Hey Bangkok! Address: 301 S Pennsylvania St, Denver, CO 80209
Introduction
I absolutely adore Thai food. It is such a vibrant and flavorful cuisine that simultaneously includes spice, acidity, sweetness, and umami in practically every dish. Due to my immense admiration, I am always in search of new Thai restaurants to visit and explore. Recently, I was recommended to visit Hey Bangkok! , a quaint restaurant in Denver serving authentic Thai food. So my friends and I decided to check it out.
The Experience
Upon arrival, Hey Bangkok! was not super easy to find. Besides a small sign with the company’s logo, there was no clear indication of the location of the restaurant. No problem though. I love little hole-in-the-wall types of joints. When I entered I was very impressed. Wallpaper illustrating the streets of Bangkok covered the entire left side of the restaurant. The floor was covered in beautifully patterned tile and the menu had almost a cartoon-style font. I absolutely loved the interior. It was very playful and vibrant and made me excited to try the restaurant’s food.
Image of Hey Bangkok Interior. https://www.heybangkok.net/about/. https://www.heybangkok.net/
As soon as we sat down and looked over the menu, a server took our order and in a mere matter of minutes, our food was brought out to us. The service was unbelievably fast, making Hey Bangkok! a good workday lunch option if you don’t have too much time to wait for food.
The Food
Thai Iced Tea
A must-order at every Thai restaurant I visit is the Thai Iced Tea, and Hey Bangkok had one of the best I’ve had in Denver. It was sweet, smooth, and the flavor of the tea was really present. It was also the perfect compliment to all of the rich and spicy dishes we ordered.
Thai Fried Chicken
The Thai Fried Chicken was juicy and the dipping sauce complimented the chicken nicely, however, the chicken lacked complexity of flavor. It was very one-note, and it felt as if no seasonings were present. The breading was also not as crisp as I would have liked it to be.
Thai Chicken Noodle Soup
The Thai Chicken Noodle Soup was a well-balanced dish. The herb chicken broth was rich, the radishes and bean sprouts provided some freshness as well as some crunch, the chicken itself was very moist, and the rice noodles were light and chewy. My only critique would be that I wish the broth had a little more salt to bring out the flavors of the herbs and spices in the broth.
Pad Thai
Another tell-tale sign of a quality Thai restaurant is their Pad Thai and Hey Bangkok!’s did not disappoint. The rice noodles were perfectly chewy, and the sauce that coated them was sweet, spicy, and rich. The fresh carrots, bean sprouts, and cilantro gave the dish freshness and helped cut through the richness of the sauce. The chicken was tender and moist, and the peanuts gave the dish some crunch. Overall, it was a very well done plate of Pad Thai.
Drunken Noodle
Another impressive dish was the Drunken Noodle. The sauce was lightly spicy, sweet, and acidic. The veggies were fresh and crisp and the chicken was tender and juicy. My favorite part of the dish, however, were the extra wide rice noodles. They had a great springy texture and were nice and tender. It was genuinely hard to stop chowing down on these perfectly made rice noodles.
Overall
My experience at Hey Bangkok! was very positive. Hey Bangkok! had everything I wanted in a great dining experience: a playful atmosphere with great ambiance and high-quality food. The service was also impeccably fast, so if you’re ever nearby, stop into Hey Bangkok for a delightful meal. My overall rating is 4.3 stars out of 5.
If you enjoyed this restaurant review, check out my last restaurant review on Vinh Xuong Bakery, an authentic Vietnamese Bakery in Denver, Colorado.
