes my commercial voice: 'arrive early to avoid disappointment'. Will be back soon for more... read more

I loved this place years ago. several years elapse I STILL love this place. Do you like spicy? Good. I do, too. You might want to start with two of my lip-warming favourites: calamari with black pepper and chilis, and a green papaya salad. The latter might need some more detail: ribbons of green papaya combined with chilis and dried shrimp and cherry tomatoes (and, I'm guessing: fish sauce) for a marinated masterpiece. Yep, I just called a cold salad a masterpiece. It's just THAT good. Although I've snagged bites of crab-sauteed fried rice, broth-based soups and green curries (all good), I always go for a sautéed noodle options. This time round it featured tofu, shrimp and crab meat...extra-spicy. Bad thai? Nah, this is Pad thai. Special shout-outs go to the drink options too: muddled herbs, fresh juices, coconut water, teas...there are a wealth of options for the parched. Communal eating at tables positioned around the restaurant, but none of the personal attention or amazing service is lost through this seating arrangement: both servers and manager popped by to ensure we were enjoying our meals, to the point where (with each one bearing a glass of water) we had 8 glasses on the table. Hydrated Thai restaurant? Thaidrated! Yelp note: the décor here is nice, but almost *too* over-designed (Gerbera daisies and tea lights floating in the entrances, incense burning in carved holders) that I find the signs indicating an entrance hard to find as it's made to artistically mimic the lines and curves of Thai script. Combined with the flat wood doors, it can be a challenge finding the entrance / bathroom doors (helpful note: it's a bright orange font that runs north/south along the door). read more

A good option for Thai food from this small London chain. The other I've sampled is near St Christopher place, and attracts basically the same review. Food well prepared, sensible portion sizes, service generally good, prices reasonable. Be aware seating is typically "communal" (shared tables) read more

How can I forget this classic meeting place for a very close friend and myself. Whenever we plan to meet its always Busaba's, the Store Street franchise. This has been going on for over 3 years now. I tick mark everything about this place, from the very efficient service, to the somewhat spicy but tasty food, to the decor and even its seating arrangement. The seating for me a powerful element of the restaurant and its what makes eating such an enjoyable ritual. I've had quiet a good chat with my neighbour diners. Pandan Chicken my favourite Lemon and mint juice to add exotic-ness My friend and myself will catch up for more again, on another occassion at Busaba. read more

MMMMM this thai place is exquisite. I love thai food so I may be biased, but I think this restaurant will convert the most faint hearted of foodies. Just make sure you don't order anything too spicey, it may blow you away slightly! The pad thai is my favourite main dish, it is around £6/7 pounds but totally worth it. Go for the prawn one, or if you are a veggie the tofu one is totally good aswell. For starters have some fo the squid dishes, they are always good. And you won't get food poisoning, trust me. The decor is very chic, but I like it. The crowd in there can generally ascribe to this look too, but ignore any pretentious folk and concentrate on the food. You can eat very well for under a tenner. And if you don't mind waiting, the evenings and great fun for general atmosphere. read more