Trendy hotel chain The Hoxton has a new outpost, this time choosing west London’s Shepard’s Bush to set up shop. At first, expect all The Hoxton has previously promised you – a cool lobby area with statement art pieces and sinkable armchairs. Straight ahead is a ritzy, brasserie-style bar and peeking through it, you can just about see the ground-floor restaurant, Chet’s.
The Hoxton is well-versed in collaborating with pop-ups and Chet’s was road-tested at the Holborn branch before becoming a permanent fixture here. This is the first UK venture for chef and founder Kris Yenbamroong, who already has a successful group of restaurants in California. Chet’s brings together the ‘Americana’ spirit of the West Coast and Yenbamroong’s Thai heritage, nodding to his family’s cult restaurant which was among the first to serve mainstream Thai food in LA.
Yenbamroong clearly understands the power of a few crowd-pleasing, signature dishes and the menu is littered with plates you’ll want to share with your mates. We tried the day menu, from which the pineapple rice is a non-negotiable. Picture an almost comically-large, hollowed pineapple stuffed with tasty fried rice, crispy onions and peanuts, topped with shards of crab meat. Moist, sweet, salty; it’s the perfect side. We also loved the succulent BBQ shrimp which was served on skewers and satisfyingly smothered in peanut sauce. If you’re a fan of katsu chicken, the fried chicken khao soi nods towards this well-known recipe and shouldn’t be missed. The chicken is mouth-watering, but we were obsessed with the Chiang Mai sauce - it was rich and fragrant, punctuated with freshness in the form of coriander, bean sprouts and red onions.
The drinks offering is just as exciting with a well-thought-out list of cocktails, of which Thaiami Vice leads the charge. With a playful nod to full moon parties, this four-person cocktail is served in a bucket and mixes Mehkong, Barcadi Carta Blanca, strawberry, coconut, lemongrass, pineapple, citrus and mint. It’s like going on holiday.
Other parts of Chet’s menu reference America’s diner culture. Among the breakfast selection, you’ll find classics such as pancakes and waffles, while the dessert menu includes hard milkshakes with all the toppings. This is a big inspiration for the retro décor, too. With pencil-eraser pinks and faded beiges, it feels like a 70s motel in the best way. The space is anchored by a string of patterned booths which reinforce the diner feel and include chic design features such as soft café curtains. It’s safe to say you’ll want to get a few pictures.