Richmond Thai Kitchen

You're walking up Hill Rise towards the town centre when you spot Richmond Thai Kitchen tucked among the independent shops. Inside, it's unpretentious and warm: wooden tables, soft lighting, and a kitchen that clearly knows what it's doing. The menu reads like a greatest hits of Thai classics, but the execution is what separates this place from the tourist traps along the river. Their curries arrive thick and fragrant, the pad thai isn't gloopy, and they'll happily adjust heat levels without acting precious about it. It's the kind of spot locals keep coming back to because they trust the food.