Cast your mind back to early 2002 and Leeds was a very different place to the city it is today.
There were very few quality Thai restaurants in the UK at that time, never mind Leeds, but one woman took a chance and hasn’t looked back since. Ban Kaewkraikhot opened her very first Sukhothai restaurant, named after the small town north of Bangkok where she was raised, in Chapel Allerton. She brought a life-long passion for Thai cuisine which began at an early age with her mother’s cooking in rural Thailand.
For many, Sukhothai proved to be both exotic and irresistible, and word of mouth spread across Yorkshire. Fast forward to 2022, Ban and her team have opened two more Sukhothai restaurants, including central Leeds and Harrogate, launched a successful casual dining brand and won a host of awards.
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Ban said: “Leeds has been my home for over 20 years now, and I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved at Sukhothai since our humble beginnings back in 2002. Leeds is a fantastic city, full of warm and welcoming people, and one of the most diverse food scenes you’ll find in the world.
‘’I’m also lucky enough to call so many customers and team members my friends. I’ve been part of countless engagements, birthdays, graduations and seen children grow up into young adults.’’
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Sukhothai is celebrating its milestone birthday with a special menu. Customers who’ve been there since the beginning are in for a treat with the Chapel Allerton restaurant marking the occasion with the return of dishes from their first menu two decades ago.
Dishes making a comeback include the gae kiew wan gata lon and som tum supparod pla tod as well as mee krob. The anniversary menu will be available for 20 days between Tuesday, April and Sunday, May 15.
“I’m eternally grateful to everyone that has supported me over the years and can’t wait to see our most loyal customers enjoy our special birthday menu. Removing some of these classic specials from our menu wasn’t always an easy decision but we always aim to evolve at Sukhothai and our customers appreciate this.’
“The seafood platter, in particular, will be welcomed back with open arms, I’ve had so many customers ask when it’s coming back. I look forward to seeing you all, to raise a glass to 20 years. Here’s to the next 20.’’
You can find out more about Sukhothai menu by visiting their website. You can also find all the latest food and drink news from our city by visiting the Best in Leeds homepage.
