ANGLOTHAI isn’t just another exciting new restaurant in London, it’s the culmination of a life lived between cultures. Opened in late 2024 by Chef John Chantarasak and his wife, Sommelier and Creative Director, Desiree Chantarasak, AngloThai has already earned a Michelin star and a devoted following, and it’s easy to see why.
AngloThai | Photograph: Ben Broomfield
The quietly striking space on Seymour Place is home to food rooted in Thai culinary tradition, yet refracted through a distinctly British lens. Influenced by John’s mother, a gifted home cook who went to great lengths to source specialist ingredients that reflected her family’s tastes, the menu is built on traditional Thai methods: charcoal grilling, coconut smoking, and the searing intensity of wok-hei. These techniques paired with the best seasonal produce from across the British Isles, create dishes that are both deeply familiar and subtly unexpected.
John Chantarasak and Desiree Chantarasak | Photograph: Ben Broomfield
Settling in by the window, I find myself admiring the delicately curated space — warm with soft lighting, touches of emerald greenery, and bespoke art and contemporary crafts from Thai artists whom John and Desiree personally meet on their travels to Chiang Mai.
Seated on furniture handmade from chamchuri wood, I can feel the buzzy atmosphere; from the faces in the crowd, it’s clear everyone is enjoying themselves, dish after dish, and I can’t wait to get started.
The tasting menu is a progression of bright, bold, and deeply aromatic flavours, but we begin off menu with a velvet crab, fish bone and eel tom yum-style broth, so fragrant it works perfectly as an appetite ignition.
Kohlrabi, Candied Beetroot & Duchess Rapeseed from AngloThai Tasting Menu | Photograph: Ben Broomfield
Wines ‘Rufus’ and ‘Aubretia’
Accompanying my starters is a glass of ‘Aubretia’, an aromatic white wine with tropical notes, and recommended with main courses is the light-bodied red ‘Rufus’, easy choices after discovering they are affectionately named after Desiree and John’s two children.
A complex trio of amuse-bouche follows, presented on thoughtfully crafted plates by Matt Jones Ceramics. Starting with Kohlrabi, Candied Beetroot & Duchess Rapeseed as instructed, then the Line Caught Mackerel on top of Rhubarb & Horseradish encased in a crispy tartlet case – a medley of flavours and textures. Next is the Fosse Meadows Chicken, covered in a rich Coconut Golae sauce and finished with pickled mooli and chilli, it’s a blend of spicy and sour, with the sweetness of coconut.
Line Caught Mackerel, Rhubarb & Horseradish from AngloThai Tasting Menu | Photograph: Ben Broomfield
Brixham Crab, Exmoor Caviar, Coconut Ash Cracker from AngloThai Tasting Menu | Photograph: Ben Broomfield
The delicate brown crab emulsion crowned with elderflower gel and glistening pearls of caviar over sweet white crab meat is a visual delight and made an indelible impression on me.
From there, signature plates like British Octopus with Chilli Jam & Courgette, and the Ryall Farm Hogget, Câr-y-Môr Cockles & Herb Curry show off not only AngloThai’s bold flavour profile, but its deep commitment to sustainable sourcing and local farming. Even the rice, often flown thousands of miles is replaced by heritage British grains, for me, barley accompanies my main course.
British Octopus, Chilli Jam & Courgette from AngloThai Tasting Menu | Photography credit: Ben Broomfield
Another highlight of the evening is the honey butter Brioche, pillowy soft and an excellent pairing with the 28-day aged Beef Tongue Jungle Curry — mouthfuls that both comfort and thrill.
Desserts carry the same creative precision, and we are first presented with a palate cleanser. The Blackcurrant Leaf–infused ice cream glossed with Long Peppercorn Oil, with reduced Beetroot with Strawberry could have stood alone as a dessert, so beautifully balanced and amplified on flavour, the first spoonful left me speechless while my guest mouthed the word ‘wow’.
Strawberry, Grachai & Coconut Flan from AngloThai Tasting Menu | Photograph: Ben Broomfield
AngloThai interior | Photograph: Charlie McKay
A duo of desserts arrives at our table, spotlighting Strawberry, Grachai & Coconut Flan. To finish is the Kanom Lek, a raspberry jelly dusted with sugar, pink and Sichuan peppercorn, and chilli flakes, finished with a playful dab of tamarind gel, ending our culinary voyage on a sweet note.
There’s a confident duality that runs through every part of the AngloThai experience, East and West, old and new, bold and subtle. The result is a restaurant that feels like a true extension of its founders: inventive, heartfelt, and completely original. It’s clear this is a space where everything means something. And in a city that often prizes hype over heart, AngloThai is a reminder of what can happen when both are given room to shine.
by Vivian Hui
Lunch Tasting Menu: £65
Dinner Tasting Menu: £125
To book visit here
AngloThai, 22-24 Seymour Place, London W1H 7NL