Thaikhun’s new streamlined menu is packed with Thai street food favourites

Thaikhun (pronounced tycoon, which translates as Your Thai) launched in Manchester back in 2014 and has spread across the country with new restaurants popping up in Oxford, Aberdeen and Newcastle, to name but a few.

The restaurant recreates the traditional Thai street scene and even has a tuk-tuk outside for extra authenticity.

There are many dishes that Thaikhun has become known for, from Bangkok street food platters tasty to Thai fish cakes, as well as some delicious Thai-themed cocktails to start – or finish – things off nicely.

The menu has recently been streamlined to ensure that all of the dishes are served with extra love and care, meaning the other dishes on the menu don’t get overlooked. Quality over quantity.

The new, simplified menu allows you to enjoy three dishes and rice for just £15.50 per person or small plates from just £6.

And you’re still spoilt for choice when it comes to ordering. It’s still packed with delicious-sounding dishes, including soups, salads, curries, stir-fry, rice, noodles and regional specials.

The Ted Sakarn Jay Platter – named after the month-long vegetarian festival held in Phuket – was a hit with everyone. A combination of sweetcorn cakes, spring rolls, fried tofu and leek dumplings served in a wooden tray making it feel even more traditional. A really nice casual way of trying things you wouldn’t normally go for and very generous in size.

The chilli squid was our favourite dish of the day. Marinated in toasted ground rice, garlic, salt and black pepper, crispy lime leaves served with sweet chilli vinegar. It didn’t last very long, we almost ordered more.

On to mains, we opted for the most popular Thai street food dish of all time – or so we are told.  The chilli and Thai basil dish with prawns (beef and pork belly also available). Having a must try sticker next to it on the menu meant we couldn’t not give it a go. It did not disappoint. Stir-fried fresh chilli, garlic, onions, green beans and Thai basil served with some juicy cooked prawns. Yummy.

To add a bit of greenery to the table we ordered the traditional papaya salad with grilled pork skewers. A salad of shredded papaya, carrots, cherry tomatoes, fine beans pounded with a pestle and mortar and a splash of lime. Finished off with garlic, chillies, fish sauce and palm sugar.

Pad Thai is the classic dish of Thai rice noodles stir fried with egg, spring onions, sweet turnip, bean sprouts and lashings of veggies that’s jam packed with flavour. But be warned, the portion is huge.

The cocktail list has been developed around a range of authentic Thai spirits, as well as a range of Thai-inspired mocktails, ice cream smoothies and alcoholic smoothies and of course we couldn’t leave without giving them a try.

Sadly, we completely overfaced ourselves with the starters and mains and missed out on desserts which look pretty damn awesome judging from those on the neighbouring table. We will be heading back for the Unicorn ice cream that’s for sure.

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