If you are easing into an evening in Shepherd’s Bush with someone you’re quietly trying to impress, Chet’s at The Hoxton is an excellent place to do it. It’s a retro-nostalgic Thai-Americana diner that manages to be playful and experimental all at once. The look is laid-back and familiar, yet it sparks enough intrigue to make even informal dining feel like an event.
Start at the bar, finish at the bar, or do both, but absolutely get to the bar. Order the Lychee Martini #2, a bright, slightly mischievous mix of vodka, peach liqueur, lychee and Chet’s own super sour. While you pretend to deliberate over the menu, share the Crispy Artichoke Bites – irresistible mouthfuls of artichoke hearts coated in parmesan, finished with a squeeze of lime and dipped in Thai basil aioli. Add a Pulled Pork Slider glossed with BBQ spice rub, tajin aioli and chunks of pickled pineapple. This is the warm-up, designed to break the ice, loosen conversation and successfully persuade you to move on to a full meal.
Once you slide into an iconic diner booth, the aesthetic works its magic. Its soft glow tames the fiery edge of dishes like the Larb Gai – lettuce leaves filled with sharp, spicy Thai minced chicken, lifted by lime, fish sauce, chilli and coriander – and casts them in a setting that’s fun rather than overly serious.
From here, follow the house rhythm: fusion first. Gorgeous sticky wings in a three-flavour party sauce, the Wagyu fried rice with tenderstem broccoli, Thai basil and cucumber, or the legendary combination of Chet’s smash burger and loaded tater tots. These dishes showcase the restaurant’s sweet spot between messy, grin-inducing comfort and the punchier tones of Thailand and its neighbours.
Chet’s may serve breakfast, brunch and all-day plates, but dinner is where it truly hits its stride – perfectly matched to The Hoxton’s rock and roll neighbourhood and ideal for anything from a breezy late lunch to a long, deliciously drawn-out evening.
