Chef Luke Farrell of Chaiyo Restaurants (Plaza Khao Gaeng, Speedboat Bar) in partnership with the JKS restaurant group (Gymkhana, Hoppers, Sabor, The George) is set to open a new Plaza Khao Gaeng in Covent Garden on Wednesday May 5, marking the brand’s third London outpost since 2022.
Taking over a space on Bedford Street which was last a TGI Fridays, the fun, fiery Southern Thai restaurant will build on the success of the Tottenham Court Road original and its Borough Yards follow-up. However, this latest iteration will delve even further into the cooking of Thailand’s deepest south, with Farrell drawing inspiration from the border regions of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, and their grill culture.
The restaurant will be based around a large charcoal grill which will offer up a menu designed for sharing and spooning over rice. Dishes will range from coconut charcoal-grilled meats and seafood to zingy, acidic curries, herb-heavy salads and fritters.
One of Farrell’s stand-outs will include a curried chicken skewer named gai gorlae which – alongside lamb, cuttlefish and tofu versions – is basted with red curry paste and coconut cream, cooked over coconut charcoal, and served with a lace-like roti jala for scooping up sauces.
Otherwise, the kitchen will promise fish custard cooked in banana leaf, tamarind-laced pork curries, and salads built around sour fruits and jungle herbs. As with the other two Plaza Khao Gaengs, ingredients are sourced both from specialist Thai suppliers and Farrell’s own Ryewater Nursery in Dorset.
A brand known for its larger-than-life drinks, the cocktails at the Covent Garden spot will be infused with charred fruits from the grill, and served alongside Thai whiskies, rums and house sodas.
Designed to feel like a Southern Thai roadside canteen, the 75-seater space will feature an array of bamboo and wood, tiled counters and market-style displays which will bring a slice of what Farrell calls “truckstop Thai” to the capital.
Plaza Khao Gaeng will open on Tuesday May 5 at 6 Bedford Street, WC2E 9HZ.
