Yaletown's Urban Thai Bistro: Modern vibe, authentic food

Celebrating 15 years in the heart of Yaletown’s bustling dining scene, Urban Thai Bistro still proves to be a worthy draw.

With a recently remodelled interior, and a welcoming patio ideal for happy hour and warm sun-soaked afternoons, the restaurant’s mix of classic fare and signature dishes and gracious hospitality makes this an enduring destination for Thai food in Vancouver.

Inside Urban Thai Bistro diners will now encounter a meld of rustic and contemporary decor with a comfortable yet upscale feel. The appeal of this kind of dynamic dining space is that it works for quick lunches, family dinners, dates, or a relaxing happy “Appy Hour.”

Pad Thai (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancity Buzz)

Urban Thai Bistro’s menu showcase the vibrant and often spicy flavours of Thai cuisine. Traditional dishes include red, green, or yellow curries; noodles, such as Pad See-Iw and a classic Pad Thai; fried rice; and stir-fried options. Signature dishes include BBQ Thai-style chicken, roasted duck (either stir-fried with veggies or served in a red curry coconut sauce), and ostrich (done in your choice of curry: red, yellow, green, or Panang).

Green Papaya Salad (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancity Buzz)

Cool down with a fresh hot-sour Green Papaya Salad, and sip on the juice from an imported fresh young coconut to smooth down the heat of your spicy selections (or the summertime sun on the patio).

Appetizer platter with prawn, chicken satay, and calamari (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancity Buzz)

When it comes to hand-held nibbles to kick start a Thai feast or enjoy with friends as an post-work snack, Urban Thai Bistro shines, thanks to the multitude of possibilities of their mix-and-match Appy Platter. Their chicken satay is beautifully tender, the calamari fried to perfection, and the crispy noodle “net” wrapped around a massive prawn definitely a showstopper (and fun to eat).

Appy Hour chicken wings (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancity Buzz)

Just for “Appy Hour,” Urban Thai Bistro has a selection of small bites (which you can also mix-and-match), and their chicken wings are truly a standout. The sticky, spicy garlic chili wings are the stuff cravings are made of.

While you may have checked out Urban Thai Bistro in the past, they’re definitely worth a visit again for their refreshed modern interior, authentic and contemporary Thai eats, and hospitable service.

Urban Thai Bistro

Address: 1119 Hamilton Street, Yaletown
Phone: 604-408-7788
Website: thaihouse.com/urban-thai-bistro