I must have walked past the Sukhothai Thai restaurant on South Parade in Leeds city centre many times without realising what hidden culinary temptations were hidden behind the unassuming entrance.

South Parade is not necessarily a road you would walk along in Leeds especially if you were looking for a quality restaurant in the city centre, Greek Street which runs parallel due south to Sukhothai is where most people’s attention is diverted to when dining out in Leeds.

What a dishonour it would be though not to experience this stylish restaurant which has recently reopened after a stunning and sympathetic refurbishment.

The relaunch marks a new chapter for the South Parade restaurant, which has been part of the Leeds dining scene for over 13 years, while the wider Sukhothai brand celebrates its 24th anniversary this year.

As part of the makeover the entire upstairs dining area has been redesigned creating a more atmospheric and intimate setting for guests. The new look includes a transformed bar area with high- top seats, updated lighting and new booths and seating areas.

Ban Kaewkraikhot, Executive Chef and Owner of Sukhothai, said: “When we opened Sukhothai in Chapel Allerton in 2002, my dream was to bring real Thai cooking to Yorkshire – the flavours, the ingredients and the feeling of eating in Thailand. That’s something that has always stayed at the heart of what we do. With the brand turning 24 this year, and Sukhothai Leeds city centre turning 14, it felt like the right time to give the site a refresh and create somewhere even more special for our guests. We’ve made it more intimate, more beautiful, but still very much Sukhothai.”

Whilst the new refurbishment is impressive that alone would not entice most diners to visit the restaurant – the main reason naturally being the food.

Signifi cantly they have introduced a new menu served alongside the traditional favourites that have made Sukhothai one of the best restaurants in Leeds for Thai food. Menu highlights include new additions such as Khao Soi, a coconut yellow curry noodle soup originating from Northern Thailand; Massaman Short Rib – tender slow cooked beef in a rich, aromatic curry with potato, roasted peanuts and warming spices and new seafood additions including Gung Maw Nam Pao (river prawns), a popular Thai grilled seafood dish served with traditional seafood dipping sauce, fresh oysters with traditional Thai condiments and a new Seafood Platter with soft shell crab, crispy squid and grilled prawns.

My Poh Piah Gai, Thai style homemade spring rolls filled with minced chicken, mixed vegetables and glass noodles, served with sweet chilli sauce was a harmonious mix of sweet and spicy flavours that were a good opening for the main course

My partners Satay Gai – one of the signature starters at Sukhothai was a good combination of savoury and aromatic flavours with a small dish of peanut sauce on the side. The copious starter was enough to be shared with each other.

The Gang Massaman Thai Curry is believed to have originated in southern Thailand though you do not have to travel that far to enjoy this sumptuous dish; a rich and creamy coconut curry made from turmeric, star anise and cinnamon, with peanut, carrot, potato and onion. I chose beef as my meat though you can have prawn, duck, chicken or pork. The flavours might remind you of an Indian curry though the mildness here was more like a gentle kick as opposed to a sharp knock.

My partners choice of Gai Sukhothai came as a specially created dish of crispy sliced chicken breast, stir fried with spring onion, chilli, tomato, peas, served with a hot Sukhothai sauce. A feast that was fit for a King or Queen.

Desserts tended to flavour more western tastebuds though there are more eastern delicacies such as exotic mango and sweet sticky rice and banana fritters. 

My Chocolate Fudge Cake was an indulgent multi layered offering served with ice cream, a guilty pleasure indeed that had just the right amount of chocolate so not to be overpowering. My partner made a good choice with the Lemon and Ginger Cheesecake which cleansed the palate after her main, a tangy and zesty slice provided the trick.

Service throughout was excellent, impulsive yet not obtrusive. Within three minutes of being seated we were served table water – always a good sign of the level of service.

Good food, superb service alone make Sukhothai a restaurant that should be on your radar add to that the new refurbishment and you have a little piece of Thailand right here in Leeds.

Click here to find out more.

Sukhothai

15 South Parade, Leeds LS1 5QS

Tel: 0113 242 2795

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