Paolina's Thai Cafe in Islington

Delicious pad Thai and Thai red curry. Amazing flavours and fresh ingredients.

Tasty dishes and great value for money. Hidden gem.

I was a little disappointed with this resturant despite a friend telling me how good it was , its very overpriced with a standred soup costing £8.99 and stir fry s going up to £20 and a chickhen paid Thai costing £15. I had the paid thai and the chicken was very dry this came first then the soup and my firmed dish came 10 mins later , I felt rushed to eat as both dishes was served at the same time making it overwhelming and leaving the soup cold. Its a small confined place and don't serve alchole so be prepaird to bring some. The place has a lot of potential however dident live up to expectations unfortunately I reallt wanted to love this place but it feel short and missed the mark.

I've probably had the tastiest Thai food here. Incredibly authentic and delicious menu. What we didn't know was that you could bring your own drink - smart🙂 Since the place is not big, it makes the experience super good.

So good. Had the prawn pad tai. Delicious

Grabbed takeaway recently and it was so good, must come back for dine in sometime, satay skewers and duck red curry were just like I used to get when living in Thailand. Can’t wait to make my way through rest of the menu!

This place is a hidden gem in a busy city. The food is delicious, the staff are so Friendly and helpful. They accommodate dietary requirements as well. They have such a cute and cozy restaurant. We visited here twice when visiting London and would highly recommend to everyone. One of their staff Boyd made us the best Mango Sticky rice.

Paolina Thai Cuisine is a quaint little restaurant with authentic Thai food (staff were speaking Thai and food tasted just like in Thailand!). We ordered the Mixed Platter for 2, Som Tum (papaya salad), Pad Kee Mau and a Tom Yum with mushrooms. Portions were reasonably sized (especially the noodles!) and the amount of food was perfect for 3 adults (albeit one of the three was a bit more stuffed...). The Pad Kee Mau had the perfect amount of spice and had generously chunky pieces of chicken, carrots, mushrooms and zucchini. We asked for the papaya salad to be less spicy and this request was accommodated for as it was just mildly tingly. The mixed platter had a great variety of appetisers and there was no loose link in the choices provided. My personal favorites were the fish cakes, mini spring rolls and the chicken satay. My parents loved the sesame prawn toast! Staff here were all super friendly and were attentive when checking up on us and making sure our table was cleared. There is a toilet downstairs and each table comes equipped with a large hook behind to hang coats/bags. One thing to note is that there are very limited seats available; it's probably worth calling ahead and booking a table. Prices here are reasonably affordable especially considering it is in London and the food is authentic. It can also be quite loud when seated downstairs due to the close proximity between some of the tables. However, this doesn't take away from how delicious the food is and I would totally recommend popping in for a meal 🥶

Great super friendly restaurant. We came at opening and didn't have reservation on a Friday night. They said we can come but finish at 7pm as there was a booking which was reasonable. The staff super friendly and attentive, very helpful and kept checking on us and taking away our empty plates throughout the service. The place is a very cute charming place, the open kitchen and small space adds a lot of character. The food 10/10, got papaya salad, soft shell crab, satay and.. red curry the name i can't remember. The soft shell crab curry was amazing, very subtle and deep flavours. A lot of layers and depth that unravel gradually, top notch. My father whose worked and travelled Asia and has visited Thailand a lot said this has genuinely great food

One of the best pad thai outside thailand and the thai tea with milk was absolutely delicious! Servers were lovely and really friendly. After a long day of travelling, this food made my day much better. Would 100% recommend and will visit again for sure ✨️

lots of delicious options. the massaman curry was delicious super tender chicken. we also had a lovely pad thai. the prawns were massive and tender, maybe a tad bit salty but that’s down to personal preference. it’s also byob with a £3 per person corkage fee which is good because the dishes are priced around £14-18.

We booked a table for 6:30pm on a Tuesday as previously we couldn't walk in at a similar time. The restaurant is quite small and was quite busy at this time. Food was very tasty and didn't disappoint. We didn't take advantage of the BYO option but will do in future. Service was good and I have no complaints about the overall experience and will definitely return.

Visited for the first time with family today. Small-ish but very personal place to eat ,topped up with great service! Got to taste some really delicious and authentic Thai food. We had the mixed platter, special fried rice, panang vegetable curry, stir fried aubergine. Really had a nice time and will definitely be back again! Thank you !

Excellent food - the pad Thai is a bit sweet. I would recommend not eating that, but the rice associated food is excellent.

El servicio no es bueno. Reservé una mesa con dos semanas de antelación para mi cumpleaños de amigos que viajaba desde Cambridge. Aunque mi mesa había sido confirmada por teléfono no se acomodarían a nuestra reserva. La comunicación del personal sobre esta cuestión también fue muy deficiente.

We had a wonderful Christmas party here and the food was absolutely amazing. A big thank you to Boyd and Joe who organised our party . The chefs and staff are so friendly . We sat in the back of the cafe and there were 20 people and it was so comfortable and just a fantastic Christmas party . Thank you so much Paolina .

Excellent food at a great price. Bring your own wine/beer. Good vegetarian options.

Very tasty food. Loved it very much. It was very tasty. I ordered shrimp with chicken. It is a family restaurant. Very Nice people!

Just close tot our Hotel. The food was very good. Authentic Thai cuisine It is a smal restaurant runned by a family. The atmosphere is like a home, where you can see and smell the food being prepared. Certainly we will revisit it. Chapeau!

Solo puedo añadir a lo que muchos otros críticos ya han dicho. Una de esas joyas escondidas, no se ve como mucho desde el exterior, pero es un lugar tailandés muy agradable en un área que generalmente es un poco corto en opciones de comida decente (sin cadena). Personal amable, comida bien cocinada con porciones decentes. Es un restaurante/café bastante pequeño, por lo que puede funcionar bien para algunos, menos bien para otros.

Easily the best Thai in London. You need to book now though, too popular to just walk in!

Loved this place! What a find. If you need a low key, cheap delicious eatery. This is for you

Never disappoints, the food is always fantastic and so full of flavour. The only negatives being that it's a small place that gets very full so you may have to wait for a table and the staff are always busy!

¡Alguna de las mejores comidas tailandesas que he probado en el Reino Unido! Sin duda recomendaría a cualquiera, pero aconsejaría reservar con antelación.

This is a great little restaurant - it's the 3rd time I've been and I really enjoy it. Very small, open kitchen, great food and good value. I had a mixed platter starter with my friend, and a pad thai main course. Both delicious. I would recommend it but would advise booking. This is quick and easy to do and avoids disappointment..! It doesn't serve alcohol but you can take your own for a corkage fee. Thanks for another lovely meal.

Nothing to say but the fact that’s it’s the best Thai food in London. It makes Wagamama look pathetic. Very busy place so book in advance. We ordered so much food and the prices were reasonable. The food is made with love and has that street food / home feel. 5 stars

A small restaurant with great food. The restaurant was recommended by a friend and a group of us came. We were all impressed with the quality of the food. I had prawn in filo pastry and the fried cod in red curry. Very happy with my choice. I would have love to add some veg with my meal though. Would happily return.

Ordered a takeaway and it was sensational! So reasonably priced and super fresh. Immediately booking a table to take my friends next month 😍

If you want to sit around hungry for 40 minutes while people who came in and ordered way after you eat it's 5 stars.

A nice and cozy place. Ideal for a fast lunch. The ingredients are fresh and well treated

Great food, great prices and a family run vibe :) 10/10!

One of the best Thai restaurants I’ve been to in London. Service was great. Food was even better. So tasty!!!

Was craving Asian food and was so happy to come across this place. My partner and I shared a Prawn Pad Thai, Tom Yum Soup and Stir Fried Basil Chicken and Rice. The portion sizes were good, the Pad Thai was big and there was a decent amount of chicken that came with the rice. Soup was simple and yummy. Food came out pretty fast and the prices are very reasonable. The restaurant has a nice vibe and is quite spacious when you go in! Would definitely recommend.

It looks so tiny from the outside, but they have an underground seating area and the food is amazing! Food service was very fast.

Excellent Thai food...authentic!

Great place, small restaurant we came early as we didn't have a booking, managed to get a table as we arrived at 6pm. You can bring your own booze which ia great they charge a £3 corkage which is fair enough. Food is great I've been here a few times can't complain, definitely come back again.

Best Thai restaurant around Kings Cross! No arguments. Fresh and tasty authentic Thai food, with friendly service. The spices and flavours in a great combination with fragrant herbs, and the chilli is satisfyingly hot spicy as it supposed to be! Thank you for the great food!

I loved the food and the service was quick. But the sitting area could be bigger. The table was a bit small for all the dishes to go on to!

We ordered Panang Curry with steamed rice and Tom Yum soup. We enjoyed both and portions were big enough for two people.

authentic food and great service

Mainly MSG. They said: if you want authentic Thai food, maybe you should go to Thailand. Yep. I lived there for a while. Good atmosphere, awful food.

Everytime i got to King’s Cross i have to eat something here! This must be the best Pad Thai I have ever found in London! Great seasoning. The fried prawns( not sure if it’s fried prawn) tastes better than it looks. But will not recommend Tom Yum.

The best Thai food I have ever had. Flavor, textures and spices in just the right measure, truly incredible. I have come to London on a trip, and I think I will remember this restaurant all my life, it has been spectacular!! Congratulations to the staff, cooks and the very friendly and pleasant waitress.

Los asientos subterráneos estaban un poco fríos y ruidosos para mí, así que la próxima vez lo intentaré arriba. Los sabores estaban bien. ¡Tamaños de porción generosos! ¡Tengo que probar el curry verde tailandés la próxima vez! El personal era amable, aunque había un límite de 90 minutos en nuestra mesa.

Delicious food! Warm atmosphere. I highly recommend it.

Delicious, grade A ingredients. Clean, show kitchen, excellent service ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Authentic, home made dishes lovingly made by this family run restaurant. Forget the 'chains' and come here for the best Thai meal you'll ever have. We ordered the prawn pad Thai, red curry, fish and a selection of the starters - all were so tasty and flavoursome. Great value, especially since it's BYOB. For central London, this is a no-brainer destination. Yummy. 😋

Charming, good value, and authentic.

Had 2 of the best Thai dishes I’ve ever had. Go now, right now so so so good. Everything sounded good, looked good. I’d go here every day if I could. It’s a little hole in the wall, these places always have the best food. Absolutely delicious!

Best Thai food I have found in the area. Super reliable, always delicious. Amazing portions and really great to get delivered! The Panang is brilliant. Also love the boxes they send the food in, super nice. Keep it up!!

What a spot! Terrific, cozy vibe. Amazing servers and delicious Thai. The Panang and pad Thai did not dissapoint. It’s hard to find tasty, reliable and affordable Thai in London - but Paolina does it all :)

Amazing hidden gem, lovely restaurant and good service, a definite must visit!

Just had a take away from here and it was delicious! Papaya salad is very refreshing and the mango sticky rice is unreal!

Excellent food, I am gluten free and they pointed out all dishes I could have! The red curry was delicious and the pad thai never disappoints! Note: they don’t serve alcohol on the premises!

Simply exquisite Thai food, stupendous value, and friendly staff. Best Thai food I've ever had, and trust me folks, I've eaten a whole lotta Thai food! We had a starter, two mains, a portion of rice and two sodas came to £44 including a 12.5% tip. A true bargain for London!

Tucked away in a little corner, 6 minutes away Kings Cross Station, this place serves lovely Thai food! Had the Pad Cha and Egg Fried Rice, absolutely loved the flavours. ❤️ Very cozy and homely ambience.

Great value BYOB with cosy downstairs space and friendly service. The food was delicious - AND THEY HAVE TOD MAN PLA FISHCAKES! They will put your white wine or beer in the fridge to keep it cool.

Absolutely amazing food! Authentic Thai

If this has not been recommended to me I would have walked straight past this gem of a restaurant! Whilst simple small this place defo should not be under estimated. This had to be the best thai food I've had in years. 10/10

They are super nice, the place is small and cozy. The kitchen is very good and you see how they cook everything. We ate two people for 40 pounds. But I would definitely recommend it. ASK TO BE CHARGED THE PRICE THEY SET FOR WHAT YOU HAVE CONSUMED, if not, they will charge you the tip like the United States, it should not be allowed.

Amazing food! it is proper homemade thai food. The setting is very modest but it kind of adds to the authenticity of the experience. Highly recommended!

Waiter was a bit rude and was trying to ask us to move to a two table as there was two of us sitting at a 4 table. I was confused because the restaurant was empty. For the starters we had the squid which was nothing special, tasted out of packaging and had no garnish it just came with a sweet chilli dip. I got chicken noodles for my main. It was okay, the noodles were a bit over cooked for my liking and it did taste a bit sweet. The bean sprouts were also raw which was a huge no no

Absolutely delicious food cooked fresh on the premises and to order .. and lovely staff .

Great service and very authentic good! Highly recommend the massamam beef and tom kha!! Will definitely be back again. Friendly reminder to reserve beforehand

Downstairs seating. Authentic Tai restaurant. Starters are circa £7 a dish and mains where you choose the meat to go with your stir fry ingredients is £9 a dish. Tap water is on the table when you arrive but there is a £3 a person BYOB policy in place. There are a few newsagents nearby to pick up booze as a few dishes are listed as spicey so it could come in handy. Service is friendly and fairly quick but payment was haphazard. Dish was served looking wittingly watery but the juices were sucked up by the rice and the meal tasted very decent and was filling. For the price it was a very decent meal.

Great little Thai restaurant! Our food was delicious and authentic, and served quickly. Will definitely be back!

Food 100 points Service 120 points You can have a hot and delicious meal in London So happy 5 points recommended

This is a hidden Gem...Wonderful small intimate restaurant and the food is totally 5 *. Lovely atmosphere , friendly staff and well priced...a must go to....

Can't recommend this place enough. Food and service are both first rate and atmosphere is great also. No liquor license but you can bring your own wine/beer etc. Brilliant restaurant!

Literally the best thai food I've ever had in london. The Pad See Ew was authentic (which is rarely the case elsewhere in london) -- I was so impressed. I got the vegetarian option and it was super flavourful. The potions are also perfect. Pad thai & sticky mango rice were also top notch. I ordered take out directly from the Paolina app and although it took a while to arrive (it was still hot!), it was incredible, so pleased with my new go-to!!!

BYO. Food was lovely. Service could be a little bit slow if you did need a waitress but it was very busy so guess it's popular.

Such a great informal thai restaurant. All the food is delicious and fresh. This time we shared a mixed starter if hot crispy fried treats. Followed by a perfect pad Thai, a creamy curry and a juicy chicken Stirfry. one of the few BYOB places left which helps keep the cost low. Highly recommend.

Awesome food in a quirky little setting

I have ordered a soup for take-away - it was ready in less than 5 minutes, staff was friendly, and my dinner turned out to be DELICIOUS! I have not enjoyed this kind of soup so much in a very long time - I hope to come here again sometimes in the future and try other dishes :-)

I'm really short on stars. Definition hidden gem. So good and such a nice restaurant! I want to go again tomorrow

I think this has to be my favourite restaurant in London from now on. Food was amazing and I loved the cozy atmosphere. When I arrived at the restaurant, I thought it was full but in the back they have a few more tables in a small wooden room. Hard to find places like this in such a big city. Hidden gem!

had a green curry, it was good!

The green curry was so delicious. I'd come back just to have it again 😍

During my 3-day stay in London, I went there twice! A cozy place - but the only thing that counts here is the food, which was absolutely amazing! Very nice staff, the whole team is smiling, you can feel the family atmosphere ;) 5 stars is not enough! I recommend it 😍

The brown rice is delicious in this place. The vegetarian dishes are good. The mushrooms should be cooked more time because inside they was completely raw.

What a gem of a place you can easily walk straight past it. Had a takeaway the Green Curry reminded me of holidays past. Very reasonable and will be going back again. Tonight in fact.

This is a lovely authentic Thai restaurant, busy with customers and staff - very small inside and a bit cold where we sat. I had the crispy cod with red curry sauce, delicious! A little pricey given rice not included at £13.95 but super tasty. They applied corkage to all 5 of us despite only 3 drinking wine, but amended the bill. Noisy due to it being small and busy, but the food most definitely won't let you down.

Authentic Thai food at great price

The food here was absolutely perfect! Such a cosy place. My friend who is from London recommended me this place and I will definitely come back again when I come back to London.

Siamo tornati dopo quattro anni e confermiamo, è buonissimo!! Posto piccolo ma molto autentico. Consiglio i primi (pad se ew top!) Conto assolutamente valido, abbiamo preso due primi, un curry di pollo, degli spiedini satay e speso 40 pound. :) grazie mille!

Good food and BYOB. Can’t fault

This is my go-to place for nice, cozy Thai cuisine in London. The food never disappoints! They have every classic Thai dish like pad Thai and green curry. You can see the amazing chef cooking in the kitchen and the vibe definitely brings you back to Thailand.

Very friendly staff, happy faces and BEAUTIFUL FOOD 😍

Best Thai food I have had in London at reasonable prices and with a cosy ambience.

Quite expensive when it was just lunch and no alcohol purchased. We shared a starter and then a main meal each + rice. Over £45. Not in the very best place. Area is run down

I'm telling you that this is one hidden gem hidden away With excellent food BYOB Cheap prices too You must give this Thai Restaurant a try I had the Prawns they are to die for

Not a great experience here. The food is okay, but there’s much better Thai food elsewhere. Service is a problem — I came on Friday lunchtime which was not very busy, but the staff were very inattentive despite the small crowd. Had to wait at the counter for a few minutes just to pay the bill, with some of the staff noticing but completely ignoring my presence! One of them eventually seemed quite annoyed by my presence, and came up to ask me to stand away from the counter while waiting for my takeaway — I had to suggest to her to perhaps take my payment, otherwise I was more than ready to leave!

Authentic thai food in the heart of London. Service was also great.

Pad Thai is perfect as the noodles have a bit firmness, which just right for me. Small plates are nice as well.

I went with my friend as we live just around the corner, the food was amazing and the servers gave their recommendations which were lovely. Perfect for the price point will be going back x

Such good food, staff are all lovely and attentive, cozy vibe! Also byob which is handy - overall really well priced and delicious

A fairly small restaurant with good service and a polite waiter. It gives a feeling that this is a traditional and family business although i did not confirm with the staff. We ended up with a very flavorful plate. I ended up with the rice inside the soup and it was the correct decision. For a non spicy choice it had a bit of spice to it anyway which in the end was correct flavorwise. The only negative i would find is that the portion is fairly small for the price that we paid. Overall a very good place which i recommend to experience at least once. P.s. I forgot the name of the plate but i am sure if you show them this picture they will know. I dine in 09.11.23

I've tried to find anything that comes close to Paolina's Pad Thai. It's the best I've ever had. I've been coming here for years and it's amazing every time. It's family owned by lovely people. Couldn't recommend it enough! EDIT: Have just come back from Thailand and can confirm this is still the best Pad Thai I’ve ever had.

Forgot to take a proper photo of all the food we ordered. We got the Spring rolls, Tom yum soup, egg fried rice, Squid Nam Prig Pow, sticky rice. The food was super tasty. Absolutely recommend the Squid Nam Prig Pow. The only thing we didn’t like so much was the sticky rice was super hard and dry. The restaurant gets quite busy, we had a reservation but still had to wait a little longer. So make sure you book a table ahead of time.

I love this small restaurant and take away. Wonderful quality food, made and served with the utmost care and attention. I will be back regularly!