Absolutely delicious and authentic Thai food! If you’ve been craving real Thai food since your holiday to Thailand then this place is exactly where you need to go when you get the Thailand blues. Open kitchen so you can see the chefs working away in a very clean environment using fresh produce and it all reflects in the taste. The dishes are accurate in their spice rating and every mouthful for us was delicious. I was so excited to see some morning glory on the menu too. Great way to get some veg into that fussy eater. A true gem in the southside and I can see why they won Scotland's best restaurant last year. I wouldn’t hesitate in bringing a Thai granny here because that’s how authentic the food is. No packets, everything is made in house, with the experience being clear in every dish.
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Before you go
- Chef / owner
- Owner Robert Kokosza; Head Chef Patryk
- Opened
- 2022
- Style
- Thai bar and restaurant in Shawlands (former Koku Shi); homemade Thai cooking with mezzanine bar
- Setting
- Shawlands, 317 Kilmarnock Road; heart of Shawlands / southside
- Awards
- Scottish Restaurant Awards 2024 – Thai Restaurant of the Year (The Thai Bar & Restaurant, Kilmarnock Road) — Scottish Daily Express
- Known for
- Award-winning Shawlands Thai, Handmade curry pastes and authentic Thai flavours, Warm service, Southside Thai dining
- Signature dishes
- Chicken Satay / Chicken Wings, Pad Thai, Thai Green / Red / Penang / Massaman curries, Weeping Tiger Beef, King Prawn in Tamarind
- Good for
- evening Thai dinner, weekend afternoon/evening, date night / special occasion, families (kids menu)
- Prices
- From official menu page: starters ~£7.90–£9.50; soups ~£10.50–£11.50; Pad Thai £17–£20.50 by protein; green/red/Penang/yellow/Massaman curries from £16 tofu / £18 chicken / £19.50 lamb or beef / £20.50 prawn; Weeping Tiger Beef £27; King Prawn in Tamarind £27; desserts £10.90; rice sides £4.50–£6.50.
- Reservations
- Walk-ins often fine
- Booking
- Book online at thethai.uk/book (holds table 90 minutes) or call 0141 328 9156. Party size options up to 7+. Booking recommended for evenings; walk-in also implied by site copy.
- Dietary tags
- vegetarian options
- Dietary
- Tell the team about allergies or dietary requirements — many dishes can be adapted; ask about allergens and spice. Menu marks vegetarian options (🌱) and chilli heat levels.
- Drinks
- Full bar / cocktails after permanent alcohol licence (press); mezzanine bar mentioned at launch.
- Service charge
- Discretionary 10% service charge added to tables.
- Closed
- Monday
- Getting there
- Beside Pollokshaws East railway station (Glasgow Foodie); Shawlands Cross bus interchange nearby on Pollokshaws Road / Kilmarnock Road.
- Also
- Hours: Tue–Thu 5pm–9pm; Fri–Sat 2pm–10pm; Sun 2pm–9pm; Mon closed.; Spring 2026: site news (31 Mar) noted quiet midweek trade and a GoFundMe appeal; 5 Jun update said two chefs had been off ill, new chefs recruited, and the restaurant was ‘fully staffed and operating as normal’ — check current news or phone before relying on midweek visits.; Apr 2025 Glasgow Live: listed for sale at £249,000 (~50 covers) — sale outcome not verified; do not assume ownership has changed.; Google rating 4.8 (421) from research brief.; Instagram @thethaiuk; Facebook thethaibarandrestaurant.
Glasgow restaurant
The Thai Bar & Restaurant
Opening hours
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM
Overview
The Thai Bar & Restaurant sits at 317 Kilmarnock Road in Shawlands (former Koku Shi), a short hop from Pollokshaws East station and Shawlands Cross buses. Owner Robert Kokosza — a Polish Muay Thai champion who trained for years in Thailand — opened it in 2022 after spotting a gap for Thai food on the south side; Head Chef Patryk leads a kitchen the site describes as handmade pastes and authentic Thai cooking. In March 2024 it won Thai Restaurant of the Year at the Scottish Restaurant Awards (Scottish Daily Express), ahead of Chaophraya as highly commended. Google’s listing shows a strong 4.8 rating. Typical praise centres on starters, curries/noodles made to order, and warm service; portions and spice levels suit a proper sit-down Thai rather than a bargain takeaway. Practical details from the official site: closed Mondays; Tue–Thu 5–9pm, Fri–Sat 2–10pm, Sun 2–9pm. Book online (tables held 90 minutes) or call 0141 328 9156. A discretionary 10% service charge is added; many dishes can be adapted for allergies if you tell the team. Menu anchors include starters around £8–£9.50, Pad Thai from £17, green/red curries from £16 tofu / £18 chicken, and house specials such as Weeping Tiger Beef (£27). In spring 2026 the restaurant publicly noted quiet midweek trade and a fundraising appeal, then posted in June that new chefs were in place and it was “operating as normal” — worth a quick check of their news page or a call before travelling midweek.
Reviews
The food was absolutely amazing – full of flavor, fresh, and beautifully presented. Every dish we tried was delicious, from the starters to the mains. Furthermore, the customer service was perfect – warm, welcoming, and genuinely attentive throughout our visit. The staff went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking for authentic Thai cuisine with top-notch service. Can’t wait to go back!
Read on Google MapsEverything was wonderful. The best thai food I have ever had. No wonder it was rated the beat thai restaurant in scotland!
Read on Google MapsI ate here a week ago and I'm still thinking about it. I am a BIG Thai red curry person. I have ordered it from any restaurant I go to in hopes of finding the "Holy Grail" of that red curries. Well, I have officially found it! Every single bite was like a party in my mouth. All the flavours came through perfectly, the rice was cooked to perfection, and you could TASTE the love & care that went into cooking it. We also had the passionfruit burnt cheesecake, again the absolute BEST cheesecake I've ever had! The restaurant itself is so clean, nicely decorated, with a wonderful intimate atmosphere. Every employee I interacted with was so kind and seemed genuinely happy to be there. The chef came over to ask us about the food and she is an absolutely wonderful person. Just from talking to her for a short while, you could tell how passionate she is about bringing authentic thai food to Glasgow. I'm seriously considering asking her to cater my wedding. I can't wait to go back there every chance I get!
Read on Google MapsBest Pad kra pow ever had! The beef is not minced, but instead very chewy diced beef. The spicing is also very diverse with basil and spiciness.
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