Thailand No.1 Matlock — Restaurant in Derbyshire Dales

After my second visit to Thailand No. 1 in Matlock, I can confidently say that this restaurant continues to provide a flawless dining experience. From the food to the service, every aspect of this place stands out as exceptional.

The moment you step inside, you are greeted with an inviting, warm atmosphere. The décor blends traditional Thai elements with modern elegance, creating a cozy yet stylish setting. Soft lighting adds to the relaxed ambiance, and the background music—Thai pop with vocals and some fantastic 80s guitar riffs—creates a fun, upbeat vibe without ever overpowering the experience.

Though the restaurant was quiet when we arrived, it was fully booked for later, yet the staff accommodated us without hesitation, which made us feel welcome and valued right from the start.

The food is what truly makes Thailand No. 1 shine. Every dish we tried was packed with vibrant flavours, beautifully prepared, and fresh.

We began with the Satay Gai (chicken satay), which was perfectly grilled, tender, and served with a creamy, slightly nutty peanut sauce that complemented the smoky grilled chicken beautifully. It was a perfect introduction to the meal.

For the mains, we had the Sweet Chilli Crispy Chicken, served in a foil boat with fresh lemon. This dish was absolutely outstanding. The crispy chicken, coated in a tangy and sweet chilli sauce, was deliciously balanced. The addition of fresh lemon added a refreshing, zesty kick that brightened the entire dish. The texture was perfect, with the crispiness of the chicken contrasting nicely with the tender meat inside, and the sauce was just the right amount of bold without being overpowering.

We also enjoyed the Duck with Pineapple and Cashew Nuts, which was a true highlight. The duck was cooked to perfection, with crispy skin and tender, succulent meat. The sweetness of the pineapple and the crunch of the cashew nuts created a wonderful contrast in texture, while the sauce was aromatic and rich, bringing everything together in a harmonious blend of sweet and savory.

The Prawn Spring Rolls were another standout. They were perfectly crispy on the outside, with a fragrant, flavorful prawn filling inside. The dipping sauce was subtle yet complemented the rolls beautifully, making each bite a delicious treat.

Accompanying the mains, the steamed rice was the perfect base, allowing the sauces and flavours from each dish to shine through. It paired beautifully with every dish, soaking up the rich and aromatic sauces without overpowering the flavours.

Service at Thailand No. 1 is another reason I keep coming back. The staff are friendly, professional, and genuinely care about making sure your experience is memorable. Despite the restaurant being fully booked later, they accommodated us with ease, and the food was served promptly but without feeling rushed.

In summary, Thailand No. 1 in Matlock remains one of the top spots for authentic Thai cuisine. The food is top-tier, the service is attentive and welcoming, and the atmosphere is relaxed yet vibrant. Whether you're a local or visiting the area, this restaurant is a must-visit. I will undoubtedly return for many...

We dined at this lovely restaurant today, we are visiting from London and after a long tiring day at Heights of Abraham we stumbled across this place while looking for somewhere close by for dinner, we were a group of 5 and I had my 4y and 6y with me.

Firstly the food was delicious, my fussy children actually ate everything I gave them and for me that was a win in its self. It came out fresh and hot and there were nice touches like a candle to keep the curry warm etc. My 6y son loved the prawn starters we ordered another one! And my mum who is also hard to impress really enjoyed it and said the chicken tamarind dish melted in her mouth.

The service was amazing, the staff were so friendly and it was a refreshing change as normally when I go to a restaurant with young children I always feel the staff want to rush us out and mostly do not engage with the children but here the staff were very nice and polite - they were not over the top friendly but the right amount and it made me feel so comfortable to be eating out in a nice place with the kids.

The highlight for me was when we finished all the prawn red curry my daughter wanted more prawns so I asked if I could order more as a side dish which initially the waiter said was not possible (which I had no qualm with and completely understood) but my daughter was quite sad and I think he took pity and went to ask the chefs who were so so kind to bring her out a small portion with no extra charge!! I cannot say as a mother how much I appreciated this kindness. Both kids drew a thank you note which the staff also appreciated and made them feel good about, the kids really bonded with the front waiter and were calling him by first name basis.

All in all it was a pleasant surprise to stumble in to this place. Thank you Alastair and all the staff for making our evening and being so accommodating. If we are ever back in town we will be sure...

I’m sorry to say this was really disappointing. The food wasn’t good, the hot and sour soup was not spicy and sour at all, it was a clear broth with 3 whole mushrooms and 3 king prawns in it (which, granted, were a good size). For mains we ordered 2 thai salads and they were awful, the chicken one was minced processed chicken and the prawn one whilst it did have good sized prawns again was a very similar taste to the chicken one. This cane with grated vegetables but mostly red onion, and the taste was not fresh with a kick, more harsh and pure chilli. We ate as we were so hungry by the time we got it but both had upset stomachs the following day.

We also had an issue ordering through Just Eat - the order was initially accepted and then cancelled by the restaurant twice. First time I called them and they said they had been really busy 20 mins ago but it was ok now so to please go online and order again. So I did, it was cancelled again and they said this time that we were out of their delivery area - despite them having delivered to the same address 2 weeks ago! I challenged this and tried to appeal to the ladies better nature but no luck. As we had lost almost an hour in this process and we were hungry I ordered over the phone for collection and drove to pick it up.

I think we hit on for our previous first order with either a good chef or a safe option as we just ordered pad thai; and that they were happy to deliver to us then for some reason. Sorry but we...