THE THAI KITCHEN: AUTHENTIC THAI FOOD INSIDE ONE OF DUBAI’S CHICEST HOTELS
The Cost -$38 per person
The Atmosphere – In a city full of luxury hotels, the Park Hyatt Dubai somehow found a way to stand out. With its beautifully designed, serene property located on the Dubai Creek and man-made sand beach that slopes directly into a huge infinity pool, the hotel somehow makes you feel that you are actually at a seaside or oceanside resort. The Thai Kitchen is one of eight, high-end restaurants on the hotel’s property and it offers indoor and outdoor seating with views of the marina. The interior is a nicely decorated space that reminds you a lot of a typical, modern Asian hotel restaurant; it is truly the location that sets it apart atmosphere-wise. The restaurant lists its dress code as Smart Casual so as long as you aren’t in athletic attire you will be fine, though on a Friday or Saturday night expect other guests to be a bit more dressed up. Reservations are accepted and recommended, though it is possible to walk in and get a table.
You have to be doing something right to successfully maintain a restaurant at the Park Hyatt Dubai for more than a decade. The Thai Kitchen, which opened seventeen years ago, serves Thai cuisine and has been a popular spot among tourists and locals since its opening. The restaurant employs native Thai chefs and even brings many ingredients in from Thailand to ensure authentic flavors and tastes. It has previously won Time Out’s award for best Thai restaurant in Dubai, frequently being listed towards the top of the list along with Café Isan.
The Order – Night in Bangkok, Larb Gai, Kha Num Pang Na Goong, and a Pad Kra Pao Neua.
The Fantastic – There is certainly nothing wrong with a cocktail being the best item ordered, especially when it rises to the level of our Fantastic rating. The Night in Bangkok was an excellent drink that had a bourbon base with orange liqueur, tamarind syrup, simple syrup, and fresh lemon along with an orange rind garnish. The tamarind syrup gave the alcohol-forward cocktail a bit of sweetness and some great Thai flavor and it combined really well with the bourbon. The orange rind also played a much more important role in the drink than I would have thought, providing an incredible, strong orange aroma that was very present with every sip. The Night in Bangkok was a lovely cocktail and a great way to kick off the meal.
The Great – Larb Gai is one of the most traditional and popular appetizers in Thai restaurants around the world. The Thai Kitchen’s version was very authentic, with the quite spicy, cold chicken salad coming served in a large lettuce leaf with some roasted rice powder, shallots, a good amount of lime juice, and some fish sauce. It was a light, healthy, flavorful appetizer and one that was greatly enjoyed. One note: you are going to want to use your spoon to slurp up the juices that are left on the bottom of the plate once you are done with the chicken.
Also earning our Great rating was the Pad Kra Pao Neua which features a spicy minced beef cooked with copious amounts of basil, chili, and garlic as well as some kaffir lime leaves. The Thai chilis and basil give this traditional Thai entrée great flavor and freshness and it surprisingly wasn’t too spicy (I’d say it was about a medium). The pad kra pao neua was another well-prepared dish that really brought me back to my time in Thailand.
The Good – Shrimp toast has never been my favorite appetizer and that didn’t change after trying The Thai Kitchen’s version. Made by coating pieces of bread with a liquidized mixture of food items that includes shrimp among other ingredients, there were two pieces of the triangular toast on the plate along with an ajaad dipping sauce that is made with cucumbers, chilis, and red onions. The shrimp toast just didn’t taste enough like shrimp and though it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t amazing either. The best part was the ajaad sauce, which was refreshing, a bit spicy, and delicious.
The Verdict – The Thai Kitchen is not an inexpensive Thai meal and if it were judging based solely on the food alone, it might not be worth the money. However, it is important to factor in the restaurant’s location, the upscale setting, and the service, which all add to the overall dining experience. While I’d still say that Café Isan is a better value, The Thai Kitchen provided a very enjoyable meal and I’d gladly return for another on a future trip to Dubai.
The Thai Kitchen
Park Hyatt Dubai Dubai Creek Resort - Dubai - United Arab Emirates