Just a stone’s throw from Victoria Station, Cheetham Hill – and particularly the Cheetham Hill Road stretch — is a hotbed of hidden gems, from music pubs to informal food havens. You just need to have your eyes open. That’s Thai, a small cafe which proudly serves authentic street food inspired by dishes from the land of green curries is definitely one for that list. Established in 2017, the business has built its reputation entirely through word of mouth and regular clientele, marking it out as a South Asian eatery to remember.
First up, the look and feel of the place is entirely in-keeping with the overall mantra — let the food do the talking. By that, we mean minimalist decor, stool seating and basic fixtures, although with plenty of Thai movie posters on the walls to grab your attention. All the better to tuck into some of Wan Pradit Hewitt and her husband’s food, when he’s not working in the garage next door. Online reviews speak volumes, as does the passion with which the team talk about the sources of the aromatic flavours being plated and bowled-up.
Lemongrass, basil, gingers, and fresh chillies are just scratching the surface of what goes into iconic dishes like Phad Thai, Pad Ka Prow, Pad See Ew, Kual Tiew Num Tok, and tangy Tom Yum Soup. Red and green curry make themselves known on the menu, too, although this place also has an abundance of lesser known offerings. Laab Moo, with spicy minced pork and fiery marinade, is one of our favourites. As is the Khao Khan Chio — an omelette with prawns, pork, meat and vegetables alongside jasmine rice. Daily specials add more reasons to come back soon, hence so many people using this as their regular lunch spot, having realised what might be central Manchester’s finest Thai secret is just minutes away from the thick of everything.