When your brain thinks ‘I really want a quiet meal out tonight’ the first thing that pops into your head hopefully isn’t ‘Walworth Road’. And it wasn’t ours until we got wind of a delightfully and totally old school Thai joint called ‘Mama Thai’ that reminded us of a Thai place that you might see off a night market in Bangkok.
My associate had the Pad Prik Khing. Now this might sound like a name you’d call a psycho ex-boyfriend, but it was in fact a stir fry with chicken and aubergine which had a big red curry kick and fairly heavy on the fish sauce saltiness. Nice big flavours that paired quite well with a generously proportioned coconut fried rice for some sweet and salt balance.
Your scribe had the Baikapraow with chicken. It was a very pleasingly stir fry affair with loads of chili and loads of holy basil. Also mixed in was fish sauce, onion, ginger and a ‘don’t kiss me now’ amount of garlic. For a starter we shared spring rolls which we are pretty sure were home made and delicious.
On of the best things about Mama Thai is that it is BYOB and there is a handy Tesco Metro across the street. Apparently its Pinot with Thai. So with two starters, one main and two rice dishes the total came to well under £30.
Whilst eating our old school Thai we were entertained by some very pleasing mid naughties Ibiza chill out music. When paying the bill we told the endearingly grandfatherly proprietor that we enjoyed the music and it was unique to hear in a Thai restaurant. Without missing a beat he replied ‘I love techno and dance music and it really makes people happy. I’ve been to Buddha Bar in Paris a few times’. Wow
If that comment doesn’t make you love living in Greater Kennington then we don’t know what does!
Love the look of Mama Thai walking down Walworth Road, but our food delivered through Uber Eats was genuinely appalling. Without doubt one of the worst takeaways I’ve had in my 27 years living in London.
Our hearts sunk as we unpacked a cashew stir-fry that consisted of a some roughly cut veg bobbing in a thin watery sauce. Unboxing a container of oil separated green curry offered little comfort and while the spring rolls were solid, the prawn dumplings were inedible. Their thick dough had melded with the paper they’d been sitting on — not the Thai fusion anyone is looking for.
Our respect for the Runoff and downtempo Balearic beat mean that we’ll give dining in a go. However, readers beware of Mama Thai for delivery.