Kinkhao

In Zürich, Thai restaurants are as ubiquitous as Indian restaurants are in London. There are so many in fact that new dining experiences are needed to make a restaurant stand out from the crowd. Enter Kinkhao, a Thai dining experience with a difference. Here the table and the food is shared, wine flows freely and laughter and conversations start between complete strangers.

Evening dinner is served at 19:30 at three large tables but guests are welcome to arrive at six for a glass of wine and an appetiser. This also gives you a head start if you want to have a chat with any attractive boys or girls in the restaurant. 

Glug, glug, glug….oh yeah, back to the food. Individual dishes are served in large bowls and, unless your neighbour is particularly helpful, you serve yourself. Four to six courses are served depending on the day of the week with the speciality of your hosts, Christoph and Laor, being curries. Vegan and vegetarian curries are available but what really convinced me was the homemade fishcakes or the delicately spiced sprout salad. If you are not convinced by me i was sat next to a Thai native who nodded with relish at every bite. If you want more you can re-order and if you are really lucky Christoph may have found something nice at the market and will serve it as an extra course.

To sum up: Kinkhao has it all, lovingly prepared food, good conversation, new friends and a warm hug from the hosts at the end of the evening. What more could you want? 

Need to know.

• The cheapest option is to eat on Monday or Tuesday where you will pay 40 francs for a four course meal. (50 francs with wine.) Later in the week the number of courses increases and therefore the price. 

• Thai food fans, (of which i am one,) can buy Asian products such as genuine rice sacks or bento boxes. Hostess Laor also loves to share her insider knowledge of Thailand if you are planning a trip.

Instagram suitability: Homemade lamps, made by the owner himself, provide a great backdrop for a photo. Grab a group shot with your new buddies. 4 out of 5 flashbulbs.

Rons Tip: Even if fish isn’t your thing give the fishcakes a try. Absolutely delicious and are not obviously fishy.