Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

You may remember our EPIC VIP feast at the Metrocentre a few months ago. Well Thaikhun is one of the restaurants that really stood out for us so we were delighted to be invited back to try their children's menu properly. Located in the new Qube in the Metrocentre, the decor is authentic and fun. We settled into a nice booth style seat which I always love as you can block your children in and stop them escaping - haha.

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

I ordered a Coconut Mojito which went down a treat and Steve went for a bottle of Singha beer (also good). The kids meals are priced at £5.95 for 3 (dubious) courses plus either milk, juice or water which is a good price I think. The kids ordered their milk and juice and we browsed the menu.

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

It had been all over social media and I had read in other reviews that kids get FREE creepy crawlies with every meal. Harry and I had been building up to this all day and we had decided we were going to film a live stream of us eating the bugs on our Facebook page. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for us the bugs never appeared and Harry was left disappointed.........(me not so much).

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review
It is also clearly states on both social media and the menu that kids will receive a free National Geographic Magazine filled with fun activities and facts which I know my children would have thoroughly enjoyed and it would have kept them entertained during the 50 minute wait we had for our food. Unfortunately, these magazines didn't materialise either which is a shame. We were expecting lots of child friendly activites so hadn't come prepared and our children ended up bored and resorted to fighting under the table. Nice! I find it very strange that we were invited to review the children's menu yet two major parts of the experience were left out. Who knows where things went wrong? 

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

When our starters did eventually arrive they were 100% worth the wait. I went for the Ka Nom Jeeb which are steamed prawn and pork dumplings. They were absolutely divine and I would seriously recommend you give them a go. Steve ordered the Satay chicken skewers which again were the best we've eaten. I don't think there was a single drop of satay sauce left as we all tried to get the very last of it.

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

The kids are given vegetable sticks as ther starter but in my opinion this one portion below between the three of them is seriously stingy......

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

So we ended up sharing our starters with the kids instead. Grrrrr for us but yeah for them! They also loved the chicken skewers.

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

Onto our main courses and the kids can choose either rice or noodles, then chicken, pork or vegetables plus a side sauce. There are a lot of aspects I really liked about their meal - I LOVED that there were lots of veg included, the kids enjoyed the trays the meals were served on as it reminded them of their school dinners (it's nice that is was familiar to them when they were in unfamiliar surroundings), there is child-sized cutlery and sauce on the side gets the huge thumbs up from us as it's perfect for fussy eaters or for tempting your kids to try something new by just 'dipping' part of their food in their sauce to try it.

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

The kids mostly enjoyed their meals and wolfed it down. Harry wasn't so keen on his noodles and I have to agree - they went cold very quickly and ended up as one congealed mess - he said he didn't expect them to be so plain. The rice however was fab so if you'd like my advice it would be make sure your kids order rice rather than noodles. 

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

Both mine and Steve's mains were very impressive - Steve went for barbequed pork on rice which was nice and succulent and served with a chicken broth on the side. All fabulous and something we would order again.

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

I went for the stir fried belly pork in red curry sauce which tasted lovely and authentic and had that kind of spice that just warms you up without making you gasp for water which I think is a pretty hard balance to achieve. As it was a stir fry I expected my dish to automatically come with noodles. It didn't and I should have read the menu properly as my meal seemed teeny in comparison to Steve's. I also think the staff should have picked up on this when I ordered & asked if I wanted any rice or noodles on the side. They didn't. Despite the lack of carbs, my meal was still lovely (and luckily I managed to steal some of Heidi's rice).

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

 The kids receive an ice lolly as part of their meal deal (which is a mini milk). As our plates were cleared we were asked which flavour they'd like (all chocolate) and their lollies were brought out straight away which was good. We waited for the dessert menu, and waited, and waited. The kids had finished their ice lollies and were getting restless yet we still weren't offered to have a look at the dessert menu or asked if we'd like to order. Due to my smaller than usual main course I could have really fancied some of the unique desserts on offer (Thai whisky sorbet, mango sticky rice, Thai waffles - they all sound wonderful). However it felt like we were forgotten about and time was getting on. Oh well, at least my hips will thank me :-)

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

Thaikhun Metrocentre - Children's Menu Review

So, Thaikhun was a bit of a mixed bag for us. Our food really stood out as being delicious, fresh and packed full of flavour. It is of a high standard and I would certainly return with Steve when we are next in the Metrocentre. In terms of being child friendly though, I think they have a nice concept but need to actually deliver this to their customers. They definitely need to pull their socks up and offer all the child-friendly extras to EVERY customer if they are going to stand out as they have a lot of competition on their doorstep.

Let me know if you've been to Thaikhun and how you found your experience.

NEW EDIT: Thaikhun have been in touch and apologised for our experience. They have accepted it isn't acceptable and are going to take out points on board which I think is a breath of fresh air. They are going to send the kids some National Geographic magazines out too which is a nice gesture. Hopefully my experience has just been a one off.

Disclosure: We received a complimentary family meal in return for an honest review. 
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33 comments

  1. hmmm, not good about the tiny portion for the starter between 3, we didn't get a Nat Geo mag either, looby did get a sheet to colour in with crayons and games on though so maybe it was just that. I also can't believe you didn't get the bugs, maybe they've thought better of that though considering just how disgusting they are?

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  2. we visited and loved it as we found it so child friendly, we did get the bugs and activities for the children mind and had very quick service. Also my children were giving a pot of veg sticks each , not to share. We also ordered the dumpling starter and the pork main and loved them, the food was delicious. The puddings were a highlight for us too, such a shame you didn't get to try them x

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  3. How strange that they didn't ask if you wanted a side?! Love the giant kids plates but it's a shame the food wasn't as good as it could have been.

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  4. What a shame about the bugs & magazine, not a great start especially when it's been advertised. The sharers for 3, not great at all. Honest review, good there's a lot of veg on offer, hopefully they'll take into consideration what they advertised and what they give.

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  5. Ah I'm sad that you didn't have the same brilliant experience as us- especially the bugs- that would have been fun to watch! We were exactly the same with the satay sauce, it was incredible x

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  6. It's a shame it was a hit and miss for u guys. The food looks good but its a shame the place wasn't that child friendly for you. The sharing starter for the kids isn't great for between 3 kids.

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  7. Shame about the bugs and the activities. I was asked to review, you have reminded me I must reply. It was the bugs that made me want to go. x

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  8. I've heard great things about Thaikhun. I'm really picky about customer service, and not sure if I'd go back after that. At least by giving them an honest review, you're giving them a chance to better service going forward.

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  9. I visited without Zoe and loved it, we were told about the stir fry dishes not coming with noodles when we ordered so got some to share. In all honesty I wasn't impressed with the look of the kids offering so wouldn't take Zoe there, I am sorry your experience wasn't great. I've heard such a mixed bag of reviews; its clear they need to work on consistency. :)

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  10. A bit of a hit and miss place then! It's a shame because it looks great there and the food looks so nice.

    Ashleigh x

    www.beingashleigh.com - UK fashion, lifestyle and travel blog

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  11. Hi Samantha

    Thank you for coming into review us with your children and sharing your review with us. We are really sorry that we've not delivered to the level we'd have hoped on this visit. We are working to resolve each of these issues. You absolutely should have had the bugs and one vegetable sticks each.

    Unfortunately we've had a delay on the activity sheets from Nat Geo Kids, which will be with us by this weekend. We are super excited to have been able to work with the editor to custom design them, so it took a little longer than we expected. We've organised for you to be sent a copy of the magazine and our activity sheet early next week, which we will happily offer to any of your readers here who have missed out too.

    We worked really hard on trying to create a proposition that works well for kids and families, so appreciate your feedback so we can get it right.

    Kop Khun ka
    Lynsey Milner
    Brand Manager

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    1. Thank you Lynsey and thanks for sending the kids a National Geographic magazine in the post - they really appreciate it :D

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  12. Rather mixed then but at least you're honest! I have heard about the bugs too and would like to see them at least as that gives an extra dimension. I don't think there's one near us but with three kids I'm not sure they're really catering for them if they don't provide half the stuff and are a bit measly with the portions too

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  13. We have one of these in Manchester and it's like a little piece of Thailand until we can go back.

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  14. Really balanced review and I've enjoyed reading it. I'm sorry you had a mixed experience but I'm pleased to read such an honest critique. I'll definitely be taking your recommendations on board for when we go!

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  15. Ohh I love thai food but I've never had the kids at a thai restaurant before. It sounds like a mixed experience but might be worth a shot x

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    1. Yeah it is worth returning because the main menu is actually really nice x

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  16. Good to see Thaikhun take your feedback on board. Places can have good and bad days. Sometimes it can be helped, others it was circumstances out of their control. I'm looking forward to returning to try out more lovely veggie and vegan dishes :)

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    1. I completely agree - they could have easily just brushed this under the carpet so nice to see them being proactive x

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  17. Shame it wasn't exactly what you expected x

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