Rosa's Thai (formerly Rosa's Thai Cafe) has become a household name in the UK. Founder Saiphin Moore has created an empire of relaxed Thai dining that Brits just love. Moore grew up on a mountain farm in northern Thailand before moving to Hong Kong at just 18. After a lot of cooking, she moved to London in 2006. The chain started as a food stall on Brick Lane, before quickly gaining momentum. Now twenty sites strong, Rosa's Thai shows no signs of slowing down. This Cardiff branch is perfectly placed in the city centre, much to the delight of foodies, students and tourists.
Here, all things start with prawn crackers, served with a selection of tasty dipping sauces. Pumpkin crackers, which are vegan, are also available. After this, we recommend the sharing platter, as it showcases all the best starters on one plate. The meat platter includes chicken satay, spring rolls, pork skewers, Thai calamari and prawn crackers, while the veggie option swaps in summer rolls, sweetcorn cakes and salt and pepper tofu. Noodle enthusiasts can then opt for a pad Thai or spicy drunken noodles with fragrant Thai basil.
The much-loved house green curry is, of course, available here and a must for all newcomers. Alternatively, try the massaman, red pineapple curry or panang. For something a little lighter, chicken larb salad is a great go-to, featuring toasted rice, mint, fried shallots, coriander and chilli powder, mixed with minced chicken and served with lettuce cups. To drink, we recommend the boozy iced tea, which mixes Havana dark rum with Thai lemon iced tea, served in a jar with a handle. Alternatively, sip on the house pale ale, Chang beer or the short, summery wine list. There is also an entirely gluten-free menu available, as well as a children's menu for the little ones.