Originally published on Broadsheet

At LadyBoy, you’re greeted by a neon light reading “rock out with your wok out”. It’s immediately clear the place has a sense of humour.

The modern Thai restaurant and bar is Fran Leaper and husband Mitch Townrow’s (ex- chef de partie at Longrain) first business together. The couple’s collective love for Thai culture and cuisine is evident in LadyBoy – a playful, casual and affordable eatery.

The menu’s sharing dishes are built around chilli, sugar and lime. Among them is the master-stock chicken vermicelli and Asian slaw salad; and a crispy pork hock dish drizzled with sweet fish caramel – the signature dish.

It’s also hard to ignore the crispy chicken ribs coated in Sriracha mayonnaise. A wise way to finish is with LadyBoy’s homemade coconut sorbet, a perfect palate cleanser.

There’s a number of Thai-kissed cocktails and Martinis on offer. The Gin Tipple is a refreshing choice, made with Beefeater Gin, lemongrass, kaffir lime, barley syrup and soda. Otherwise, there’s a selection of beers and wines.

Multi-coloured murals are sprawled across the walls, and a rainbow of parasols dress the back bar’s ceiling. It’s enough to transport you back to the beaches of Phuket.

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Photo credit: Carmen Zammit