| Field | Detail |
| Website | https://www.thaikhun.co.uk/ |
| UK Locations | 10 (FSA-registered, June 2026) (as of 2026) |
| Founded | 2014 (first Thaikhun site); parent company Thai Leisure Group founded 2004 |
| Cuisine Positioning | Authentic Thai street food / casual dining |
| Price Point | ££ |
| Avg Hygiene Rating | ~4/5 (limited data: Oxford rated 4/5; Scotland locations rated "Pass") |
| Target Demographic | Casual diners, families, young professionals, students, Thai food enthusiasts |
| Key Differentiator | Immersive Thai street-market decor with hand-picked bric-a-brac from Bangkok, plus founder Khun Kim's authentic street food recipes from her Khao San Road stall |
| Expansion Trajectory | Declining / stable (Cambridge site closed March 2026; previously operated Liverpool, Nottingham and Guildford sites which have also closed) |
Thaikhun (pronounced "tycoon", meaning "your Thai restaurant") is a UK casual dining chain serving authentic Thai street food. It is owned by Thai Leisure Group, which was founded in 2004 by Kim Kaewkraikhot (Khun Kim) and Martin Stead. Khun Kim grew up in rural Sukhothai province, Thailand, and at age 15 moved to Bangkok where she established her first Pad Thai cart in 1993. Her street food became so renowned that she won awards for her Pad Thai recipe -- the same recipe still used across Thaikhun restaurants today. The first Thaikhun site opened in Manchester's Spinningfields in June 2014, and the brand has since expanded to become one of the UK's largest Thai restaurant chains.
Every Thaikhun restaurant is designed to transport diners to Bangkok's famous Khao San Road, with interiors bursting at the seams with hand-picked Thai bric-a-brac sourced from markets in Thailand. The menu features classic Thai dishes -- curries, stir-fries, noodles, and small plates -- alongside vegan and vegetarian options, Thai-inspired cocktails, and a bottomless brunch offering. Mains are typically priced between £14-£17, with small plates from £6-£12, positioning Thaikhun in the mid-market casual dining segment. The chain also operates a street buffet concept at the Trafford Centre and Meadowhall, and offers Thai cooking schools at some locations.
The chain's trajectory has been mixed in recent years. After rapid expansion that saw Thaikhun grow to 10+ sites including Liverpool, Nottingham, Guildford and Cambridge, the brand has since contracted. The Cambridge site closed in March 2026 with 14 job losses, and earlier closures included Liverpool, Nottingham and Guildford. Parent company Thai Leisure Group went through two Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs) during the pandemic, closing under-performing sites. The group now operates 9 Thaikhun locations alongside 6 Chaophraya fine-dining restaurants, totalling 16 restaurants across both brands (as of 2024-2025). The chain has invested in refurbishments (£1m programme in 2022) and continues to focus on authentic Thai street food positioning in the competitive UK casual dining market.
- https://www.thaikhun.co.uk/ (official website)
- https://www.thaikhun.co.uk/story (founder story)
- https://www.thaileisuregroup.co.uk/brands (parent company info)
- https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/836583/thaikhun-george-street/online-ratings (Oxford hygiene rating - 4/5, Nov 2025)
- https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/811936/thaikhun-glasgow/online-ratings (Glasgow hygiene rating, inspected Feb 2026)
- https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/437504/thaikhun-sheffield/online-ratings (Meadowhall hygiene rating, inspected Mar 2025)
- https://www.foodscores.co.uk/establishments/thaikhun-union-square (Aberdeen hygiene rating - Pass, Oct 2023)
- https://www.restaurantonline.co.uk/Article/2026/03/18/your-policies-are-a-dagger-to-our-heart-thaikun-shuts-cambridge-restaurant/ (Cambridge closure, Mar 2026)
- https://www.dineoutmagazine.co.uk/story.php?s=2024-09-13-feature-twenty-years-and-counting (Thai Leisure Group profile, Sept 2024)
- https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/thai-leisure-group-invest-1m-24671218 ( £1m investment, Aug 2022)
- https://www.hardens.com/uk-london/30-08-2018/thaikhun-to-open-a-new-street-food-and-bar-concept-at-liverpool-one/ (Liverpool opening, Aug 2018)
- https://premierconstructionnews.com/2016/02/15/thaikhun-nottingham/ (Nottingham opening, Feb 2016)
- https://www.foodserviceequipmentjournal.com/thaikhun-launches-eighth-restaurant-and-plans-five-more/ (Guildford opening, May 2016)
- https://travelexpert.wiki/travel-directory/thaikhun/ (first Thaikhun founded Manchester 2014)
- https://www.restaurantonline.co.uk/Article/2014/05/06/Thaikhun-Thai-street-food-in-Manchester/ (first site opening, May 2014)
- https://www.thaikhun.co.uk/fileadmin/TK_Menus/ALL/TK_Main_Menu_MAR26.pdf (menu prices, Mar 2026)
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