Absolute Thai Restaurant

Tucked around the corner from the King’s Theatre, Absolute Thai may be unassuming but more than makes up for it with the quality of its food. The dining room is small and simple, the service unflashy but genuinely warm and kind. Try pushing the boat out and start by sharing a Thai salad of chicken larb. Minced chicken is lightly seasoned with chilli, lime, mint and red onion to produce a clean, hot, fresh hit. Or venture to a sirloin or scallop option, with vinegary sweetness and heat countering the grilled savoury flavours. One of the best pad Thais in Edinburgh is to be found here; moist, unctuous with plenty of prawns, comforting and moreish. Crispy duck with pepper and garlic sauce is beautifully cooked and with enough garlic to keep your demons at bay. Fish and seafood options are particularly tempting – steamed sea bass with spicy lime dressing is a fitting example of the light, confident touch of chef Kachen Gerdphol’s magical kitchen. BYOB is a bonus.