Speedboat Bar London Review: Soho’s Rowdiest Thai Joint With Style and Fire

August 6, 2025

If you’ve ever dreamt of a night out in Bangkok’s Chinatown—with its noisy charm, fluorescent chaos, and sizzling flavours—Speedboat Bar in London is the next best thing. Created by Luke Farrell (the chef behind Plaza Khao Gaeng), Speedboat Bar brings the wild energy of Thai-Chinese canteen cooking into a gleefully kitsch, high-octane setting on Rupert Street.

This place is a riot—in the best way possible. The interiors are a tribute to Bangkok’s speedboat racing scene: chrome stools, linoleum floors, neon accents, and retro posters lining the walls. There’s a vintage gambling machine in the corner, sports playing on the screens, and a racing-style drinks menu that’s cheeky and clever. Somehow, it all works. It’s chaotic, immersive, and incredibly fun.

Speedboat Bar doesn’t just serve great food—it serves attitude. It’s loud, unapologetic, and the most fun you can have with Thai cuisine in London right now. With a second location now in the works, it’s safe to say this speedboat is racing full throttle.

Speedboat Bar London Menu

The menu, inspired by Bangkok’s Yaowarat Road, hits fast, loud, and spicy. One of the most addictive starters is the Chicken Skins with Zaep Seasoning (£5). It is crispy, salty, and with a punch of chilli that sets the tone for the night. The Prawn Ceviche with Seafood Dressing (£13.5) brings that sour-umami-sweet balance Thai cuisine does so well. The Crunchy Chicken Salad with Green Mango Kerabu (£11) layers tang, texture, and spice in every bite.

Main dishes like the Tom Yam Mama Noodles (£29)—piled with squid, pork, and prawns—are comforting and fiery, while the Minced Beef with Holy Basil (£15) is the kind of unapologetic, wok-charred perfection you’d expect from a Bangkok late-night spot. The Crispy Egg Noodles with Gravy and Mixed Seafood (£17) is a crowd favorite– rich and savoury, topped with crispy garlic. And if you’re into offal, the Beef Tongue & Tendon Curry (£15) is tender, sticky, and full of deep, complex flavour.

The drinks list is playful: Speedboat Martinis, Thai lagers, and cocktails that mix chilli, lime, and tropical liqueurs. And the Pineapple Pie with Taro Ice Cream (£9.5) is worth saving room for—comforting, warm, and cool all at once.