Chaophraya

Very good restaurant in a tremendous setting, the interior of the building takes your breath away. That along with great food makes this a must do in Glasgow

Really liked the food on the couple of occasions I’ve visited Chao Phraya. I’ve lived in Thailand, and it feels (and smells!) authentic. What’s not so authentic is the bill — pretty expensive compared to other Thai restaurants in Glasgow where the service is much more welcoming.
Chao Phraya service feels like a conveyor belt — get you in, feed you, get you out. There’s no love or attention and for a setting like this, you really expect more. I’d go back for the corn cakes alone, but I would have low expectations on service.

I have been wanting to try this place for ages and finally got to try it last night. We booked an hour before and went a little shopping then popped back. The inside is beautiful, huge and delectably decorated. We finished our shopping and turned up 20mins early so we sat in the very cozy bar until our table was ready. Drinks are a bit pricy but I guess that’s why the décor is so lush. Really cozy seats and sofas and table service, if you have dinner booked they add your bill to your table which is helpful. To go to your table you are escorted up some stairs to a stunning and light restaurant which was nice and warm. You can see in to the kitchen from most tables which is a nice touch. Food was nice, nothing outstanding for Thai food but we ate it all. We both opted for the dumplins (dim sum) to start which came with a nice dipping sauce and some salad and pak choi. I got the Thai chicken green curry and husband got the lamb massiman curry both delicious and my husbands lamb was so tender but my chicken was a bit boiled in texture. We got sides of pak choi, egg fried rice and noddles to go with our mains and although not the biggest of portions it filled us up. We couldn’t fit in desert so didn’t et the chance to see what was on offer. We had to re-​ask for our drinks on a couple of occasions which is a pain and my husband asked for a coke and got a draft which had obviously ran out so was mostly sofa water which we had to ask to get taken off the bill. All in all I am glad we tried it but wouldn’t rush back.

Love it here. Delicious Thai food in opulent surroundings. It’s always a delight to eat here

Absolutely decadent, indulgent dining experience with fantastic range of exciting vegetarian options. I had the really smoky, sticky and tasty barbecue vegetable skewers to start and a beautiful and nuanced enoki mushroom and tofu dish for my main.
Really splendid décor — like a themed experience while remaining very elegant. Genuinely superb and unobtrusive table service, among the very best I’ve ever experienced. A phenomenal selection of cocktails with a range of lovely mocktails for the teetotal among us! Genuinely marvellous

Not recommend to guys who ever ate original Thai food. For me， it is far away from great. But，the atmosphere and decorations are wonderful.

Well, to start with the décor is lovely. Usually with past experiences in Thai restaurants I’ve found décor to be a bit bland and old fashioned, but this looked like Thai fine dining as soon as I walked in! Also I must say I’m never usually a fan of chain restaurants but Chaophraya does not feel like you are in one at all.
The food doesn’t taste like it either! The last time I went, for main I had chicken pad Thai which I really liked. Nice flavours without being too spicy which is exactly what I’m looking for with Thai. The presentation of the food is also worth a mention — really, really nice.
There’s also a really nice bar area that you can sit in for ages after you’ve had your meal for a few cocktails or whatever takes your fancy. The prices are very reasonable, I’ve been at lunch time for 2 courses and alcohol and spent about £15. I’ve also been in the evening and not broke the bank. Not bad for what feels like somewhere that could be much more expensive!

Very nice and very plush. What an amazing building and décor!
Food beautiful and good service.

Time for another update.
19 of us returned yesterday for a farewell memorial dinner to my dad in one of their private dining rooms. From start to finish the service laid on by the team was exceptional.
The restaurant looks amazing and is very grand. everyone who had not been there before was wowed by the décor and also the food. We went with banquets to share and the food was exceptional. For starters there was everything from the tastiest prawn toast (ever) to tempura prawns to chicken satay. For mains we got to share green thai curry, beef with oyster sauce. Crispy duck, rice and pad thai noodles.
The staff did everything they could to help make the day go by without a hitch. From playing in 60’s music that my dad would of liked, to allowing us to put his pictures up and even leaving their mobile with us to create a wi fi hot spot for my nephew to be able to do a presentation about his grandad on his laptop.
Top marks for amazing service and food.

You could be forgiven for thinking deep pockets are needed to eat in Chaopraya’s super-​swanky dining room, but not so. We weren’t wanting to splash too much cash so booked a table for lunchtime. About half of the options on the set menu were either vegetarian or could be made vegetarian with tofu or vegetables. The staff were really friendly and happy to answer questions about the menu. Food-​wise everything was cooked to perfection, beautifully presented and tasted exceptionally good. We also had a seat right next to the large open kitchen which looked and smelled great!
The cocktail menu was looked too tempting to resist so I opted for the Siam Smile. I think I’ve found a new favourite! One was enough for lunchtime though, so I went with tap water for the rest of the meal. The portions aren’t huge, but no-​one had room for dessert and we’re all hearty eaters. If you want some swank without breaking the bank the two course lunch menu is the way to go. There were rooms available for private dining, so perhaps Chaopraya is a good idea for a small party. The grand décor definitely gives the place a ‘special occasion’ vibe. Well worth a try.

Such a beautiful place to dine, yet the food is not quite up to scratch.
If everything was about presentation– I would give them full marks. A beautiful imposing building that’s holds ornate flower arrangements over each floor.
The menus are slim and elegant. It sort of sets the expectations a little higher.
The food is quite average, yet it is priced up. I was disappointed with my starter that was the tempura prawns. They used an insane amount of oil and it tasted too rich/​heavy in the batter.
My main was better, the Penang Beef Curry. It was a mild coconut curry with tender strips of beef. I had coconut rice with the dish and it suited it perfectly.
This place is an impressive place to go if you want to eat out for an occasion. But you might be letdown by the average cooking.

The first time we ate here was abysmal, not due to the food or service. Due to the fact we chose to sit outside and unfortunately were down wind from a table of chain smokers. We couldn’t even taste our food, after spending so much money i was so disappointed.
I would never have gone back as the experience was awful, one women even shook out her napkin throwing her chewed up food on me (Ew!) We received a voucher as a christmas present and i was excited to give it another shot.
The venue is beautiful and the service was impeccable, we had a beautiful night. The food was to die for, i had the thai green curry with a side of coconut rice and having been to Thailand found it very authentic. It was so delicious my partner has been trying to replicate it ever since. Our waiter was never too far away and always smiling, our drinks were always delivered within minutes.
I will go back as soon as my budget will let me! delicious food and Devine service.

Thai fine dinning !
Cruised in here for a date, and ordered several things which I cannot recall nor pronouce.
It was good. It was very good.
Interior is very nice and i particularly like the table that looks over the main restaurant. It is pricey but you do get what you pay for on the whole.
I like thai food, if you like thai food you should eat here also. Remember to book its always busy, I’ve been turned away twice before due to it being full.

So this was my first time eating Thai food, and I have to say. I am hooked.
If all food were are skilfully crafted and put together as this meal was then the world would be a much more elegant place.
The food itself was stunning. And the variety of the menu surprised me.
Even choosing one of the more traditional dishes, did not mean the food was any less spectacular. I literally couldn’t eat any more long before my plate was empty. Yet I kept on going as the flavour and wonderful textures were overwhelmingly satisfying.
The presentation of each dish was a work of art. I haven’t experienced such variety and flair in such a long time and really I couldn’t have asked for more.
We watched as a flaming plate of kebab skewers were skilfully lit and delivered to the table. Truly the food is meant to be experienced rather than just eaten. Even the beef in black bean sauce was served into a dish which was so hot the food jumped about on the plate and made everyone’s mouths water.
The décor in the venue reflects the beauty of the food. Some restaurants would seem tacky and overly decorated with the choice of furnishings in here. But somehow the Thai décor and the aged Scottish building marry together in a wonderful way and puts you at ease in what is truly a classy venue.
Negatives? There are none. Within 6 minutes our table of nine were served their meals and not one person complained. The staff operate on a scale of excellence and I couldn’t have expected more.
The menu is pricey, but that’s to be expected. The venue exudes class and formality, yet doesn’t overwhelm or feel off putting.
I cannot wait to come back and investigate the menu further, and I highly recommend the experience whether you’re a Thai food expert or a novice like myself. It’s a great starting point and gives a wonderful benchmark to set getting to grips with this style of cuisine further.

Food wasn’t great.
Ordered signature soup and the signature crispy pork belly.
Seafood in soup had a smell and the crispy pork belly was chewy instead of crispy

Well, it was my 2^nd or 3^rd time eating here. It’s an über-​cool restaurant, Europe’s largest Thai eaterie in fact, located in a renovated Victorian music school on Glasgow’s favourite shopping street. The main hall is imposing, and although it has been fitted out to a high modern standard there are elephant statues and Buddhas in every available corner. Its comfy too!
We popped in for lunch, service is brisk and friendly as I’ve found before. I went for the Satay Gai (chicken satay) and the Gang Kiew Wan Gai (Thai green chicken curry). The satay was flavoursome, very smooth, and the curry was just a wee bit different having the aubergine and courgette (thinly sliced obviously) in it. It had a bit of a warming kick, it maybe could have done with a little more.
Chaophraya is an exotic restaurant than tries to please everyone, and it does that pretty well. It is right up there with its peers, but perhaps a few more risks with the seasoning and it would be even more to my taste.

Arrfhhhhh well worth the price great service, lamb was beautiful. Singha beer imported. It felt like being back in the Paradise of Thailand itself. Great interior and ambience. Very classy. Don’t go if you are not able to appreciate the tastes of Thailand! Well worth the price.

Well where to start! This was the second time now I had been to Chaophraya. The first time was a disaster, waiting 2 hours for our 8pm table booking and under cooked meals however at the time I was sure that was teething problems! Don’t get me wrong if they got the service right it would have been exceptional! I was lucky my meal was nice and I would recommend the beef Penang.
My recent time at Chaophraya was a special one my mother in laws 70^th birthday! Showing progress our table was ready on time — things are starting to look better! We were sat in the grand dining room. It was massive. I ordered the Thai fish cakes, I wasn’t overly impressed a bit chewy and bland! At this point still finding the service is still not on the ball! I asked for water it seemed to get forgotten about but alcohol was still reaching the tables. Out come or mains! I went for a change this time — beef with black pepper came with a sizzling plate! It was nice however I’m glad I ordered a side of noodles! There was no indication of weather or not to order sides or what your meal actually comes with. Normally that’s fine because the waiter/​waitress is upfront and wanting to guide you on your food experience — this was no way was this was in place! My beef was cooked nice and I would recommend the food but I wouldn’t be my first recommendation.
The service has improved a great deal but not 3 star material! This 3 star is on the improvement and the food!

I haven’t been here for a while although was just thinking recently I should head back soon as I fancy some of the marinated pork on the sharing platter! And the cocktails! Since I’m on a roll with reviewing, I thought I’d write about the previous times I’ve been.
The first, not long after it opened, I went with Nik and we were blown away by the décor — a lot of money was obviously well spent transforming a beautiful building back to something amazing after life as a tacky shop for so long. All the thai touches, the wooden elephant as you enter, the gorgeous floral arrangements and all the golden statues are fantastic.
The food is equally impressive although my mains choice ended up being too spicy for me (the pork belly stir fry) but I LOVED the sharing platter to start. At £9.95 per person it’s not cheap but it is packed with different tasty treats. We are both allergic to peanuts so asked for prawn toast instead of satay but have had the platter every time since and just have the satay sticks without the peanut sauce. They taste great with the other dips! My favourite though is definitely the pork and the duck salad is surprisingly nice too as I’m not usually a fan of meaty salads with fruit in them but I love this with the pomegranate (even though the dressing is pretty hot, I can just manage a small portion as it’s still tasty depsite the heat).
Since then I have also sampled the green thai curry (delicious, I asked for it mild but it still had a good kick without being too much), lamb shank in yellow curry sauce with veg (very, very nice and tender with awesome flavours), grilled prawns (wasn’t a fan) and duck tamarind (fantastic and defiitely what I’d order again next time). We’ve taken both our parents here as well as friends from out of town. It’s a lovely venue with great food and drinks but definitely a treat as it’s quite expensive. We have taken advantage of their Tuesday offer a few times though, if you order the sharing platter you get a free cocktail or beer! Result!
We’ve never actually had dessert as we’ve always been so full but I love the cocktails! My partiular favourite is the Made In Thailand — very refreshing with lemongrass and ginger — perfect with spicy food :)
Original review on my blog —

Entering Chaophraya, we were greeted by our Thai host who guided us up the stairs to the Grand Ballroom and to our table. En route, you could tell that the Old Townhouse was renovated to a extremely high standard. The use of colours, lighting and statues made the Foyer Entrance breathtaking.
We sat at our table and were shown the menu, the waitress discussed Specials and then left us to ponder. In all honesty, the menu was huge, I didn’t know where to start.
After a good 10 minutes, we settled for the Asian Platter to start with (£9.95 Per Person) which is «the ultimate starter selection of chicken satay, prawn tempura, chicken spring rolls, marinated pork with honey and Thai herbs. Served with a crispy duck salad».
The Chicken Satay with it’s accompanying Peanut Sauce literally took me back to the Hawker Stalls in Singapore where I used to buy Satay Sticks to snack on. The Peanut Sauce was nicely flavoured and not overpowering. The Chicken was seasoned and cooked well. I loved it so much I started munching on the sticks the Chicken was on. The Prawn Tempura was light, fluffy & not at all oily for something which is fried. I love Prawn Tempura and sometimes, the Prawns can be overcooked while trying to achieve the right golden colour on the outside, these were cooked perfectly. I dipped the Prawns in the Peanut Sauce to see how it tasted… it works! Thumbs up!
The Chicken Spring Rolls were flavoursome, complete with a good combination of ingredients and filled well. The Filo Pastry was crispy, not overcooked and when mixed with some Sweet Chilli Sauce on the side, it was great. I wish we had more of these. Another favourite of mine was the Marinated Pork with honey and Thai herbs, something I would never generally order on the menu. The Pork was a mix of sweet & salty, rich in flavour and had a nice crisp to it. Once again, I tried the Sweet Chilli Sauce and also the Sweet Soy Sauce with the Pork. Both sauces working perfectly.
Unfortunately, I was let down with the Crispy Duck Salad. I like Duck, however this was too crispy, too salty and too spicy for my liking. I love spicy food, but for some reason every time I ate some, it caught the back of my throat. Overall, Duck Salad permitting, I loved the Asian Platter and would definitely have it again sans Duck Salad.
Next up, I ordered the King Prawns with Ginger (£14.95) which was «King Prawns sautéed with straw mushrooms, fresh ginger, peppers, onions, spring onions, chilli and soya beans». Accompanying this, I ordered Coconut Rice which was soft & fluffy. I couldn’t fault this dish at all. The Prawns were a good size, loved the seasoning, the Prawns were soft and tasted great. I also got a side dish of Pad Pak Choi (£3.95) which was «sautéed pak choi with chilli, garlic and ginger». I love Pak Choi and together with the King Prawns and Coconut Rice, it was the perfect combination.
My mom, who came with me, ordered the Lamb Shank in Yellow Curry (£15.95) which was a «braised lamb shank with potatoes, garlic and onions in a rich turmeric flavoured curry topped with fried shallots served with grilled pumpkin, lady fingers and broccoli». The lamb fell off the bone, cooked perfectly while being slightly spicy with the Yellow Curry. I couldn’t fault this dish one bit, the lamb melted in your mouth & curried vegetables were a nice addition.
I wasn’t too sure if I could fit in dessert but how could we not? After a short break I had Fresh Fruit Fondue with Chocolate Sauce (£6.55) and my mom ordered Chocolate & Coconut Deep Fried Ice Cream (£5.75). You couldn’t really fault any of these desserts. Fruit & Chocolate are the perfect combination! The Deep Fried Ice Cream was crunchy & golden brown on the outside then nice & gooey in the middle. Loved it!
Overall, I really liked Chaophraya. It was about time Glasgow had a high-​end Thai Restaurant like this. It is pricey but I do think the food is worth it. I would visit Chaophraya for it’s Cocktail Menu & Satay alone!