LOTI EATS | CHET’S

In case you may not have realised, Chet’s is pretty much all the hype at the moment. A (relatively) new restaurant created in collaboration with Kris Yenbamroong of cult LA Thai spot, NIGHT + MARKET, it’s found itself permanently based in the brand-new The Hoxton in Shepherd’s Bush, following on from a successful four-month residency at Rondo la Cave in the basement of The Hoxton, Holborn. 

The menu deep dives right into Kris’ Californian take on Thai food, drawing on both his childhood at his family’s restaurant Talesai in LA and his experience from his own spot NIGHT + MARKET in LA. There’s authentic larb gai with minced chicken, lime, mint and coriander chilli, as well as the pineapple rice, served up with garlic, onion, peanuts and nam pla prik, encouraged to be topped with some crab. As well as this, you’ve got the likes of a veggie Thai green curry with “eggplant” (aubergine to us Brits), broccoli, spinach, snap peas and a coconut curry broth; papaya salad with green papaya, fish sauce, palm sugar, lime juice, birds eye chilli and peanuts; and Chet’s take on naem khao, a crispy rice salad made up of ginger, onion, peanut, coriander and a tangy spicy dressing – seen sort of as savoury, fragrant Thai rice krispies! 

Then on a completely different angle, Chet’s jumps into typical American plates, hitting home with the smashburger with 1000 island sauce, perfectly fused with hot Thai flavours of chilli and coriander. Another great mash-up includes the fried chicken khao soi; Chiang Mai curried noodles with katsu-style fried chicken, radish, onion, coriander, beansprouts and hot chilli oil. A personal fave of ours. 

Portions are hefty, so it’s best to go on an empty stomach. For example, the Chet’s wedge salad, drenched in blue cheese dressing, candied pork jowl and spicy, garlicky nam jim is less of a salad and more of a giant monster. The sweet and savoury combination makes for glorious feasting and will definitely make you leave wanting more. The tingling onion is just that, a whole fried onion coated in five spice, ranch dressing and sweet chilli sauce. If you’re at Chet’s and that’s not up on your Instagram, did you even go to Chet’s?

If there’s one thing we look for when dining out, it’s a good cocktail, and Chet’s are looking good on that front. The bar serves up carefully crafted cocktails that pair perfectly with the spicy South Asian flavours. Think Lychee Martinis made up of Grey Goose, Rinquinquin, sherry, lychee and wakamomo peaches, and Thai-Balls of Chivas Regal 12, Mehkong, tempus fugit banana, Branca Menta, soda and lemon peel. You’re really taken down the streets of Chiang Mai with these babies.

It’s no surprise that these classic American dishes mixed with Thai flavours have been extremely popular – the balance of flavours has been nailed perfectly, with a little bit of something for everyone. Chet’s is London’s ode to Thai-Americana and boy do we like it. 

65 Shepherd’s Bush Green, London W12 8QE
chetsrestaurant.co.uk

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