illness serif;”>If you’re searching for scrumptious Thai or Asian food on a budget, look no further than Koh. Nestled in behind the Jervis Centre beside Boojum and Cactus Jacks, Koh is in the perfect location. Since opening in 2007, it has won numerous awards for its food and cocktail selection.
Stylish and contemporary in decor, it can accommodate large parties and has private booths available. It’s suitable for a quick bite to eat during the day (offering an early bird menu until 5pm) or for a meal during the evening. It also offers a Koh-to-go service from 5.30pm onwards, so you can have their food delivered to your door.
Traditional Thai food is a distinctly healthy option for eating out and Koh boasts an impressive range of mouth watering dishes to try out. There is generally a special dish of the day on offer and their menu has both vegetarian and gluten free options. Being a picky eater, I was apprehensive to try Koh as I’m not a fan of particularly spicy or citrus based foods. I ventured into Koh while waiting on a friend in town and sampled from their lunch menu, choosing a salad, Som Tam.
An impressive range of flavours was blended into the dish; it consisted of grilled chicken, carrot, papaya, chilli, lime juice, fish sauce, peanut, dried shrimp, cherry tomato, fine bean and was served with rice. I was pleasantly surprised by how appetizing the combination was, and impressed at the quality of the ingredients – they were all delicious, fresh and had been cooked to perfection. After a brief glance at the dessert menu, I selected the white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake. Served with berry sauce, it is definitely one of the best desserts I’ve tried in a long time at any restaurant (which says a lot about the standard of desserts in Dublin). Both dishes were served within great time and were of adequate portions and satisfactory; I didn’t leave the restaurant with that horrible sluggish feeling which can occur after eating out. My bill came to €15.50 in total, which considering how delectable the food was (and how broke I am), is jaw droppingly good.
One of Koh’s best (albeit slightly expensive) features is the cocktail bar which offers cocktail making master classes and has an extensive, award winning list of drinks to indulge in. The delectable selection has a huge emphasis on illustrating the zesty flavours of Asia and Thailand. Their exclusive Koh created Corto cocktail consists of Gosling rum, raspberry puree, pomegranate molasses, sugar, chocolate bitters and crushed ice. At ten euros, it’s not the worst price to be paying for a luxurious cocktail. Even with its cocktail bar, the restaurant does not have any overtly loud or rowdy patrons, and the overall ambiance is pleasant and relaxing. The staff in Koh are remarkably friendly, quick to assist and maintain a proficient manner at all times, and deserve recognition for their professionalism.
Koh is fast becoming one of my favourite haunts in the city centre and a definite go-to when on the northside of town.
