E A T
UBON
Traditional Thai food served in a modern setting
In England we love our curry, and being English I’m no exception. Whether it’s Indian, Thai, Sri Lankan or Nepalese, if it’s called curry I’ll eat it! So I was more than pleased when I landed in Kuwait and discovered there’s much love for chicken curry and biryani. But what I have been missing is the sweet hint of coconut in the traffic light colors of Thai cuisine – the red, green and yellow curries. I wouldn’t really say I snatched the assignment to try out this Thai restaurant but let’s just say nobody else really got a look in. Much to the dismay of our photographer, but to my delight, she’d forgotten about the assignment and eaten lunch before we set off – all the more for me!
ubon is a local concept started by four friends. They employ a Thai chef who created an authentic menu that apparently features more than a couple of secret recipes that I’m certain not even the owners could squeeze out of him. The subtle entrance is an unassuming black door flanked by floor to ceiling windows. The name ubon, in gold, above the door only nods to what’s inside. When you take a closer look at the door (I only noticed upon exiting as I was in a rush to get in) you’ll notice it’s constructed of blackened, burnt wood which continues, covering the walls inside. I later am told that this is shou-sugi-ban, or burnt sugi boards, which is a traditional Japanese technique of treating
wood to cover house exteriors. The sugi boards are contrasted by the raw concrete in the form of a pillar and window casings resulting in a traditional-meets-modern look. The décor inside follows this theme; the classic combination of black, with hints of gold, suggests a minimalist approach with a hint of luxury. For appetizers we tried the Ubon Jumbo Prawns which were not only plump and tasty, but topped with air-dried garlic which adds a great depth of flavor. We opted for the Chicken Satay Sticks over the beef ones which are both offered on the menu. Ubon’s Peanut Sauce, which accompanies the satay, perfectly complements the chicken.