Local Thai restaurant crowned Best in UK

A Thai restaurant in Stoke Newington has been crowned the Best in the UK at the Euro Curry Awards.

Yum Yum Thai, which has been serving the community for more than 30 years, scooped the top accolade at a grand award ceremony in Romford.

Owner Atique Choudhury also won the Businessman of the Year award. The restaurant’s Mussaman curry was featured on Gordon Ramsay’s ‘The F Word’ and Atique says its this alongside their vegetarian dishes and cocktail bar that sets them apart.

He added: “We wanted to create something that felt intimate, despite the large building; a place that felt like a little bit of Thailand.”

Yum Yum was up against steep competition, with 370 businesses and individuals nominated for awards. 50 winners received their awards at Mayfair Venue in Chadwell Heath earlier this month, with Yum Yum declared the Best Thai Restaurant in the UK.

Now in their sixth year, the Euro Asia Awards were founded by Bangladeshi chef Shorif Khan whose high-profile customers include Theresa May.

He said: “It was wonderful to once again celebrate the many talented teams and individuals who make the UK curry industry as fantastic and popular as it is.

“The pandemic hit our restaurants and takeaways hard, but thankfully customers are coming back.”

Throughout the pandemic, the restaurant teamed up with Hackney 215 to support frontline workers with free meals.

Last year Atique’s father centenarian Dabirul Islam Choudhury received a Freedom of the City of London award after raising more than £420,000 to help those impacted by Coronavirus. He walked 970 lengths of his garden in Bow while fasting for Ramadan.