best japanese / thai / middle east restaurant in yorkshire?

[shirt]

or anywhere within an hour's drive of leeds will do.

it's for a birthday meal [mine] with family. i do NOT want a teppanyaki type place as i can badly fry average quality ingredients any time i like.

would prefer japanese but the quality would have to be top notch with a varied menu as my BIL can be a right PITA [ultra picky] and my mum thinks raw fish is just wrong. i want to show her it's not.

failing that, a superb thai or lebanese would be nice. i am thinking along the lines of patara in soho or maroush on edgeware road in london, but closer!

any other great ethnic places would also suit.

[Teebs]

This place get's lots of very good reviews:

http://www.khaosanroadthaibistro.co.uk/

It's in York btw.

[fraser.j.g]

I really like this place (although it's ethnicity isn't listed in your options)

http://www.pho68.co.uk/

[YRRunner]

You won't find a great Japanese restaurant anywhere near Leeds to be honest. There are only 2 that I know of. One is Teppanyaki unfortunately, the other one I wouldn't recommend for Sushi & Sashimi as I am a real sashimi lover.
Thai.... I'd head to Chaophraya (opposite the famous Bibi's Italian on Swinegate - check out the toilets in Bibi's!). Thai Edge (next to LGI) is OK too, nice surroundings but the food is not as good as Sukhothai in Chapel Allerton (2 miles north of Leeds center). Food at Sukhothai is excellent but it gets rammed so you'd have to book in advance. In my opinion (I was a food critic for 11 years in the north) you should head out to Harrogate (about a 40 min drive from Leeds) and try the Orchid. Asian Fusion Cuisine of the highest order. Pricey, but well worth it for an occasion. It's in The Studley Hotel. www.orchidrestaurant.co.uk You won't regret it. If you've got friends or family up north, forward them this link: www.gravy-train.co.uk They'll get discounts for restaurants all over Leeds, North Yorkshire and the east coast. Have a great bash!

[ben d]

Hi - Sukhothai in Chapel Allerton or Headingley is your best bet.

Professes to be the only Thai restaurant in Yorkshire in the Good Food Guide and it was in the Times Top 5 Thai Restaurants a few years back. It is bloody good.

http://www.thaifood4u.co.uk/

[YRRunner]

ben d said:

Hi - Sukhothai in Chapel Allerton or Headingley is your best bet.

Professes to be the only Thai restaurant in Yorkshire in the Good Food Guide and it was in the Times Top 5 Thai Restaurants a few years back. It is bloody good.

http://www.thaifood4u.co.uk/

Ben, your choice of car is as good as your taste in food. But I would say that!

[gib786]

Another vote for Sukhothai here

[shirt]

how can I argue against the taste of 2 sag owners?

thanks guys, the orchid looks to be exactly what i had in mind. sukhothai looks great too but the orchid might be an option given the fussy BIL.

I am in e.yorks, family are all west so I'll be sure to take a look at the gravy train :cheers:

[StuB]

We like Sang Thai on the A19 in Escrick, near York.