The only thing Benja-wrong about this Thai spot at the Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi is that the good people of the UAE’s capital don’t seem to have discovered it yet.
We’ve long been fans of the hotel chain’s signature restaurant, which has branches across the globe including in Doha, the Maldives and Manila. In fact, its sister restaurant down the road in Dubai is an almost permanent fixture at the Time Out Dubai restaurant awards in the Thai category. The Abu Dhabi outlet has much of the same details that we’ve come to expect – stylish and modern interiors, paired with top-notch service that showcases the very best of
Thai hospitality. Which is why it’s such a shame that it seems to be so much quieter and less busy than other eateries nearby.
The lack of ambiance is more than made up for by the food, which is exceptional as always. The menu is filled with classics, with pad Thai, tom yum soup and pad kra prow all making an appearance, but our favourites lie among the curry section. The red tofu option has a proper kick to it, as we want and/or need, and the green chicken is mild but flavourful, for those who can’t handle the heat. Of course, the chefs will make any dish as spicy or mild as you want (to your shame, or glory).
The food, washed down with Asian hops, is so good that we almost forget the emptiness. We’ll be back – but with friends in tow, next time.
Sat-Thu 12.30pm-3pm, 7pm-11.30pm; Fri 7pm-11.30pm. Licensed. Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Sultan Bin Zayed The First Street (02 698 8888).
