Original Thai concept restaurant set in the heart of Peckham

On any foggy morning in Chiang Mai, the creeping scent of spices and sugar from street vendor stalls mingles with the approach of orange clad monks, chanting while they carry their alms pots. The vessel –called a ‘begging bowl’ – is an important part of Thai culture hailing back to Buddhist traditions of making merit and the community spirit it inspires is fascinating to witness. 

It is this ethos that we hope to embody in our own corner of South London. To us, The Begging Bowl enshrines a sense of community, and of sharing, both with Peckham and the Thai friends and family which inspired our foundations. 

HISTORY

The Begging Bowl opened its doors in 2012, offering heady, authentic Thai flavours sourced directly from grocers in Bangkok coupled with fresh fish and meat from local suppliers. Sitting on a prime corner plot with a beautiful open terrace, The Begging Bowl has become part of the community in Peckham and we’re proud to have created a friendly, vibrant space where locals come regularly to enjoy great food and homely service.

The inspiration for our food comes from every province of Thailand. We explore all the wonderful regionality of Thai food, from the creamy curries of the Muslim south to the fiery grilled meats from Issan in the North East. 

We use specialist ingredients such as hog plum, rambutan, rose apple, banana blossoms and apple aubergines and source them fresh to retain their flavor, rather than waiting for them to go into storage like many ingredients imported from Asia. 

When you come to the restaurant you’ll experience the vibrant and complex tastes that balance the classic Thai flavour palate of hot, sour, sweet and salty. Every detail is thought of and every component is made from scratch in our kitchens. 

All our dishes come as small sharing plates, with unlimited glutinous and jasmine rice, so people can enjoy their food together just as friends and family do all over Thailand. 

Our drinks also reflect our passion for combining the East and West. Head bartender, Jose Montero and our small team of talented barmen painstakingly create each of our cocktails from homemade ingredients such as lemongrass infused whisky, Thai basil bitters and barrel aged negroni – which can take up three months to produce. 

The menu includes a ‘Makrut Sour’ featuring kaffir lime-infused gin made on site using lemongrass, lime and our own kaffir bitters and a ‘Thai Sabai’ with lime, sugar, basil, basil bitters (also made on-site) and Mekong Thai Spirit.

WHY WE ARE HERE

The Begging Bowl was borne from a passion to recreate the real flavours of Thailand in London, something Head Chef Jane Alty and business partner Jamie Younger felt was sorely lacking. 

Jane and Jamie share a strong passion for Thai food and great flavours: Jamie, formerly of Bibendum, The Wolseley and The Palmerston.

Jane had previously worked at some of the top restaurants in London but fell in love  with the complexity of Thai cuisine when she spent four years working with legendary Thai chef, David Thompson at the Michelin-starred London outpost of Thai restaurant Nahm ( #22 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list and a regular #1 spot on Asia’s best restaurant lists). 

In May 2022 Jane handed over the kitchen to pursue other projects and it is now under the reigns of Fonsiarelly Camacho. Fonz has been part of the Begging Bowl family for 4 years, rising through the ranks to Head chef in May 2024. Jamie and Fonz continue the standard and ethos of the Begging Bowl and how to cook this deeply complex and demanding cuisine.

COMMUNITY

Every year the Begging Bowl sets aside a budget to support local and international charities. Through the months of September and October, we are actively supporting our chosen charity, Action Against Hunger.