Benjarong

Authentic Thai food in the Dusit Hotel 1 Reviews

From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2009

Benjarong is in the Dusit Thani hotel – one of a chain of Thai hotels, its name means ‘a town in heaven’; but perhaps it’s more appropriate to say it’s ‘heaven in a town (or, rather, a city’. The restaurant has an exquisite lobby and welcoming staff who stay true to form as they greet you with palms together and a bow of the head. And Benjarong is as beautifully authentic as the staff.

Blue and gold walls, intricate carvings and a Thai lady playing a Thai kim – a brass-stringed instrument played with two flexible bamboo sticks and a beaming smile. Our only complaint is the bright lighting – which rules out the more romantic dinner date. The food, however, is to be commended, and does not shy away from its exotic roots.

Other eateries often dull down tastes to suit Western palates, but not here, with many dishes packing a well-weighted punch (you’ve been warned). Fresh, zingy ingredients add colour and flavour to the curries, and starters as well as desserts are a success. Benjarong is a beauty of a restaurant, providing a Thai getaway in the concrete jungle of Dubai.

• Previous reviews
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 30 April,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai
  • 01 July,2003- reviewed by Rob Orchard
  • 01 January,2003- reviewed by Rob Orchard

Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.