Tom Toon Thai

Spunky, smiley staff and raucous Thai rock make this place a clear detour from cookie-cutter Thai joints. Art books and miniature toys line the walls and fairy-lit windows lure punters in from the bleak end of Victoria Street. Inside, the mood is upbeat and the crowd is expat so it's top marks for authenticity. Regulars come for the shareable jim joon hotpot (think Thai steamboat), coriander-laden whole fried fish and north-eastern Thai specialities such as fragrant beef salad with chilli, coriander and mint. Asking for dishes 'Thai style' will give you a genuinely spicy slap in the chops, but you can always douse the flames with a brightly hued Thai jelly dessert.