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Lucky Khao Brighton

Northern Thai Barbeque

Lucky Khao shares its roof with one of Brighton’s most popular coffee shops, Redroaster, Lucky Khao (Khao meaning rice in Thai) serves Northern Thai charcoal barbeque, curries and sharing plates.

Lucky Khao Brighton interior. Marble top counter to the right and Lucky Khao diners to the left.

Nose to Tail, Northern Thai Cuisine

The inspiration for Lucky Khao came from a trip to Miami where owner and chef, Mike Palmer, was introduced to Northern Thai cuisine and the love affair for this Asian cuisine blossomed. The team at Lucky Khao Brighton have trained in top Bangkok restaurant 100 Mahaseth under chef Chalee Kader who is renowned for the sustainable, nose to tail Northern Thai barbeque cooking. The Restaurants Brighton blogger samples the Brighton BBQ style food in her blog.

a selection of Lucky Khao Brighton dishes situated on a table in their rear garden. BBQ skewers, grilled fish, corn ribs, a mouthwatering selection.

A unique offering in the UK

Lucky Khao Brighton is one of the only restaurants to specialise in northern Thai in the UK. The regional cuisine differs from what is usually available in Thailand by being more robust and flavoursome. The northern Thai climate is colder than the south, so the food is more suited to the UK.

sea bass with glass of cocktail. A picture taken in the Lucky Khao Brighton rear terrace garden. The picture shows a grey table top with green garden plant to the right. It looks very pretty.

The food at Lucky Khao.

The menu at Lucky Khao Brighton serves up barbequed meats and steaks, cooked over coal fires, with the open plan kitchen offering diners plenty to watch. Accompanying the barbeque are northern style curries, with smoked meats, fresh, zingy salads and sticky organic rice from a small-batch Thai farm.

bbq corn

While remaining authentic to the traditions of Thai cuisine, Lucky Khao Brighton is suited to a modern, relaxed and British dining experience. The menu steers clear of complicated descriptions and names, removing guesswork or Google translate from the equation.

Current favourites amongst the Lucky Khao Brighton team are charcoal roasted chicken marinated with chilli, lemongrass, ginger and coriander served with Nam Jim pepper sauce and tamarind; and sour aubergine curry with bean sprouts and pickled greens. Oh, and we mustn’t forget the White Corn ribs. (Vegan and delicious.)

BBQ corn and chicken

Over 40% of the menu is meat and dairy-free and almost all dishes can be gluten-free. The dining style is casual, social and family-friendly with most dishes suited to sharing.

friends dining at the table

To accompany the food at Lucky Khao Brighton there is a creative drink selection with cocktails well-paired to the menu, local beers and organic, biodynamic wines.

pink cocktail

Core values at Lucky Khao Brighton

Sustainability is more than a buzzword for Lucky Khao, who also owns the worlds highest ranking Sustainable Restaurants Award establishment, Lucky Beach, on Brighton Seafront. Meat and vegetables are locally sourced as much as possible, and the more exotic speciality herbs and salads are grown in their nearby hydroponic farm, removing the need to freight ship from Thailand.

chef holding plate and decorating dish

The venue itself, which will become decked in bright neon in the evening, is multi-award-winning, sustainably built and powered. The Kemptown Projects also give back with social projects in the UK and Rwanda.

interior of lucky khao, ceiling decorated with plant that hang, bar charis, orange lights

Reviews

  1. Suzy

    Wow, just wow! A return to inside dining with a bang, amazing vibes & music and just the most delicious food – I especially enjoyed the mutton massaman curry 🙂 Gorgeous cocktails and very attentive staff, would thoroughly recommend!

  2. WT

    OMG the corn ribs are amazing – a must-have. I wanted to try the rice ball sticks, but they ran out – guess I’ll have to go back. The yellow curry was incredible, one of those dishes that hits every bit of your palate hot, smokey, a hint of sharp; it just kept on delivering flavours. I love the neon decor, and the staff all seem to be having a good time while still getting a good job done.

  3. Elle Bolland

    Not just your usual order of pad thai and green curry with sticky rice. This is true authentic cuisine as if you were tasting it in Thailand!

  4. jessietif@gmail.com

    Wow wow wow! I used to live in Northern Thailand and no restaurant in England has ever come close to replicating the true northern flavours that I missed so much! Brave enough to go bold as the cuisine requires, I cannot recommend this place enough if you’re after authentic Thai food. Exceptional service too! Super friendly and show they really care about your dining experience. Can’t wait to go back once lockdown is over!

  5. ivanka majic

    I love this place. The food is bursting with exciting flavours, the staff are empowered and happy, and it’s a great place to polish off a few glasses of wine – and maybe a cocktail – while chatting with friends and making your taste buds dance.

  6. Angela Simmonds

    An evening to remember and a menu packed full of punch.
    Think quality barbequed and marinaded meats, corn ribs were unique, some dishes were rather hot but I managed to cope! Good atmosphere and you can certainly see that everyone loves working there.

    Excellent addition for Brighton, a refreshing change and much more chilled vibes compared to what the venue was before.

    Really love this place and plenty of great dishes to remember.

    Oh an try their northern dog! The northern thai take on a hot dog. Well done Lucky Khao!

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