ᵃᵈ Just before the second lockdown happened I snuck in a visit to Kala Thai in Bournemouth.
Thai is one of my favourite types of food and I was excited to discover chef Tom Saengthong hails from Bangkok.
I was invited to review and was excited to try something new and head into Dorset.
Visiting Kala Thai in Bournemouth
Kala Thai is serving up authentic food using locally sourced produce and real Thai ingredients. Chef Tom brought his version of Thai food to the top of Bournemouth high street along with his team of chefs who are also from Thailand.
I liked the restaurant layout, and thought has been put into dining during a pandemic. The seating area inside is spacious and well sectioned out.
My favourite bit was the semi-outside heating which has a bespoke electric roof and each table has overhead heating. I picked a table there as it well ventilated but still warm and we could have a booth to ourselves.
There was a little button by the side of our table so we could reactivate the heater as and when we needed it. I should imagine it would be a
All the staff were masked and there was hand sanitiser everywhere which did help us feel more comfortable.
Cocktails
Well Kala Thai’s cocktail menu is a pretty extensive one! With mocktails, traditional cocktails and Thai inspired cocktails there’s something for everyone.
I had a Thai Daquiri which was a sharp, sweet and basil flavoured. It went really well with my meal. Next summer, this cocktail menu will come into its own, especially in the outside seating section we were in. You know that nice feeling when you’re on holiday and drinking in the summer warmth, you’ll definitely have that vibe at Kala Thai.
Dinner
The starters are delicious, I shared the duck spring rolls, the crispy beef and the coconut and lime marinade prawns with a satay sauce. Those prawns, ouuuuuuffff they were SO good and was my favourite of the three I tried. There was so much more I wanted to try too, it’s a really good selection of starters on the menu.
For my main meal I’d eyed up the Khow Suey, a Thai chicken soup, on Instagram before my visit. I didn’t know what it was called thought but, the waitress did and helpfully identified it on the menu for me.
It was a delicious crispy piece of chicken on egg noodles with spicy coconut curry sauce, pak choi, lime and shallots. I think there is lemongrass in it too, I cook a lot with these spices and ingredients at home because they are my favourite. And, while the dish was spicy, I find Thai spice is full of flavour which is enjoyable instead of an abrasive heat. Nothing makes me happier than a big bowl of noodles!
Mr Bright Lights Big City had the Pad Prea Wan which is a Thai sweet and sour dish with pineapple. It’s safe to say it disappeared very quickly and got his seal of approval.
Dining Out in Dorset
I can’t believe this was one of my first dinners out since March but, what a tasty meal to have.
We left with full bellies and smiles on our faces, a big thank you to Chef Tom and the team at Kala Thai and Route PR for arranging a review.
Thankfully Kala Thai will be offering a takeaway service over lockdown – well worth making life at home a little better with a few treats like this, don’t you think?
If you liked this, you might like these posts too…
- BAKEHOUSE24 in Ringwood
- THE A TO Z OF THINGS TO DO IN HAMPSHIRE
- TOURING POOLE HARBOUR WITH CITY CRUISES
If you want to remember this for later, save it on Pinterest using the images below or share by using one of the buttons.
One thought on “Kala Thai in Bournemouth”