Stumbled across this walking towards King Cross! It's quite quaint and divey, I loved how authentic it felt. A reservation is recommended but I got lucky and was able to get seated right away! The duck spring rolls were the highlight because it was unique, and something I've never had before! The sauce complimented it well, and reminded me of pecking duck in a spring roll form. The pad see ew was a little bland, the chicken was dry and there wasn't much flavor. Would probably try something else if I come here again! read more

Paolina's Thai Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

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Great little hole in the wall spot for an intimate dinner. Reasonably priced and good portions. Free water is always a plus. Beware: if there are 3 peppers next to the dish it is SPICY. Tried the larp gai and I like to think I've got a pretty high spice tolerance and my lips and tongue felt like active fireworks for the following 45 minutes. Still yummy though. read more

Paolina's Thai Cafe - Chicken Pad sieyu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

Pretty good food. Spring rolls aren't anything special, lacking filling and flavor but nice & crispy. The dipping sauce was good. The pad Thai was decent. The pad kee mao was flavorful but very oily and too spicy. It's a spiciness that builds quickly so after a few bites it just tastes spicy and like nothing else. They don't serve alcohol and charge £3 per person to bring alcohol in. Be prepared to wait and to not hear anyone at your table. It's a very small (and loud) place. read more

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I love it!! We had such a great meal! We didn't have much time so quickly ordered. I had a seafood soup that was incredible! I highly recommend this restaurant! It's cost and everyone including the chef's are very friendly and cook great food!! read more

We love Paolina's! We have ordered takeout multiple times while staying in Kings Cross. Great pad Thai, green curry, steamed dumplings, Tom Yum soup! Oh my! Everything we've tried, we've enjoyed. Haven't eaten in the restaurant - it does have a couple tables out front (outside)... Definitely yummy! Baby says, "It's the best Thai food I have had outside of Thailand." Try it, you'll like it. read more

Enjoyed the food. Did a take out. Could have given 5 stars if f they have given disposable cutlery to go with. I guess they do not do so in London as much as in USA. S read more

Excellent Thai food served quickly and at a great price. Highly recommend. (Limited seating so you may want to book a reservation.)

Paolina's is a charming local Thai Cafe great for a hole-in-the-wall dine-in experience. There's a small room in the back with a couple tables for an intimate setting. The food is delicious, and the prices are affordable. Do take the chili warnings seriously, though! Two peppers was a bit too spicy for me, despite having a relatively high spice tolerance for a white guy! Otherwise, though, the fare was enjoyable and the family was friendly and hospitable. Pay a visit! read more

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The food here was very good! The portions were large, service was good. The Tom Yum soup was really excellent. We had a chicken dish and a noodle dish. As good as we have had anywhere. read more

I'm slightly disappointed by Paolina's Thai Cafe. I got takeaway, and while the food itself wasn't bad, it certainly wasn't memorable. Also the portion size was shockingly small, so I came away still a bit hungry. Perhaps I would've gotten more if I had sat in instead of taking it away? However, the most egregious part of the meal was actually when it was being prepared. The kitchen lies exposed to the customers, and it makes for a pretty neat scene while you wait for your food. The one chef that was preparing my food seemed friendly and knowledgeable enough, and my food came out rather quickly. When he was packing my food, he started to make another customer's dish. AT THIS MOMENT, he decided to PICK HIS NOSE, wipe it on his apron, and continued cooking without sanitizing his fingers. I was disgusted and almost had a mind to throw away my food, out of fear that he might have done it earlier without me watching. That one moment has probably turned me off this place for good. Rather disturbing display of the sanitary conditions, or lack thereof, in this one-man kitchen. read more

By far the cutest Thai restaurant I have ever been to in London. The restaurant itself was downstairs and incredibly small and cosy with its medium oak walls and tables. Service was exquisite and staff were of all genders and ages like a family run restaurant. Upon entering I saw the elders preparing the rice and some carrying heavy loads of dirty dishes downstairs to wash. It was like I stepped out of Kings Cross for a little bit and into a Thai family's home. Deep fried tofu This came piping hot, freshly fried so still kept it's lovely silky melting texture inside which balanced well with the thin crispy exterior sides. The peanut sauce was lovely and thick to cling on to the tofu adding a lovely rounded nutty sweetness to it. Tom Kha A coconut based milk soup with galangal and kaffir lime leaves was very fragrant with warming notes of spice. It was filled generously with lovely fresh and plump prawns and mushrooms. Thai green curry chicken This was a lovely addition of the classic dish. It was thick, creamy, complex flavours with all the traditional ingredients of aubergine, bamboo shoots, galangal and more. The chicken was a bit thinly cut but was still very tender. Portion was very small too but quality made up for it. Kang massaman beef This was one of the best varieties we've had being really thick, savoury, rich in flavour with complexity. Unlike some we've had before it wasn't overly sweetened. The carrots and potatoeswere both fork tender and the beef came chunky and soft too. Cashews provided a lovely sweet nutty finish as well as a contrast to the softer textures. Lard na This was also surprisingly good. I somewhat didn't expect fresh Ho fun in a place like this. It was cooked perfectly, slippery, full of bounce and in a lovely soy based gravy seasoned perfectly. It was better than more than half of the restaurants in Chinatown serving Ho fun. They were generous with the prawns and squid which were both tender and plump. Vegetables were fresh and sweet too. Coconut custard & Sweet Sticky rice This has become Ren's favourite dessert. The custard pudding was like an egg flan, subtle in sweetness with a layer of sliced pumpkins for a more diverse experience. The sticky rice had the most comforting texture being chewy and al dente. The slight saltiness to it against the custard was like maple syrup to bacon being the perfect match and balance whilst the condensed milk made everything creamier and sweet Mango and sweet sticky rice This was delicious and without fault. The sticky rice was slightly salty drizzled over with condensed milk to add a layer of creaminess as well as sweetness. The mango was sweet and juicy provided the perfect contrast to balance not only the salt but the density of the dish too. Truly delicious. I love this little cafe so much. Blended amongst other buildings along King's Cross Road it almost feel like a hidden gem. There's no fanciness to it, just all the classic Thai dishes cooked homely, with passion and at reasonable prices. Can't wait to return. read more

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Okay, why isn't there more review on this Thai place located off Kings cross? Oh- my- god. (with Friend's Janice's accent). Delicious thai food freshly cooked right next to you in the store. This place deserves more rave and praise! Don't get put off by the small store front, say hello to a few step down and a few bigger long tables! All their noodle dishes are well made with affordable pricing. Not the cheapest thai, but for what you get, and its portions, it's not a bad deal. Also once saw a group celebrating a birthday dinner here, so, there you go. It is big enough to cater more than 10+ people! Do try their thai ice tea! Yum! read more

Paolina's Thai Cafe - Lard na - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

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This place was a little hidden gem near King's Cross Station that serves up great Thai food at reasonable prices. Be sure to bring your cash though! We stumbled upon this restaurant on Yelp when I was craving something more flavor able amidst the bland Western dishes. It was located very close to our AirBnB so we had to try it out! The food: we ordered Tom Yum soup, sweet and sour fish (forgot the Thai name for it), and pad see ew. They were all DELICIOUS! I was hungry and was so glad we had everything we ordered. The place and service: it's definitely a hole in the wall, mom and pop shop kinda place. But you know that means a cozy, casual atmosphere. Service was kinda slow to start because they just finished cleaning and getting ready for the dinner crowd, but it was good nonetheless. Overall, highly recommend this place for great tasting, flavorful Thai food! read more

This place has a warm and inviting feel to it. There is nothing fancy about it, but you can see your food being made by one woman up front, who I think might actually be Paolina, and you can tell she makes her food with love. Reasonably priced good food. I came here and picked up takeout but looks like a nice place to gather with friends over good food. read more

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Paolina's. It is simply the coziest, tastiest, most excellent Thai restaurant in London. If you are looking for fresh and well prepared Pad Thai or Pad Se Iew then this is your place. If you're in a pinch and looking for a quick meal then this is your place. If you are looking to feel seen and heard over a bowl of fresh coconut soup then this is your place. If you need to warm up your paws after a brisk walk through Kings Cross then this is your place. If you need comfort food after getting a tattoo down the street, well then this is your place. If you need to be cradled and loved like your mama never did, then this is your place. Do not sleep on Paulina's. If you do, well, then that's your loss. read more

if this is the paolina's i think it is, it's really close to dinwiddy house on pentonville road and pretty much the BEST thai food i've ever had. pad see ew, gyoza and chicken satay. AMAZING. humongous portions, and their food was so so good. i went to SOAS for my third year of undergraduate and lived at dinwiddy house. we used to frequent paolina's and sit in their downstairs room w/ the tables that were too close together at least once a week. ok so here's the thing -- the food was good but the ambience wasn't even close by a longshot. and service was always so slow. however, they were SUPER friendly and it was really close to our school. so we returned frequently. paolina's is the type of place you go to all the time with your best friends because it's close to your heart. because it's got comfort food. because they always make you feel welcome and smile big and you leave full and happy. you don't really notice the stained linens or cramped bathroom (which you sortof have to climb your way into) or the fact that your table is pretty much touching the table next to it. you sortof just gloss over all these things. because paolina's is the type of place you can make your own "spot". and who doesn't love having a restaurant to call their own spot. read more

Its a nice little family run Thai joint. Not a place you would generally come across but its cheap and relaxed. It ain't a chain so don't expect a fancy decor however, it great to grab a quick bite (something after work maybe). There is a inner and outer searing area, inner can cater for a group of 6 max. seated together, more can do but not ideal, although the place can hold about 30 people in total. They don't except reservations neither do they do delivery's (but yes do have takeaway). If you are unsure what to order - spicy, mild, sweet and sour), do ask as they provide personalised suggestions (which is great). All the meat/seafood dishes availabke can be made in Vegetarian. Last tip, get some cash before popping in to avoid rush for cash machine after a good meal (since they don't accept cards). read more

Cute place with sweet staff especially our waitress who was patient and calm despite how busy it was. I feel bad for the grandma carrying a huge heavy tray of dishes down the stairs by herself, I really wanted to help her but it was back of house and she was smiling so figured she could handle it. The atmosphere kind of reminded me of Thailand somewhat only 30° colder. It's warm welcoming staff and casual seating made you feel at home. The food was a bit hit and miss, the masammam curry was homely and comforting. The Tom Ka also hit the spot and tasted better than an instant soup which is my usual Thai restaurant experience. Many other dishes were generic english 'thai' food that you don't really get in Thailand except for the tourist spots but saying that, the quality was pretty good, nothing was bad so far. The desserts really shone, I can't speak for the authenticity as I rarely ate dessert in Thailand. One in particular, the coconut custard and sweet sticky rice. This dish was one of the best desserts I've ever had. It wasn't exactly complex or fancy, just a simple creamy rice dish but made me feel like a 4 year old Thai kid being treated to home made desert after getting a gold star at school :( Don't come here expecting a gourmet experience, come here expecting to feel at home and welcome, the prices are not too bad but be careful as it can get pretty busy at peak times. read more

So tasty and at a great price. Portions could have been a bit larger, but I wasn't left hungry nor was is disappointed. It's BYOB, but we learned that too late. Would definitely visit this place again should I return to London! read more

I'm a big fan of this place. It looks dingy from the outside, but don't be afraid, walk on in! I absolutely adore Thai food. It's so hard to find a place in central London that is both affordable and serves high-quality food; luckily, this is one of them! I come here at least three times a week. The green curry with vegetables is excellent, and the pad thai with prawns is alright. I also appreciate that the restaurant has an open kitchen, which I'm always a fan of because I'm a real stickler for cleanliness and open kitchens make me feel that the restaurant has nothing to hide. Tip: this place is cash only. read more

A friend who has lived in London for ages brought us out for one of our first restaurant meals after moving here from Toronto. We were not disappointed! The food was delicious and inexpensive. Plus, we saved money bringing out own beer with no corking fee! I got the prawn pad thai and hubs got chicken pad thai. Both were great. My only complaint (which, really, I could have voiced at the time but didn't) was that my pad thai (1 of 3 we ordered) was much smaller than the orders given to my dining partners. Not sure if that's just because I'm a small woman or if it was an accident. (When I used to live in Guatemala, my portion sizes when I ate out would frequently be "sized to fit" my tiny frame. Unfortunately for me, I eat a lot more than one would expect for my wee-ness!) Luckily, my fiancé had already eaten before we went out so I was able to finish his equally yummy dish. read more

Definitely a hole-in-the-wall, but it was pretty packed on a Friday night, so we figured the locals must be on to something! It's BYOB with a £1 corkage fee per person which is a great deal. We sat outside (two small tables, the rest are inside and downstairs) and ordered Tom Poh Taek soup, Pad Cha Talay (seafood stir fry), Kang Pa (beef curry), and an egg fried rice. The soup was great - hot and sour, with tons of flavor, and very spicy! Absolutely clears out your sinuses but is also delicious from the lemongrass and coconut. If you usually get the same Thai soups, try this one. The seafood stir fry was our favorite dish, while it didn't blow me away, it was very flavorful and actually reminded me a bit of Chinese food in terms of the flavor of the sauce. The beef curry was our least favorite - not as spicy as advertised, and quite boring flavor-wise despite being advertised as hot and spicy. Both curry and stir fry were very "wet" dishes, almost soupy, so hard to eat on your plate. Better really for one person to eat them and you can just add the rice to the bowl, instead of spooning out small portions. But we managed! Overall, I thought it was good Thai food, though I've undoubtedly had better. If I lived in the neighborhood I'd get takeaway here, but frankly I don't see a reason to go out of your way. I'm not sure what I'm missing, but I didn't really see what was so special about it. It is pretty cheap, though the portions aren't huge - you won't have any leftovers. Cash only! read more

So came back here with a larger group (7) the week after I wrote my glowing review. Sadly I feel as though I have to knock it down to three stars, especially if there are more than 4 of you and it's a Saturday. Our issue: we ordered starter platters for sharing and when the food came to our table the waitress said we've had to change some of the food as we've run out. This meant that 4 people in the group couldn't eat 80% of it. I completely understand that these things happen but it's not acceptable to tell people as you serve it. We would have been happy to order something else but by this point it was too late because we had already ordered mains. The mains came and again chicken had been swapped for beef in two cases, luckily this wasn't a dietary issue. At the end the staff had forgotten to include some items on the bill and then asked us for it after we paid. These things happen but I no longer feel as though it deserves 5/5. Will definitely be returning on a quieter evening with 1/2 other people. read more

This is a wonderful little spot just round the corner from the Kings Cross Thameslink station. Easily located by its bright yellow A-board, once you're up the steps, you're facing the chef. The family that run this place are really friendly and accomodating. The place is tiny; the downstairs section can probably fit 20 people at a maximum, and fills up v.quickly. However, it all makes for a cosy, convivial atmosphere. The menu gives you loads of options and overall the food is fantastic (if perhaps not as spicy as I have had elsewhere). The don't have an alcohol license, which means you can bring your own (corkage is 50p per person)! Brilliant! read more

Paolina's Thai Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

Don't be fooled by the dodgy exterior, this place does a banging Chicken Pad Thai! It's very cheap but the food is really good quality and the little old couple who run it are super friendly. If you are in the area, this is the only Thai place to go. read more

Paolina's Thai Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

This small family run Thai restaurant is among the better places if you have to eat in the King's Cross area. It doesn't look very impressive from the outside (I wonder why they don't fix the exterior), but the inside dining hall is fairly clean and comfortable. The choice of traditional Thai food is quiet considerable and the quality is generally fine. It's certainly not high end, but probably fair given the prices. Most main course meals cost around £3 - 5. read more

When I first entered this establishment (I can't call it a restaurant) I thought I might find some old sex-workers sitting in the corner, eating thai food before their shift on the streets of Kings Cross. It's charming, in a slightly run down and uncared for sort of way, but don't worry cos it's clean and safe (no food poisioning just yet). Average Thai food if you can look past the exterior, interior and strange set up. Not for dates. Not somewhere I'd go out of my way for. But it's alright if your stuck for anything else to eat. Recommend the Pad thai...it's pretty decent. read more

The food was really delicious and reminded us of the great time we spent in Thailand.every single dish was authentic and taste great. On top of that the price paid at the end was really nicely low . We will be back for sure read more

Hole in the wall thai walking distance from kings cross station. Just visiting for a week to london but decided to come back here for a second pad seeyu beef and banana fritter with ice cream. As good as it gets for cheap eats in London from what i have seem this week. The only drawback is that things could move a bit faster in terms of service and food. Both times i was there an hour although i ate and wanted to pay quickly read more

Best Thai food in London. I don't think you could get any better. Everything is homemade, fresh and well cooked. I've been going almost once a month and I'll never tire of the starter platter. It's BYOB aswell with £2 per person corkage which always helps! Don't miss out on this one! read more

Delicious, authentic Thai food. One of the best in London. Outstanding service. A favourite to eat-in or take away. Hidden gem!

Paolina's Thai Cafe is my favourite in Kings Cross. The dilapidated exterior hides a gem of a place that is pretty much off the radar. If you don't know it, you wouldn't give it a second glance, but once you have been you will back for more. It is an extremely friendly, family run restaurant with the emphasis on no frills. That doesn't mean that the quality of the food is compromised - far from it. I have eaten there countless times and the food has always been magnificent - the green curry is hot and spicy, the starters fantastic, and it is very reasonably priced. Add to that the fact that you have to bring your wine/beer etc, it makes an excellent alternative to fast food when you are on a night out. Payment is cash only, although you can usually pay for dinner out of the change in your pocket! read more

I really like this place! There's a lot of Thai in London. There's a lot of posh thai in London. Then there's this place -- authentic humble thai restaurant. I was looking for a low key but delicious place near Kings Cross (there's SO many fancy restaurants out there, that are GOOD, but not for an every day budget) and found this place on Yelp. Didn't disappoint. It just *feels* thai. The food was delicious and service didn't complain about our million substitutes. Friendly staff and I filled my hankering of thai ice tea that I've been having for a while! read more

Went here via other yelp revues and we weren't disappointed. Fresh food, great flavor. Highly recommended

alrighty, my coworker recommended this place as a cheap eat. it was cheap and down n' dirty family run establishment. it's no nonsense thai cooking. no pad see ew here. the menu is largely under £5 and the portions are hefty. i ate it all, but it was missing a kick. it ain't no king of thai (sf), but for london standards it's good value for money. directions for first comers: 1.) order you dish. 2.) take a seat in the back. 3.) pay when your finished. read more

Not necessarily the cheap spot it once was, but truly fresh and flavorful Thai food made in a seriously tiny open kitchen right at the entrance. You can see that they know what they're doing and not skimping/shortcutting on any of the layers of flavor that makes Thai so wonderful. Main dishes of curry range between £6 and £9 depending on your meat, but this adds up as the portions are not huge, and don't include rice which is £3+ Regardless, the food is yumminess, so that's the price you have to pay! read more

First time coming here and it was so good! Didn't wait long and the pad Thai was so good! The hot and sour soup is also good, considering going back for dinner as well!! read more

Cheap and cheerful. Probably not the highest-quality ingredients, but one guy in a tiny kitchen making good Thai food to order. Casual and cheerful and low-key. There is nothing not to like if you want some home cooking. read more

Maybe I'm used to the thai food here in the states, but I was pretty disappointed with the Pad Kee Mao, Drunken noodles, the noodles were bland and flavorless. read more

Very, cute neighbourhood resto. Simple, fresh food served by sweet staff. Not fancy and tiny, but the price reflects that. Definitely worth it. read more