Thaikhun is a surprising restaurant nestled in the contemporary setting of Spinningfields, Manchester and transports you to the heart of Thailand for an evening of good food and drink.
Thaikhun front
Once inside, you forget where you are. Decorated in bird cages, sacks, books, maps, scarves and hats, there is much to catch you eye with its eclectic décor. Alive with colour and distractions, it gives the impression of a restaurant that was opened up years ago and has continued to collect rare trinkets and display them around its customers, giving this eatery a homely and informal feel.
With floor to ceiling windows, the restaurant is inviting from the street scene- there are several push bikes lined up along the frontage that act as a partition between the street and the outdoor seating- which on a sunny day must be the perfect way to waste away a few hours with a drink and some food.
We were early, however we had a warm welcome and the staff were more than happy to give us a table before our scheduled arrival time. We only had to wait around ten mutes at the bar before being seated on a table that looked out into Hardman Street.
Upon first look at the menu, I was anxious, as I am a recently converted vegetarian and I could not see a veggie section. However upon closer inspection, all of the meals that were labelled as 'v' could be made with tofu or vegetables to cook it to suit those who don't eat meat.
We were served by Andy who was very helpful and clarified a few things on the menu for us given that it was our first time. He remained attentive throughout the whole night and I am only sorry I could not thank him for his service as when we left he was seeing to another customer.
For starters we had the Por Pia Sod- Fresh prawn rolls wrapped in rice paper with carrot, mint, coriander and basil served with sweet chilli sauce- I, of course had the vegetarian version, which was light but satisfying. It was labelled as refreshing and super healthy so it did not leave me feeling overly full before my main course as some starters can do.
My husband enjoyed the Goong Tod- Crispy batter friend tail on prawns with sweet chilli sauce. The prawns were large and were a welcome Thai twist on the classic English prawn cocktail.
Predictably, for my main course, I had the Phad Priew Wan Gai- The Farang (Foreigner) favourite - street style sweet and sour chicken with vegetables instead of chicken and the Coconut Rice. The sauce was light and flavoursome and the rice made sure I had every last lick of it!
My partner ordered the Gai Yang- A must have Thaikhun special from Isan, grilled chicken marinated with Kim's secret street food recipe bursting with Thai flavours. It was beautifully presented on a slab of wood, which gave it the ultimate rustic appeal.
Everything was fresh and it was evident that time and care had been put into the presentation of each dish- I was particularly impressed by the shapes that were cut into my salads- just beautiful.
For dessert, we indulged in the Kluay Khaek- Thai banana fritter with ice cream and the Chocolate Fudge Cake. After such a healthy starter and main meal, we felt we could save our indulgences until the end without feeling too guilty.
Given that it was only a Thursday evening, the restaurant was reassuringly packed out- so it's clearly a hit with the locals, looking for somewhere different to dine or simply enjoy some drinks.
Only a walk away from the Manchester Opera House, this is the perfect precursor to a play and the parking is only a 5 minute walk away for £6.00 after 5pm for those who are travelling from further afield.
The name translates as 'Your Thai' and really lives up to this as you feel totally relaxed when you enter unlike some restaurants- this one was like setting foot into your friend's house for dinner. It had a familiar and casual feel to it.
Given that this is only one of two restaurants country wide (the other in Aberdeen), if you live in Manchester or near the city- it's well worth the trip for the exclusivity of eating in a restaurant that the majority of the country has yet to enjoy. I do however hope that more of these are scaled across the country as I am sure it will be a hit wherever it lands. It certainly was with us and we would definitely recommend it to friends and family.