Luke Farrell to open third Plaza Khao Gaeng restaurant

Chef and restaurateur Luke Farrell is to open his third Plaza Khao Gaeng on 5 May, this time in London’s Covent Garden.

The 75-cover restaurant on Bedford Street will showcase southern Thai roadside khao gaeng (rice and curry), as well as the charcoal-grilled meats, seafood, fritters and salads of the Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat regions.

Farrell, who is also the founder of Thai-Chinese Speedboat Bar, launched the first Plaza Khao Gaeng in 2022 within Arcade Food Hall on London’s Tottenham Court Road.

The restaurant was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2023 in recognition of his “wonderfully authentic, punchy southern Thai curries” and in November 2025, it expanded into London’s Borough Yards.

Dishes at the Covent Garden outpost will focus on the grill and include the likes of gai gorlae, a southern Muslim chicken skewer; hor mok pla yang, a fish custard wrapped in banana leaf; and kluay khai chueam, bananas in palm sugar syrup with shaved ice and coconut cream.

Drinks will include house takrai negroni infused with lemongrass and galangal, as well as a selection of Thai coffees, sodas and shaved coconut ices with condensed milk.

Farrell said: “Southern Thai cuisine in London has come a long way since we opened the city’s first: Plaza Khao Gaeng on Tottenham Court Road. Each iteration of Plaza has brought something new, and at Covent Garden, this is the grill.

“Take gai gorlae, a curried chicken skewer that demands constant heat, attention and glazing, before a final flourish over coconut husks that caramelise and seal the sticks with fragrant char. Like the rural roadside spots of southern Thailand, guests at Covent Garden may begin with a couple of sticks before moving into our deepest southern menu yet.

“We began this journey four years ago with gleeful trepidation, and it has been a joy to see it embraced so fully while sharing the depth and variety of this regional cuisine.”

Plaza Khao Gaeng forms part of Chaiyo Restaurants, the Thai restaurant group from Farrell and JKS Restaurants, which includes Speedboat Bar.

Farrell, who trained at Spanish-Italian restaurant group Salt Yard, is also behind Vietpopulaire, Bebek!Bebek! and Phed Power in London’s Battersea.