Since the turn of the century the British palette has become increasingly adventurous. Where once we were happy with our meat and two veg, now the easier access to information about other cultural cuisines has widened our appetites for it. This is evident nowhere more so than the popularity of food from Asia. Beginning with the much-loved Indian curry, adapted for the British tastebuds in the 1960s and 70s, and moving in the 80s and 90s to the UK version of Chinese, the more ingrained these became, the greater our demand was to explore elsewhere for amazing authentic alternatives. The next stop on this country’s journey across the continent was a noughties obsession with Thailand, which continues apace today…

In towns across the nation, Thai restaurants appeared, and Leeds now boasts several city staples. Whilst many are familiar with their favourite dishes, for others it remains a lesser known mystery, and for most there is still plenty to discover about a true Thai menu. With the help of some of Leeds’ finest Thai hotspots, we venture into the people’s most popular orders, and some rarities to test out too…

Much like the classic Indian curry list, from kormas to vindaloos, through bhunas and madras’, there are a selection of increasingly familiar Thai curries to be found on every British menu. There’s the rich and creamy massaman, historically an ancient chicken dish, that is now more often combined with beef and potato at the likes of Leeds original Thai Edge. Gaeng pa, or the jungle curry, is a spicy sensation that is served hot in student favourite Jino’s.

Then there’s the famous colour curries: the yellow is a milder, aromatic delight, using vibrant ingredients such as turmeric, that can be sampled as gang garee gai on Headingley’s Thai Sabai early bird; the green is so called because of the colour of the chillies used, though remains deep and mellow at spots like May’s Cafe by adding coconut milk and basil to its gaeng kiew wan; and the red similarly uses the chillis of its name, as well as ingredients such as garlic and bamboo shoots, to provide tongue tingling pleasure – its crowd pleasing self and other versions such as panang are served throughout the city, including at the centre’s swanky Chaophraya.

Another saucy speciality of the Thai menu are the stunning soups. Tom yum is the classic; a clean clear liquid that has a mighty spicy kick and a satisfying sour flavour, usually given body by mushroom and recommended with prawns. This sensual versatile joy can be slurped up across Leeds, as a starter at Sukhothai, and is sure to refresh and revitalise! Another super soup is tom ka gai, which is a creamy chicken broth, warm and deep, that at The Lime Life in Horsforth will get you feeling all coconutty.

Perhaps a surprise to the uninitiated, salad is a big player as a standalone Thai meal. Som tam is a native staple, whose main ingredient of papaya is much needed to offset the fiery chilli heat in the most vibrant salad you’re likely to encounter, when you try it at the fun and filled Zaap or the marvellous My Thai. Also spicing things up, pad krapao is a simple sounding dish that packs a powerful punch. What is basically rice and mince is elevated way beyond and into lively complexities at city favourite Thai Aroy Dee.

There are of course plenty of other options on every Thai menu, including oddities that the British tongue generally fears to entertain. At Mommy Thai, a  foodies menu offers traditional awesomeness, which whilst not for the faint hearted, is absolutely for the hardcore eaters. But it’s a humble noodle dish that is recognisable as Thailand’s most popular UK cuisine: pad thai is a stir fried street food, comprising of rice noodles, eggs, tofu and mixed vegetables such as bean sprouts and radishes. Done badly and this can be a bland bugger, but try it at more authentic places like Khan Gaeng Thai in Kirkgate Market and the fantastic flavours really shine through.