Review on Isarn

The lady behind this sexy Islington venue is Tina Juengsoongneum, who just happens to be Alan Yau’s sister (he’s the entrepreneur and whiz kid responsible for Hakkasan, Yauatcha and Busaba Eathai). She opened Isarn with her husband Krish â€" who hails from the northern Thailand â€" and they have been playing to full houses ever since.

A lot of thought has gone into the image of the place, from the ever-affable pink-clad waitresses to the stylised décor with its oversized lampshades, clever lighting and weirdly fashioned tableware; there are even a few tables out in the courtyard for relaxed summertime eating. The menu’s ‘pick-and-mix’ approach to Thai cuisine is also an eye-opener, with lots of fascinating and unlikely-sounding dishes based on genuine ingredients such as morning glory stalks.

Of course, there are estimable versions of classic stir-fries, noodles and the like, but the kitchen throws down the gauntlet with challenging ideas like a salad of chewy soft-shell crab with green mango, spicy chicken with green pulpy aubergine, steamed sea bream with chilli and lime, duck wrapped in edible betel leaves, and a yellow curry of mussels with mangosteens â€" not to mention a much-talked-about dessert entitled ‘tago with taro and lotus seeds’, which appears as cubes of green jelly topped with a faintly salty cream. Thai beer and some very decent fruity wines suit the food perfectly.

Isarn is also featured in: Hardens

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Cuisine

Thai

Restaurant Opening Times

Lunch: 12.00 - 3.00pm Thu-Fri
Dinner: 6.00 - 11.00pm (12.00 - 11.00pm Sat, 12.00 - 10.00pm Sun)

Accepted credit cards

Visa, Master Card, American Express

Online Booking Availability for Isarn

Facilities at Isarn

  • Alfresco dining
  • Private parties
  • Vegetarian menu
  • Family Friendly

Address

Isarn
119 Upper Street
Islington
North London
N1 1QP

Nearest tube station: Angel

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Isarn Sample Menu

STARTER

Papaya spring roll £3.50 v

Thai fish cake £4.50

Fried garlic prawn £5.00

Steamed prawn and coconut dumpling £4.50

Baked scallop with soya £4.50 each

Char-grilled chicken satay with spicy peanut sauce £4.00

Crispy duck and pomelo served on betel leaf £4.00

Fried chicken with sweet chili sauce £4.50

Char-grilled pork ribs with garlic and pepper £4.00

Mixed Starter For 2 Persons £12.00
Char-grilled chicken satay with spicy peanut sauce
Thai fish cake : Papaya spring roll
Crispy duck and pomelo served on betel leaf

SOUP

Thom yam goong £5.90

Thom kha chicken £5.50

Thom jued tofu and mushroom £4.50 v

Hot and sour soup with chicken and dill £5.50

SALAD

Char-grilled squid with herb salad £7.00

Char-grilled chicken with papaya salad £6.50

Soft shell crab with mango dressing £11.50

Crispy duck salad with lemongrass, chilli lime dressing £8.50

SEAFOOD

Baked seabass with Thai herb £14.50

Fried red snapper with sweet chilli sour sauce £9.80

Salt and pepper squid £7.50

Squid stir-fry with krachai and basil £8.50

Grilled garlic pepper prawn £9.90

Baked mussel with kaffir lime, chilli and sweet basil £8.00

Prawn and scallop stir-fry with chilli and Thai herb £12.50

Char-grilled Halibut with chilli and lime £14.00

Monkfish stir-fry with mange tout and shiitake mushroom £12.50

Char-grilled sword fish with lemongrass mint peanut salsa £11.00

Seafood stir fry with chilli and holy basil £12.50

CURRY

Monkfish green curry with krachai and basil £9.90

Chicken green curry with Thai aubergine, bamboo shoot and sweet basil £7.00

Vegetable green curry with Thai aubergine, tofu, bamboo shoot and sweet basil £6.50 v

Mussel yellow curry with mangosteen £8.20

Grilled prawn red curry £9.90

Beef massaman curry £7.50

Roasted duck red curry £8.90

POULTRY & MEAT

Fried chicken with green mango and chilli jam £7.50

Roasted baby chicken with chilli and tamarind £7.90

Chicken and green eggplant stir-fry with yellow bean and sweet basil £7.50

Braised duck and shiitake with ginger and spring onion £8.90

Braised duck with yellow bean sauce £8.90

Char-grilled pork with chilli, garlic and lime £7.50

Beef and holy basil stir-fry £8.50

Char-grilled lamb chop with kaffir lime leaf and red curry £9.90

Char-grilled sirloin steak with chilli and garlic £9.90

Chicken stir fry with water chestnut and sweet basil £7.90

TOFU

Silken tofu with yellow bean sauce £5.90 v

Pan-fried silken tofu steak with chilli and sweet basil £5.90

VEGETABLE

Shiitake and oyster mushroom and soya bean £6.50 v

Asparagus, celery and shiitake mushroom £5.50 v

Mange tout, tofu and baby corn £5.50 v

Morning glory with yellow bean and chilli £6.50 v

French bean stir fry with black bean sauce £6.00 v

Baby pak choi with oyster sauce £5.50 v

Snow pea shoot with garlic £6.50 v

Gai Lan stir-fry with garlic £6.50 v

Spinach stir fry with butternut squash chilli and holy basil £6.50 v

SIDE ORDER

Phad Thai with prawn Chinese chive and tofu £4.00

Phad Thai jay with tofu, shitake, mange tout and baby corn £4.00 v

Phad mee, egg noodle with chicken, prawn, shiitake and beansprout £4.00

Pineapple fried rice £3.50 v

Egg fried rice £2.90 v

Steamed white jasmine rice £1.50 v

Steamed brown jasmine rice £2.00 v

Steamed coconut sticky rice £2.00 v

DESSERT

Warm raspberry and chocolate pudding with vanilla ice cream £5.50

Lemon cheesecake with green apple sorbet £5.50

Mango with black sticky rice £5.50

Tago with taro and lotus seed £4.50

Tropical fruit plate for 2 persons £9.00

Ice cream/sorbet £4.50

Restaurant menus often vary from day to day, so the above should be treated as examples of what to expect in terms of cuisine and price.

Isarn Christmas Menu

Restaurant menus often vary from day to day, so the above should be treated as examples of what to expect in terms of cuisine and price.

Images of Isarn

Virtual Tour of Isarn