Thai Village of Liverpool

You'll find this unassuming spot tucked away on 1st Street, where the owners take their Thai cooking seriously enough to close on Mondays and split their service times like restaurants back in Bangkok. The dining room feels like stepping into someone's front room – which is exactly the point. Don't expect Instagram-worthy presentation here. What you get instead is food that tastes right: som tam that makes your eyes water, massaman curry with chunks of tender beef that's been slow-cooked properly, and pad thai that doesn't taste like ketchup noodles. The family running this place clearly knows the difference between what tourists think Thai food should taste like and what it actually does.