Kao San Thai Restaurant in West Dorset

Although on first sight the slightly careworn exterior may not be very encouraging, do not let this put you off. This is Thai cuisine of the highest order and very reasonably priced. The lady who served us was friendly and efficient, and the place is open until late every night. We had a most enjoyable evening and highly recommend Kao San Thai Restaurant.

Lovely food and great value lunch deal! Also super baby friendly, gave us high chairs and toys for our babies, thank you!!

Great friendly service & amazing food, very reasonably priced too. Went for the set menu c and it was such good value for money. Cannot wait to return! Date of visit: March 2024

We haven’t been here in years and it was so lovely! Great to see the restaurant busy and easy to see why. The food was delicious and the service was brilliant despite the restaurant being full. We will definitely be back, so nice to go somewhere outside of Brewery Square.

Clean restaurant, very polite lady serving, clean toilets and excellent food. Disappointed that they didn’t take the parking ticket rebate as stated on the parking website. Worth noting to both establishment and customers that when someone orders vegetarian food that means no fish sauce which the lady said my dish contains. Later she informed me that they do a curry sauce without fish so be warned to ask which shouldn’t be necessary. That said the vegetables were cooked to perfection but I found the tofu a bit rubbery and tasteless. I hope they act on this feedback!

We love it here! Great vegan veggie options, reasonably priced food and drinks. Staff are always lovely, the restaurant has a lovely ambience - highly recommend ❤️ Only tiny comment is that the texture of the tofu in the starter is a little watery, the tofu in the curries is delicious 🥰

Travel all the way from Bridport. Excellent food. Always a treat coming here. Calm and pleasant environment, very helpful and kind staff and quick and efficient service. Would definitely recommend here always. A must try for everyone. Best Thai in Dorchester

We went here last night and the waitress could not have done anything else to make out experience any better. Great old fashion customer service, lovely food and lots of character ( unlike another Thai restaurant that we saw in the same town). Thank you for a super meal and excellent service.

We had walked past a few times and promised we would give it a try. As it was teeming on our last night in Dorchester and Kao San was opposite it was an easy decision to go in and we were glad we did. It wasn't very busy but atmosphere was good and service excellent .We chose one of the set meals and there was more than enough. We enjoy Thai food as an option as generally it is lighter than Indian but a little spicier than Chinese and we were not disappointed on this occasion .

Came tonight for meal with work friends. Everything about this restaurant was absoultely lovely, from the pretty decor to the great service and friendly attentive staff. The food was out of this world- generous portions and the flavours really pop! Highly reccommend the chicken massaman curry!! First Thai meal ever and can't wait to go back :-) xx

Up there with the best Thai Food that we have ever had, including in Thailand. Very friendly excellent service. Thank you.

Brilliant food, brilliant service Been coming here a few times and every time it’s brilliant. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful I would recommend to anyone

Another excellent evening meal. Pad Thai was on point tonight! But stick to weekends as we fund its never as good in the week

Second visit in two weeks - consistency of good prompt service, generous portions, nice presentation and all great value.

We usually visit at weekends and have always had a fantastic meal. However, this time we visited mid week and it was a totally different story. We were the only ones there and it looked like there was maybe one or two staff on. Pretty sure it wasn't thr same chef that would normally be on at weekends as the food was so different and nowhere near as good. For example we had a mixed starter and the chicken satay were very different...like they had been bought from a supermarket sandwich counter. They were tiny, cold and just coated with some of the restaurants own satay sauce. The pad Thai was very tomatoey and not like it usually is. The green curry and penang curry were nice. It was a shame as we usually love it but came away a bit disappointed with our average experience. We will stick to weekends from.nkw on and will still go back there despite this

Visited with family and the whole party loved the food. The level of spiciness was a bit off (the green curry more spicy than mild, and the spicy sea bass not really that spicy), which maybe due to mixed signals from the table. However, the...

Had lunch here. Great food and very friendly staff great value for money. Lunch menu £9.45 for 2 courses!! Will be back soon

Had a lovely meal at Kao San this evening with a friend. Unfortunately we had to leave before our main was served but the restaurant kindly packed it up for us as a takeaway with no notice - thank you, we will definitely be back!...

The setting and ambience was lovely, but the food was average. The restaurant itself wasn’t very clean with mould on the ceilings and toilets could do with a once over. Service was friendly but extremely slow on not a particularly busy evening. Slightly over priced...

Stayed locally and wanted a nice meal. We weren’t disappointed. All courses were fantastic. We eat Thai regularly and this was as good as any other. Especially the Thai green curry. Excellent service.

Great atmosphere enjoyed the food, especially like the the happy waitress, the Green Thai curry was especially nice would definitely go back but make sure you book early gets very busy.

We popped in for a light lunch while in Dorchester. A nice Thai restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. I love my Thai food due to it being fresh and flavoursome. I think it was a little bland personally but my partner enjoyed her soup. I...

Open on a Sunday night - rare for Dorchester - very good cooking clearly made fresh to order. Wide choice of dishes, very tasty food. Not 5* due to narrow wine options.

We were at the Kao San the night of the chicken in the mushroom soup incident. The staff obviously made a mistake and I can understand how disappointed the 3 vegetarian customers must have felt. However, my understanding is that an apology was made, they...

I am responding to the previous comment re the above issue. I was one of the vegetarians at the meal. We purposely chose a local restaurant and always try to support local business. Also, of course mistakes can be made. We all know that and...

The best Thai in Dorchester! Amazing food and such great service. We ordered Thai for delivery in lockdown and was always such lovely food. We have recently visited the restaurant to eat in and the staff are so lovely and very attentive. The restaurant is...

The food was delicious and the service was great! Not a single fault with any part of the meal. It’s a really chilled atmosphere and decorated really well as well! Loved it!

We had dinner after watching NO TIME TO DIE. The film was great, but was topped by the amazing Kao San Thai food. We shared a mixture of starters and main courses and everything was tasty and plentiful. Despite the restaurant being packed, the service...

Chicken in vegetarian soup!! We went with friends for a birthday meal. We ordered the set menus 3 of which were vegetarian. The food took so long!! When the starters did arrive there were 2 missing. Another wait then the soup was served only to...

I have been here several times. The foods here are very authentic and very reasonable priced. The service is very good and the staffs always smile ☺

Always incredible food cooked to perfection. Lovely delivery service, normally we would eat in as well.

Delicious Thai food. The owner, Mon, and the entire staff, are absolutely lovely. I had a great time.

Love this place, has a great energy, food is vibrant and tasty, service was great very friendly team of ladies running things thank you we'll be back..

Good menu and nice Thai home cooking. Warning though -portions very generous, mains easily big enough for two to share.

It has been at least 5 months since we last had a meal in a restaurant and were a bit nervous. The restaurant has done a wonderful job of spacing people, wearing masks and taking precautions. Service was excellent and the food was wonderful. We had Goong Choop Pang Tad, Gaeng Keowant Goong, Red Curry Ck and Kao Suey. Both the green curry and the red curry were excellent and very filling. I was hoping to have room for desert, but could not find any, Maybe next time.

This was a trip completely out the blue as it was next door to the hotel where I was staying and was chosen for conveience. It was such a fantastic choice that I went two night in a row.Firstly and most importantly there was a genuine Covid-19 awareness when you arrived, unlike some other places I have been to! But hey ho you are here for the food and Kao San did not disapoint.I love Thai food but find it hard to discover a truly great Thai restaurant but this place surpassed any hopes I had. 1. The service is excellent, efficent but not intrusive 2. The food is fantastic. I went two nght in a row and the delicate flavours and tastes of the herbs and spices that you expect from Thai food was there ++++ Hghly recommended.

Excellent quality food and service - we had a mix of dishes and all were so tasty and with generous portions. Try the massaman curry it is so tasty. Best Thai meal we’ve had in ages

Went with the eat out to help out deal recently, and never visited this restaurant before. The staff were very friendly, and the food was so tasty - the Massaman curry was lovely. Would definitely recommend this restaurant and will be returning very soon

We both love Thai food and we weren’t disappointed......we have been several times! After lockdown there was a great atmosphere and the restaurant was set out according to guidelines so felt very safe. We chose a set menu for 2 and it was delicious and lots of it. Always good to taste lots of different dishes. Thank you.

I am Thai and a friend recommended the Kao San Thai Restaurant. The food is so authentic, except not quite as spicy, so asked for more chilli! All the staff are from Thailand, so was also able to chat about home!

After months of shut down, finally got back to Kao San Thai Restaurant. Same wonderful Thai food with same wonderful Thai service!!!!

Good food but terrible service Food hit and miss I had the lamb shank massamam was amazing my mumHad the jungle curry the onlyThing she could taste isChilly. The service was also very poor lots of confusion and the chef came out toArgue with us when it was them that got the order wrong in the first place.

I ordered 3 meals for delivery but they had no driver so I went to collect.All 3 meals were so bland I was shocked.Not 1 tasted of anything at all.The green curry was just coconut milk with zero taste.The tom yam soup just tasted of greasy water and the beef with thai basil and chilli contained no thai basil or chilli whatsoever, and I do mean NON.It was just beef in a sort of red water. I have travelled all over thailand and this was just not thai food. Avoid at all costs!!!!

Loved this place. First time have been here (and with our children too) and we were all delighted. The decor is gorgeous, really authentic. Staff friendly and food amazing. Good safety measures & social distancing in place. All round nice evening. 😄

this was the best prawn curry i`ve ever had , just full of flavour. service was fast and attentive and setting is just lovely too.

Absolutely a place where I always go back to. The food is beyond good, the service each and every time absolutely amazing. The atmosphere is delightful and the food is quite affordable! Recommend for anyone!

Love this food so much - tasty, beautifully presented and a great mix. And the service is excellent- highly recommend. Wonderful! Delicious

I’ve been to Kao San a few times and it never disappoints.My sisters and I went last night and tried both our regular dishes (I always get the ribs which are just incredible) and some new ones - pair massaman with coconut rice!They have a big range of veggie options too - we had veggie massaman as my sister doesn’t eat meat and it was just as good as the meat versions I’ve had before.They’re offering delivery now too so a good option if you want to self-isolate.Would definitely recommend!

A very good lunch at an excellent price. Good flavours in my Thai red beef curry. The wait staff are friendly and helpfulI would have given it a 5 star rating, but the decor is drifting towards Disney jungle film set. Plastic trees and plants predominate.

I went here with a group just before Christmas. We had the set menu - numerous different dishes. The portions were very generous and everything was absolutely delicious, fresh and beautifully cooked and presented. All the staff, especially the owner Ken and his wife were so friendly and helpful and really looked after our group. Several of us said we would definitely return.

The staff were very friendly. Service was quick. The food was very good. The size of the portions were very big, making this excellent value for money. This restaurant is really worth a visit.

We had the mixed starter and then different mains each. The prawn crackers and the starters were very greasy. Maybe this is how they are meant to be - but too much for me. The mains were good - huge portions.

Staff were warm & friendly, cosy charming restaurant with delicious food. The portions were generous and each dish had a different genuine spice to it.

I visit Kao San regularly with my family. We are always welcomed by the wonderful staff who are friendly, accommodating and attentive.They will go out of their way to make sure you are happy and enjoy your meal. The food is tasty and plentiful.The thai green curry is a popular choice and never disappoints. Fantastic prices for the amount of food you get which definitely keeps us happy and returning! Well done Kao San.See you soon for your Christmas special menu - the sea bass was amazing last year!

Really good traditional thai food and welcoming staff. So thankful that they got us a table. I would recommend to phone in to book a table just because they tend to be busy.

I am a quaint young fellow. I look for the finer things in life.

Necessary grandeur, genuine presumably Thai-like atmosphere, the humblest of attentive wait staff. I really don't know what more you could ask for! Oh yeah no wait I do, food. Not only is there food, but it's absolutely delicious. My sincerest congratulations to the superfluous chef. Looking at the menu is a choice between a margarita and a cosmopolitan... I would feasibly have either, or both, and still end up giggly afterwards.

Lovely people, great food with a good vegetarian options, definitely recommend the Tofu Thai Green Curry

Been here before. Lovely authentic Thai food and ambiance. The food and service was brilliant. Would definitely come again. Worth a visit when in Dorchester.

We love our thai but hadn't tried this restaurant before. Booked and came with a friend (another fellow thai lover) and oh my god, we were not disappointed. It was fantastic. The service was great, the food was sooooo good and the restuarant itseld was cosy and quirky. We completely over ordered and the staff took our leftover and put in takeaway containers so we could take home (which we did, and ate the next day). The best thai in Dorchester. We will be back, and in fact I have already booked to come again but this time will bring The Husband! Would recommend to all

We have just been in again for the first time in a while and were reminded why we love this place so much! The food seemed even better than normal and there were a couple of new members of staff since the last time we have been who were brilliant! So polite and attentive. Will definitely be back sooner this time!

Took daughter out for lunch, lovely setting and décor inside is really nice and interesting. Had the tree course lunch special menu which is great value but still a varied choice, daughter had been here several times and recommended it and I'm glad she did. When in Dorchester again around lunchtime this is the first place I will be going !!! Also received great service, many thanks to all at Kao San, very authentic all round

Return visit with a group of 12 friends, some of which had not had Thai before. Pleased to say that the Thai food and Thai hospitality were just as authentic as our first visit.

Had a wonderful meal with my very gourmet 11 yo son. Just fantastic and then picked up a take away for my wife and daughter too. Five stars all round, excellent food and excellent service.

We have been visiting this restaurant for some con siderable time and have always been amazed at the high quality of the food on offer-however what really makes the difference is the service-everyone is so polite and helpful

Looking for something different for lunch we decided to visit Kao San Thai Restaurant to sample the lunch menu.

I walked pass a few time but never had a Chance to come in. So I decided to try it today.

We book a table for 6 people on Friday.

The food here is fabulous, so fresh, tasty and beautifully presented!! The service is always excellent, so friendly and welcoming!! We are regulars now and are very well looked after!! I thoroughly recommend a visit, don’t miss out!!

I've been here several times for dinner as well as takeaways and have never had a bad meal. Always very tasty, hot, and service that stands out because it's exceptional.

Been here a few times now and just love the way that you are remembered and looked after. Service is second to none and the food is just mouth watering. I think enough said Thank you !

Had lunch here at noon on a weekday, and it was quiet and quick. The lunch special is also a great deal—i got chicken satay and pad thai. Would recommend!

Visited on a Saturday evening and the table next door were pretty much on top of us, which was an issue as the lady was loud drunk and swearing! The food was good, but very slow. Waitress was nice but fairly clueless as she got the drinks wrong and didn’t know much about the dishes! The waiter then spent ages trying to get our bill right! Unfortunately for this restaurant there are much better tai restaurants in town!

Ordered a takeaway for an impromptu family meal. Food was ready as promised and hot from being freshly cooked. Meal enjoyed by all although cost a little more than we would expect.

Managed to squeeze us in last minute on a wet and windy Saturday night. Authentic reasonably priced Thai food with warm welcome and attentive but not obtrusive service. Give it a go!

Very disappointed. Texture of tofu was horrid & tasteless.

My wife and I first discovered this restaurant when walking the Jurassic Way with friends twelve years ago. Since then, we have enjoyed many delicious meals there, frequently with friends and family who have never been disappointed. Ken and his team create a wonderful relaxed environment, making each visit a special occasion. Having recently moved from the area, we feel this restaurant richly deserves recommendation.

We had dinner at the Kao San while staying in Dorchester a few days ago. The food was very good- we shared a mixed starter then a Thai green curry and a stir fry dish. The house wine was reasonably priced and the service was friendly and efficient. We plan to visit Dorchester again and when we do, we will definitely revisit the Kao San restaurant.

We visited Kao San today for lunch and decided on the 2 course lunch menu. Our starters- Tom Yum Gai and spring rolls were very good. We both selected different stir fries for mains, but though both were tasty, we both felt that they were too watery and that the sauce was overpowered with fish sauce or perhaps oyster sauce, giving an overwhelming salty flavour, rather than the typical Thai balance of flavours. I lived in Hua Hin,Thailand for 8 years, so I guess I have very high expectations of Thai food. Service was good and it was lovely to sink a couple of beer Changs- nothing tastes quite like it!

Travelled around Thailand for two months and have been dreaming about their massaman curries ever since. I have finally found somewhere that makes that dream a reality! My partner and I have been here a couple of times and every time the dishes have exceeded expectations.

We arrived by default, having not been allowed into a restaurant across the road, as it was 'fully booked'.. We received a warm welcome here and enjoyed a very flavourful lunch.

This is an excellent example of Thai cuisine and is owned by a couple who are passionate about their restaurant and about cooking. Great menu choice and loads of wonderful flavours.

Dinner was outstanding. The ingredients used are clearly of the highest standard and the flavours are fantastic. In the UK, ordering "king prawns" is usually guaranteed to disappoint when a couple of miserable little shrimp arrive, but in this case the prawns were the real deal, large, and plenty of them. It was our first time here but will now be a regular spot.

Excellent food with a wide choice of dishes. Staff were very efficient and friendly. There were 17 of us on a walking holiday. When it came to paying, they knew exactly what every one had as they had a diagram of the table. Close to where we were staying at Westwood House.

We have visited here for lunch and dinner and have never been disappointed. On our last visit we ordered a vegetarian yellow curry and a vegetarian Thai Green curry. It was the tastiest it had ever been, superb! Excellent service and setting too. Looking forward to next time!

Have visited a few times and never disappointed. Attention to detail coupled with great service makes the whole experience memorable for all the right reasons. Personal favourite being the Thai green curry which is to die for. Mon,Jenny and ken are just lovely! Keep it up guys .

Warm, friendly cosy with a great selection of dishes all beautifully cooked and perfectly presented this is a great restaurant. Staff are lovely, helpful and accommodating. We had a great meal beginning with the mixed starters for two and followed by the spicy seafood special and yellow curry with prawns. It couldn’t have been nicer. A perfect dinner. Thank you.

Had a lovely chicken green curry with jasmine rice to take away from Kao San. As always, the food was amazing and tasted fantastic. Piping hot even when I got it home. Will definitely be coming back!

I visited this establishment after looking at the reviews which are very favourable. However, I have worked in Singapore, Hong Kong and also visited Thailand and I sadly found the food here somewhat lacklustre! The mixed starters were tasty and up to the usual standards with spring rolls, fishcakes etc but the main courses of duck and prawns were just ok and nothing to rave about! I asked for my prawn dish to be made extra spicy as I have a hot palate but I still found it rather bland and as a stir fry I also found it a bit too watery. Service was ok but nothing out of the ordinary! I requested a veggie side dish and was expecting some stir fried greens in oyster sauce and garlic or something similar. Instead I received broccoli, carrots and cauliflower in an insipid sauce I could not recognise! Drinks not too overly priced but quite honestly I would not rush back! The “chain” restaurants such as Wagamama’s are often slated for being run of the mill but what they do, they do VERY well! Independents need to up their game somewhat if they want to compete!

We visited, after recommendations from parents, on Mothers Day. We had an absolutely fabulous meal, which was extremely reasonable in price. Most of us did not opt for appetisers as we did not want to ruin our main....but there were many delicious sounding ones on the menu, that took my fancy - I will certainly be back to try again. I had a green thai curry, with a side of noodles, and I was most impressed at the portion sizes. All food came in pots, with lids, so you did not have to feel the necessity to pile everything on to your plate at once, and the lids ensured everything remained hot. We had our two small children with us - 3 and 6 years, and they shared one main, and a side of sticky rice, between them. Totally ample, and a much bigger portion than your typical restaurants' childrens' meal portion.

We have visited Kao San several times now and it has become our favourite lunchtime venue in Dorchester. When we first visited, the place was empty but the delicious food and speedy, friendly service ensured that we have returned regularly. The menu is varied, good value and always tasty. Highly recommended

Called in as we were passing and had the most enjoyable lunch. The menu is very well priced and lots of choices. The food comes quickly and was absolutely delicious. Definitely will come back.

First went to this restaurant last week and was immediately impressed by my surroundings. Most places are furnished like canteens, sparse and uninviting not here the furnishings are super, warm and very interesting.

Excellent, delicious!! The service was great and the atmosphere cozy. The price is great too 🔝🔝 My friends loved the place and two returned already. I’m arranging a new event with friends there soon.

I like Tomyom, Somtam(somtam Thai or somtam Loas) ,ect. Will go there again and again ☺️ You better try 👍

Had a good time here, service was very good and food excellent, prompt and fresh. Had good seating by the window and was very welcoming.

This has to be my favourite place to go out and eat. I come here at least twice a month (even more if I can!) and I have never had a bad experience. The food is absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend the Thai green curry. I've tried many dishes and never been disappointed. The staff are so friendly and welcoming. My brother is a vegetarian and normally doesn't enjoy eating out as the vegetarian dishes tend to be a bit overlooked but not at this place...a full vegetarian menu! I always have a lovely time at this place and can't wait to go back as soon as possible! Great food, great staff and lovely surroundings.

Wonderful setting, lovely staff. Went for lunch and chose from the lunch special menu. Food was prompt, hot and delicious. Reasonable portion size for the price...2 course for £8.95!! Will definitely return.

When this Thai changed hands I invited my family down for Mother’s Day celebrations, unfortunately after my mum and I ordered the waiter came back over and said that there wasn’t enough tofu to complete the dishes that we wanted, not having any other choices on the vegetarian menu we had to leave. I didn’t review the restaurant after this occasion as they were new and very apologetic.

I booked a table for 2 for 7pm on New Years Eve for my partner and myself we were really looking forward to the night. We arrived on time and had a starter and a main meal and were just having a break before we had coffee and possibly a dessert, only to be told we need your table in 10 minutes for someone else. When I booked I was not told that we would have to vacate the table after a certain time.