Before we arrive for the celebrations of Chaophraya’s twentieth anniversary, my companion lets me know that one of his first dates with his now wife was at the restaurant over ten years ago.
The date, he tells me, went very well, and whilst I am in no way implying that the success of my friend’s marriage can be attributed to a positive experience at a restaurant over a decade ago, it was clearly not a bad place to start. We are both, then, interested to see if the restaurant has maintained the high standards set all those years ago.
On arrival, guests are treated to a champagne reception, which feels in keeping with the swankily appointed environment. Chaopraya is arranged over two floors, with a downstairs bar and dining area that includes a private dining room visible through a large fish tank, a kind of impressive luxury redolent of something you might find on
Tracy Island, or in a Bond villain’s lair. Upstairs, there is a further dining area as well as an outside terrace which, thankfully, given the icy temperatures at this time of year, has heaters for those who decide to brave the conditions.
The food on offer is similarly impressive, with a “Royal Buffet” laid out in celebration of the restaurant’s milestone celebration. The buffet includes familiar favourites including spring rolls, satay chicken and Thai curries, with additional and (to me) less familiar dishes such as a crispy duck salad, a pineapple and prawn fried rice, and crispy cashew nut fried chicken, which make for novel additions. A Thai basil and chili minced pork dish is a particular favourite, and I have to admit it has me revisiting the buffet for a healthy portion of seconds.
The most fun, and really quite spectacular, element of the buffet is the grill station, which injects a sense of dramatic flair into the evening, and my companion tells me reminds me of his time exploring the night markets of Bangkok. Chicken, pork and jackfruit skewers are served slathered in a sweet and spicy sauce, and perhaps most spectacularly, huge, halved prawns are blow-torched to a perfect singed smokiness in front of us.
The evening on the whole is fairly spectacular, which seems to be in keeping with the story of the restaurant and its owners. Given the celebrations, a series of speeches is made, celebrating the restaurant’s longevity, and explaining the journey one half of the couple who own Chaopraya made from birth into poverty in rural Thailand, to owning a successful chain of restaurants on the other side of the world.
Family bonds seem to be at the heart of a lot of what happens at Chaopraya, and so I’m sure that they would be happy to know of their role in shaping my friend’s marriage all those years ago. It’s pleasing to see that, over a decade later, the same formula that worked so well for my friend and his wife continues to be successful, as we thoroughly enjoy a fun evening of Thai food and entertainment in the sleek and refined setting that is Chaopraya.
Here’s to many more happy birthdays for Chaophraya!
Photography by Jac Williamson.
Chaophraya
Address: 20A, Blayds Court, Swinegate, Leeds LS1 4AG
Hours:
| Sunday | 12–11 pm |
| Monday | 12–11 pm |
| Tuesday | 12–11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12–11 pm |
| Thursday | 12–11 pm |
| Friday | 12–11 pm |
| Saturday | 12–11 pm |
Delivery 12 noon–9:30 pm
Takeaway Ends 9:30 pm ·
Phone: 0113 430 0122
Menu: chaophraya.co.uk
Reservations: chaophraya.co.uk
