Banana Tree Soho

You're walking down Wardour Street in Soho when you catch the smell of proper Thai and Vietnamese cooking drifting onto the pavement. That's Banana Tree calling you in. It's the kind of place that's been quietly doing the rounds with locals for years—good enough that nearly 8,000 people have bothered to rate it, casual enough that you won't feel weird rocking up solo for lunch. The dining room's got that comfortable, unpretentious vibe where you can actually have a conversation without shouting, though it gets properly lively come evening service. They've nailed the balance between accessible and ambitious, which explains why it's become the sort of spot you recommend to mates without needing to apologise for the prices.