Elephant Royale

Elephant Royale at the Gants Hill end of Cranbrook Road is an established Thai restaurant with a Siamese-style dining room and a Sunday buffet that draws families from across east London. The kitchen produces aromatic dishes fragrant with galangal and lemongrass — the signature notes running through the tom kha soups, green curries, and stir-fries — and reviewers single out the prawn dishes and jasmine rice combinations as highlights. Portions are notably generous. A cocktail bar, live music evenings, and a private dining room accommodating up to 120 guests distinguish it from most competitors on the strip. Free parking at the rear; the Sunday buffet runs throughout the afternoon.