Smoking Goat

A self-taught chef, Ben Chapman fell in love with the food of Thailand on his travels there. He decided to open Smoking Goat in Soho shortly after returning. While the original site had to close, he was able to bring operations to a former strip club in Shoreditch, directly below the celebrated Brat.

On a busy night in Smoking Goat, the atmosphere is as vibrant as the flavours, with loud music and boisterous conversation the backdrop to some seriously impressive food. While the fiery flavours would be a good icebreaker on a date, it’s probably better suited to a knees-up with friends.

Chapman changes the menu regularly according to seasonal produce and what meat and offal are available (much of it butchered on-site). Signatures that have stayed on the menu include laab (a warm salad of minced meat, lemongrass and chilli) and the dangerously addictive chilli fish sauce wings. Flavours are always intense, and some dishes are red-hot.