Thai flavours wrapped in Americana diner style: Chet’s restaurant in Shepherd’s Bush

Promising an authentic fusion of Thai inspired flavours with American classics, Chet’s is the latest eatery nestled inside The Hoxton hotel in Shepherd’s Bush. Whilst many hotel bars and attached restaurants can feel like an airport-esque space of transience, Chet’s puts the rest in restaurant, bringing a quietly luxurious spin on the traditional diner booths and big portions, immediately bringing you into a buzzy but relaxed atmosphere.

The cocktails are where the place shines the most, with Thai twists on all the favourites. You can treat yourself to a Watermelon Cooler or a Lychee Martini which hit all the sharp, refreshing accents you crave on a Friday night.

If you happen to be a tequila drinker or have a penchant for a spicy marg, then you are in for one of the most sumptuous sips of your life thanks to Chet’s Verde Picante. With a touch of cucumber and aloe, it’s simultaneously cooling without holding back on fiery heat. In fact, this cocktail alone is worth putting Chet’s on your dining hit list.

However, there are plenty of other reasons Chet’s is a good spot to visit, and those reasons are their starters. From homemade cornbread with Khao Soi butter to sticky glazed wings, it’s the kind of fare you’ll both be salivating over and wondering why you can’t cook like this at home.

Highlights for us included the prawn toast which comes folded like a bao bun and completely drenched in toasted sesame seeds, stacked thick with a moreish filling. If you’re looking for something a little less fishy, the crispy corn fritters are doughy and light inside, with the bhaji like crisp on the outside, living up to its name. Whilst fritters can often feel a little empty and nothing-y, Chet’s sets a new – and delicious – standard.

Thanks to the diner-like servings of all their starters, it feels like the kind of place you could drop in for a drink and a snack rather than the beginning of a long meal. It’s hearty, spicy diner finger food with sophisticated cocktails to pair with it.

Sometimes it’s hard to know whether the spice levels displayed on a menu are a friendly note or more of a warning – even more worrying is having no idea what their baseline level of spice is. Know thyself is a superpower in this situation. Luckily, the little chillies on Chet’s’ menu are a friendly heads up, and if you can manage the full three chillies, Chet’s’ Thai-inspired salads are a fresh, fruity fusion which will leave you feeling pleasantly light but happily full.

Whilst the mains don’t appear to have the same precision and attention as the starters, the range and flavours will mean you’ll end up hmm-ing and haa-ing over which to pick, spoilt for choice rather than scraping the barrel.

We tried the self-proclaimed special, Chet’s Pineapple Rice – yes, served in a hollowed out half-pineapple, and the Coconut Fish Curry. The mains are where the finesse of the starters and cocktails wanes a little, with the portions leaning on mass-produced easy crowd pleasers rather than gourmet. However, that being said, they were still packed with flavour and filled the proverbial hole.

The staff are friendly, and the whole place had a pleasantly buzzy atmosphere, thanks to the mix of evening diners and hotel stayers. With an expansive, plush lobby bleeding into the elevated American diner restaurant, there’s enough space that you’ll feel relaxed and unhurried but not so spacious that you’re looking around every couple of minutes to see if you’re the only person in the seeming abyss.

In short, the interiors, the atmosphere, and the vibes means it’s the kind of place you want to be in. The best way to describe the food is fun; it’s a quirky fusion done well, with dishes that will be both familiar and unfamiliar, classics with a spicy twist, like nachos with chilli sauce and cooling slaw.

If you’re mooching around Shepherd’s Bush, and don’t feel like queuing two hours for a pop-up restaurant worryingly labelled as a vague ‘dining experience’, wanting a chilled, classy joint instead, having Chet’s on your roster will serve you well.

Where to find Chet’s?

The Hoxton hotel
65 Shepherds Bush Green

London
W12 8QE

Nearest tube:

Shepherd’s Bush