Thai Kitchen No.6

Thai Kitchen No.6 is a real family restaurant. That means it’s a homespun affair without the sheen of some other South East Asian venues in Manchester – unless you count the sheen on the colourful laminated menus.

But that doesn’t matter. There are plenty of decadent palaces around if that’s what you’re after. At Thai Kitchen No.6 the interior is basic but there’s a warm welcome and the sort of food eaten by families all over Thailand although they’ve turned the spiky heat down for British palates – perhaps a notch too far if you’re looking for the authentic experience.

There’s a focus on salads with real Thai staples that don’t always make the journey to Western menus such as yum moo yor (a mix of thin pork sausage, tomato, onion and coriander in a spicy lime dressing) and som tam khao pod kai kem (a spicy green papaya salad with corn and salted egg).

Apart from the vast selection of salads, the menu follows the expected pattern of starters, stir fries, soups, curries and noodle dishes. Expect popular favourites like the sweet and sour pud preaw wan and green curry to more unusual choices like ba mee moo krob (egg noodles with crispy pork belly and cabbage) or pad med ma muang (roasted cashews, water chestnuts, carrots and peppers stir-fried in a roasted chilli sauce). None of these are going to set Instagram alight but what they lack in prettiness, they make up for in comfort and flavour.

Sometimes you want feelgood food not look good food. A beer, some spring rolls and a big bowl of spicy broth to clear your sinuses and job’s a good ‘un. That’s Thai Kitchen No.6 – full of understated pleasures. But as we all know, it’s the little things in life that count, like family, friends and fried squid.

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