The Begging Bowl

4.4 ( 752 reviews )

Checking... 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM See Hours

168 Bellenden Rd, London SE15 4BW, United Kingdom

+44 20 7635 2627

Nestled in the heart of London on Bellenden Road, The Begging Bowl is a Thai restaurant that combines traditional flavors with a modern twist, earning high praise from patrons. Reviews consistently highlight the restaurant's vibrant atmosphere and attentive service, making it a delightful dining experience. Hannah FitzSimons commended the staff for their outstanding ability to accommodate food allergies, allowing her to enjoy delectable dishes like the venison stir fry, accentuated by unlimited rice. Thomas Goldby noted the menu's inventive approach to Thai classics, supplemented by a unique dessert selection. His appreciation for the dishes' rich flavors echoes across other reviews. Diners like Envoyous Ent have found dining here to be an adventurous journey for the palate, particularly with standout dishes such as the mackerel, which featured a delightful interplay of textures and flavors. The moist cashew cake adorned with coconut cream left a lasting impression, despite initial reservations about its pineapple content. Despite some chaotic moments in service, Diego Adolfo Santamaria Razo found every dish—delicious and splendid—worth the wait. The Begging Bowl's authenticity shines through, and with its impressive selection of beautifully presented teas, it's no wonder this restaurant garners a perfect score, captivating food lovers with its remarkable offerings. A must-visit for anyone seeking exceptional Thai cuisine in London.

Accessibility
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
From the business
- Identifies as women-owned
Service options
- Serves dine-in
Highlights
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
Popular for
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
Offerings
- Serves alcohol
- Serves beer
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Has free water refills
- Serves healthy options
- Serves small plates
- Serves spirits
- Serves vegan dishes
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves wine
Dining options
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
Amenities
- Has bar on site
- Has gender-neutral toilets
- Has toilet
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cosy
- Romantic
- Trendy
Crowd
- Family friendly
- Good for groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Popular with tourists
- Transgender safe space
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Accepts credit cards
- Accepts debit cards
- Accepts NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs available
- Has kids' menu

Hannah FitzSimons

May 31,2025

Really lovely food and the service was fantastic. I hadn't seen before booking that they don't recommend coming if you have a food allergy but noticed before I arrived. I mentioned to the staff and they said that it was completely fine and they could cater to my allergy. Everyone who served us was aware of it and flagged what I could and couldn't order. The food was delicious, especially the venison stir fry, and it was a great addition that the rice was limitless. Will definitely come again.

Thomas Goldby

May 8,2025

A brilliant place - staff explained the menu, which is a novel take on classic Thai menu, delicious food with great flavour, unique dessert selection, good service, nice atmosphere, well worth the price.

Envoyous Ent

Apr 6,2025

Always knew of this place never had a chance to visit til today. I checked out the menu before arriving and was curious but also cautious cus they seened to pair things together that i hadnt imagined could work. However, it was great! Best eatinf out experience in a long time! I had the macral dish. It was top notch! It was like an adventure for my tastebuds, the flavours were amazing and the contrast in textures from the fish to crunch roasted cashews and crunchy prawns. I had dessert too. I chose the cashew cake. I was not sure because it said pineapple and its not my fave thing. But this pinesapple was like nothing i ever tastwd before. I dont know what kind of magic they did! The cake was beautiful and moist and had crunchy coconut and peanut crumble on top and a coconot cream. Everything was amazing!!! 1 thing i would have loved it is if they had lemongrass tea on the menu.

BI Forum

Mar 20,2025

This restaurant was absolutely splendid, the workers were so great and on point it was amazing. The food was so authentic and yummy I would go back for sure. Make sure to try there delicious teas the pot it comes in is so beautiful. 10/10 from me.

Diego Adolfo Santamaria Razo

Mar 17,2025

The food is awesome! 100% recommended! We got several dishes from the menu, each one of them was splendid! Service was chaotic and they forgot our order for 30 min. I share some pics of dishes, all of them great!

Lituania Aldeco

Mar 15,2025

Never disappointed, the food is delicious, the staff is super friendly, the cocktails are very nice; every time we really enjoyed our visit.

Tanya Lake

Mar 11,2025

Interesting Thai small plates with incredible ingredients. We tried mainly vegetarian/vegan dishes and one Hake Dumpling Green Curry. The Betel Leaf with crunchy ingredients is a must. The food is top notch. The interiors a tad dated and worn. The only downside is that we sat in the conservatory and the doors were open so we were bothered by flies. However, we moved table and it was much better. The restaurant has been going strong for ten years and long may it continue.

Alex Tong

Feb 14,2025

The Begging Bowl offers delicious Thai cuisine with a menu designed for sharing, featuring generous serving sizes and a good variety of dishes. The deep-fried sea bass is a standout highlight. The service is excellent, with staff being very attentive to dietary requirements. The semi-outdoor conservatory provides a lovely atmosphere for dining.

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