BY day there is the hustle and bustle of the market and at night the vibrancy and energy of revellers enjoying a good time – this is Portobello Road in summer.

While the market stalls, antique establishments and quirky shops are a 'must' for many London tourists as they snake down towards the Portobello Road area not many of them will have noticed or experienced The Market Thai restaurant.

Situated above a typical London boozer, unless during the day you happen to glance up above the colourful fruit and vegetable stalls at the bottom end of the road you will miss this oasis of oriental food.

I had previously been introduced The Market Thai and been impressed, so returned on a balmy summer's evening for a second helping of their authentic cuisine.

Drinkers spilled out on to the pavements below and on the nearby corner a hairdresser's was holding an impromptu 'rave' – it looked pretty lively, perhaps there would be an invitation to join the fun after we had finished our meal!

Things were more sedate as we weaved our way up the small staircase leading to The Market Thai but this is a popular restaurant with locals and there was plenty of chatter and laughter echoing around the stone walls this Friday evening.

It is probably not the place for a quiet romantic night out with your partner at weekends with the tables tightly packed in and an open window seat is preferable on a warm summer's evening.

However, it is the food that attracts people to The Market Thai and with its simple authentic décor it scores highly and with this being Portobello Road you can pretty much be assured the dishes are going to be fresh and flavoursome.

We started with grilled skewers of chicken satay served with a peanut sauce and a cucumber salad dip and deep fried marinated squid with a sweet chilli sauce – great dishes to share.

The chicken was moist and tender and the sauces were complimentary although personally I could have done with a bit more 'fire' in the slightly sweet dip. The squid was the real star, however, chewy but tender and well rounded off by the heat off the dipping sauce.

We then went for Pad Kaprow – chicken stir fried with basil and chilli and 'Weeping Tiger' sirloin sizzling Thai style.

I am no wimp when it comes to spice and fire in food and the colourful chicken dish lived up to expectation with lots of fresh flavours, crunchy peppers and vegetables and enough 'heat' to leave the taste buds tingling.

The sizzling steak was tender and the addition of some pineapple gave a slightly sticky flavour to the rich sauce . It is served with an accompanying chilli dip and this certainly lifts a pleasant rather than outstanding dish.

A steaming hot bowl of jasmine rice – more than enough for two – rounded things off and washed down with a couple of Thai Stingha beers the Market again more than lived up to expectation.

The menu offers an impressive combination of authentic Thai dishes, the portions are generous and at a reasonable price, you can easily come in at under £40 for two, and the staff are efficient – they basically have little time to stop and chit chat in the restaurant's busy environment.

On first appearances The Market Thai might look fairly basic but don't be put off because it delivers good food with strong, spicy flavours and once you have found it I guarantee you will return again.

As we made our way back down Portobello Road the party in the hairdresser's was still in full swing but it was too late for us lightweights to try and gatecrash - and in a few hours time the market traders would be busy setting up their stalls for another hectic day in a road that is comes alive both day and night.

The Market Thai: 1 st Floor, 240 Portobello Road, London. W11 1LL. Telephone 020 7460 8320.

Open: Monday-Friday 12noon-3pm and 6pm-10.30pm; Saturday 12noon-10.30pm; Sunday 12noon-3pm and 6pm-10pm.

Picture caption: The Market Thai restaurant above the Market Inn in Portobello Road.