Category: Le Budget
Correct me if I am wrong,but to my knowledge the Shepherd’s Bush area is not exactly packed with exciting restaurants. So where eat,when you go to a gig at Bush Hall or the Shepherd’s Bush Empire or see a play at the Bush Theatre? Thank god there is Easrn Kheaw,a small neighborhood Thai restaurant located just next to Bush Hall specializing in cuisine from North-Eastern Thailand.
Easrn Kheaw really is not a pretty place:very run down and I doubt it has once been re-done since its opening in 1993. We were greeted (kind of) by a grumpy old man (most possibly the owner,who – according to their website – stems from the paddy fields of North-Eastern Thailand). Fortunately,during the course of the evening we were served not by him but by a young cheerful fella who was fast and friendly.
Appearance apart,the food is good – their spiced papaya salad northeast style (4.95£) didn’t look very nice but tasted lovely with just the right amount of spice. The gaeng keaw wan kai (green curry with chicken) (7.95£) was extremely spicy,which I personally like but RS was struggling,poor thing! It was quite tasty but – to my disappointment –they added normal purple aubergine instead of the promised pea aubergines. The pla duk pad prik (Stir fired cat fish with fresh chilli,sweet basil,green pepper corns and oyster sauce) (10.95£) was well cooked and the sauce with the green pepper corns tasted very interesting.
Even though the food was nice it did not blow me away and I would not travel through London to eat at Easrn Kheaw,but if I am in the area I would go there again for some solid,authentic and affordable Thai food.
314 Uxbridge Road
London W12 7LJ
020 8743 8930
- Food: 6.5/10
- Ambiance: 3/10
- Service:7/10
- Value for money: 7/10
- Chances of returning: 50%
- Verdict: solid neighborhood Thai without major surprises
I can’t believe you have been to Esarn Kheaw. Rarely anybody I know –let alone food bloggers –wanders there any more. Reading this brings back some memories of your “grumpy old man”. He struck me as a caricature and I thought the service could collapse if it was only him as front of house. I’m in line with you with the food. Good but not a destination restaurant.
@ Skinny Bib –I went to gigs and theater around Shepard’s Bush on several occasions and I think it’s one of the nicest places in this area. A bit hit and miss and of course the grumpy old man,but interesting Northern Thai food which I haven’t eaten anywhere else in London. Didn’t know that you guys use so much dill! (I don’t like dill by the way)