We can count London’s good Thai restaurants on one hand, so we were delighted to learn that KraPow LDN have moved to Clapton, taking over the old Shane’s spot on Chatsworth Road.
If you’re not familiar with KraPow LDN, let us give you the lowdown.
Started by friends Paul Ambrose and Richard Oakes, the boys launched their street food stall at Druid St Market less than two years ago. The goal was to show us Londoners that there was more to Thai food than the ubiquitous Thai green curry. Luckily their Northern Thai menu went down a treat – particularly the Moo Ping – sweet, marinated pork chunks served with a sweet, spicy and sour ‘Nam Jim Jaew’ dipping sauce which went on to win the Mayor of London’s #MyLondonDish 2017. Honestly, that dipping sauce is so damn good we’d happily smother it on everything. Speaking of which…. there are a few new dishes for their bricks and mortar launch, one of which is Thai fried chicken, with that award-winning sauce.
Aside from that we feasted on new Miang Bites – sticky tamarind prawns which are served on edible betel leaves that you wrap up and pop in your mouth and the light lettuce cups stuffed with herbed turkey mince.
However our favourite dish was their signature KraPow Moo – perfectly seasoned spicy chilli and basil pork mince stir fry with rice finished with a fried egg on top for good measure. We maybe wouldn’t have gone for this had we not been told it was their signature – but you absolute have to, trust us.
Vegans are catered for as well (as has to be the case nowadays, especially within the E5 postcode), they’ll want to tuck into the Yam Samun Phrai – a vibrant white turmeric and herb salad with pumpkin yellow curry.
The best thing to wash everything down with is the KAPOW!, a 4.5% pale ale from local Hackney Brewery. Almost their namesake.
The boys have the lease until May 2018, but are hoping to extend if they get a good reaction. Take-away and home delivery is also on the cards so keep your eyes peeled for that too.
KraPow E5 is open now Wednesday/Thursday 6pm-10.30pm & Friday/Saturday 6pm-11pm.
