Category:Le Budget 
I have a particular history with Yelo. In fact I don’t really know it under its real name,as N and I only call it ‘the break-up Thai’. For whatever reason it became custom for us to go there when we experienced some kind of break-up in our life,to get drunk on the cheap wine and at the same time enjoy the food. We have been there quite a lot over the past years (one wouldn’t think that there is so much to break up with or –to be fair –get broken up with..) and unfortunately it was about time to re-visit.
The first disappointment however was that our primary goal of the evening (that was to get drunk) was boycotted by the fact that Yelo does not serve any alcoholic drinks at the moment. I forgot to ask why,but we were a bit annoyed by the fact that we had to go and buy a bottle and then got charged 3 pounds corkage charge.
We went to get our wine and then took a seat at one of their communal tables. In this way it is like Busaba Eathai (which,by the way,is just about to open around the corner from Yelo). Give me the choice and I prefer Yelo over Busaba Eathai a 100 times.
The food is maybe not the best Thai food in London but it is consistently good,it’s relatively authentic and it’s very cheap. They don’t have a huge menu,but offer all the classics (without major experiments) and for classics we went.
We started with the Papaya Salad (5.45) (because we always start with the papaya salad). A big portion with (for my taste) too many green leaves,but they came in handy actually in the end to soak up the sauce which was really tasty,tangy and nice. They were slightly stingy on the prawn side,but overall I really enjoyed this plate of food and the fact that it was properly spicy.
The second starter,the Thai Dim Sum (3.95),I would clearly not recommend. The Dim Sum were falling apart already when we got them served –not a pretty sight. Tastewise they were absolutely unremarkable.
Yelo does consistently good Pad Thai (5.45). Again they were not overly generous on the prawns but it was very well seasoned,not greasy and very comforting. Each table has a glass of peanuts on the table for you to add after your own taste. I like this actually.
The Green Curry (5.45) was also really nice and authentic. When I compare it to the green curry I had at Rosa’s a couple of months ago,I would say it was about 100% better. But I think Rosa’s is overrated anyway.
Regarding the atmosphere –they were playing the most annoying music possible (some kind of charts techno pop thing,horrible beyond belief) much too loud to ignore it. It was so bad actually that I had to tell the waitress to change the music –which she did. Good for her!
- Food: 6.5/10
- Ambiance: 5/10
- Service:7/10
- Value for money: 8/10
- Chances of returning:as long as there are break-ups I will be visiting Yelo
- Verdict:extremely good value and very decent Thai.
Good to know of cheap and reasonably authentic Thai places locally. They do seem to have a bit of obsession with those premixed salad leaves though. Can’t remember ever having any lettuce with a papaya salad in Thailand,let alone a pad thai or dumplings.
Yes you are right! they just want it to look more…does not add anything to the dish,rather the opposite. or maybe they think we Europeans want this?
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