AD – This meal from Bangkok Bistro was given in exchange for a review.
There’s a new kid on the block in Winchester (technically, returning to their original spot) – and it is an excellent addition to the city’s food offerings. Anyone who has visited Winchester will be familiar with their huge range of independent eateries, coffee spots & shops, so it’s always good to see another independent restaurant join the mix and be a success. Bangkok Bistro opened in Winchester in September, relocating back to their original location on Jewry Street. Bangkok Bistro is the sister restaurant to the ever popular Kyoto Kitchen, also in Winchester – owner of both restaurants, Miff, invited us along to Bangkok Bistro to celebrate their opening and experience their excellent food.
Bangkok Bistro brings authentic Thai flavours to the streets of Winchester, with well known classics on the menu for Thai enthusiasts. Alongside popular dishes like Pad Thai and various curries are plenty of lesser known dishes from different regions across Thailand – which was refreshing to see. This is the perfect spot for you if you enjoy trying new foods!
You’ll find Bangkok Bistro on Jewry Street, just up the road from Hoxton Bakehouse.
The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere, with the decor you would expect from fine dining Asian restaurants – plus plenty of Thai touches and well spaced seating. Miff greeted us at the door, explained the menu and offered to order us some of his favourite dishes off of the menu – each being a surprise as it arrived. Of course, I said yes!
We opted for wine from Monsoon Valley Wines in Thailand, as recommended by Miff – which was an excellent choice. I had a glass of the Colombard, which was similar to a Sauvignon Blanc – sweet, dry and delicious. Tom chose their Shiraz, which is our usual choice when it comes to reds – this was spicy, warming and full of classic Shiraz flavours. Two excellent wines that I’m hoping we can buy bottles of for at home!
We started off with some Thai prawn crackers with sweet chilli dip – I personally much prefer the crunchy, slightly spicy Thai crackers over the Chinese ones, so these were a winner for me.
Onto the starters! They arrived very promptly, which was most welcome, and we were very pleased with the starters chosen for us.
We shared both – always the best method, in my opinion – starting with the traditional Thai fish cakes. These were unlike any we had tried before, with strong lemongrass flavours (which I loved) and an unusual texture. Made with authentic featherback fish, blended with spices and served with sweet chilli, this was a standout dish for me that I’d happily order again.
Next up was one of our favourites – duck rolls. Who doesn’t love a crispy duck roll? These were filled with a generous amount of duck, drizzled with tamarind sauce and sprinkled with peanuts. These were delicious and I enjoyed the presentation of this dish. Definitely a must try if you visit Bangkok Bistro!
Our final starter – as a side note, I very much enjoyed having three starters to share! – was the steamed mussels. I’m not normally a mussel fan, however these were incredible! Thai style mussels steamed with delicate Thai basil & lemongrass, served with a spicy dipping sauce – we were surprised by just how much we enjoyed these. I had no idea that Thai style mussels existed, and I’m happy I’ve now been introduced to them!
Onto the mains – a beautiful Thai feast to share. It was hard to contain my excitement as dish after delicious dish arrived!
In no particular order (as they were all so delicious), here’s what we had!
First up is the stir fried aubergine with holy basil – this was surprisingly spicy and much tastier than I had imagined! This vegan friendly dish was full of flavour and something I’d recommend trying.
Next we have the tamarind duck – one of Bangkok Bistro’s signature dishes, and our favourite from the evening. This was incredible. The duck was crispy on the outside and beautifully tender on the inside – I’ve got no idea as to how they have managed to perfect the balance of crispy skin & tender meat, but they have absolutely nailed it! Served in a tangy tamarind sauce, this is the best crispy duck-style dish you’ll ever try, I promise. If you only try one thing I’ve recommended – make it the tamarind duck!
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Thailand’s famous dish next – Prawn Pad Thai. I love a good Pad Thai, and it’s something we regularly cook at home – so I was excited to try the offering from Bangkok Bistro. Miff proudly proclaimed their Pad Thai as the best in Hampshire – and I’m inclined to agree! Flat rice noodles stir fried with crunchy bean sprouts, spring onions, juicy king prawns, tamarind sauce and served with a sprinkling of crushed peanuts. This was full of moreish Thai flavours, a blend of sweet and sour that is just perfect. Delicious!
Lastly we have a dish I hadn’t come across before – Chicken Pad Ped. A spicy, fairly dry red curry with chilli, green beans, chicken, lime leaves and sweet basil. This was beautifully fragrant, with a good amount of spice and full of delicate flavours – I really enjoyed this curry, and it was a good alternative to a more normal red curry.
Served with a side of rice, we enjoyed all of the main dishes – the amount of flavour in all of the food was incredible. As I said, the tamarind duck was our standout dish – however, it was hard to choose a favourite as we really enjoyed everything we ate.
To finish off the meal I ordered some jasmine tea, one of my favourites, and a dessert to share. I’ve been wanting to try the traditional Thai dessert of mango sticky rice for years, so when I saw it on the menu I couldn’t resist! It’s quite an unusual dessert – but I loved it. Sticky rice drizzled with coconut milk and served with sliced ripe mango – a lovely combination of flavours and a refreshing way to end our evening.
I loved everything about Bangkok Bistro, from the laidback atmosphere and excellent service to the delicious authentic flavours. The dishes are all well priced, with generous portions that won’t leave you hungry – and the choice of Thai wines was something I didn’t expect & enjoyed.
Winchester has a fantastic new addition to their popular independent restaurants, and I’m thrilled to see Bangkok Bistro doing so well after opening in September. Whenever you’re next in the city, I’d recommend visiting Bangkok Bistro for a meal – you’ll love their food and will leave feeling very content!
You can find the Bangkok Bistro website here and their menu here. They also offer takeaway food for collection, so if you don’t fancy eating out you can still order a Thai feast.
Read my other Winchester recommendations here!
