Review: Rosa’s Thai

We remember trying the original Rosa’s Thai in Spitalfields some years ago, and since then, the brand has grown into 45+ restaurants across the country. So when Rosa’s Thai opened in Oxford in 2023, we were genuinely excited. Since then, we’ve been a couple of times and had some great meals paired with warm, friendly service.

This time, we visited to try some of the newer dishes on the menu, alongside a few of our favourites. It was a busy Saturday night, with a queue forming outside at points.

We started with their delicious prawn crackers served with peanut sauce (£4) – arguably the perfect prawn cracker: crispy, light, and moreish.

Then came the Larb Gai (£11.50), a new special. Although typically served as a main, we decided to share it as a starter — and honestly, we think that’s where it belongs. It’s an incredibly fresh dish of minced chicken served in lettuce leaves, packed with bold flavours of chilli, lime, herbs, fish sauce, and crushed roasted rice, which gives it a satisfying crunch. With fresh chillies on the side and throughout, the spice builds steadily, but the zingy lime and herbs keep things balanced. A very enjoyable dish.

Next, we had the Thai Fried Chicken wings (£5) aromatic, crispy, and tender, garnished with fried shallots and served with a sweet chilli dipping sauce. Great flavour, great texture, and a generous portion for the price. We also tried the Krajieb Tempura (£5) deep-fried okra in black pepper batter. We weren’t entirely sure if we’d had okra before, and while it didn’t have a strong flavour, the texture was fun: some pieces were crispy and claw-like, others a bit heavier with batter. It was pleasant enough to share, but didn’t totally blow us away.

For mains, we had the new Khao Pad Rosa’s Chicken Fried Rice

..Jasmine rice wok-fried with their homemade sauce, eggs, onion, cherry tomatoes, and spring greens. Despite sounding simple, this dish really hit the spot. The sauce was deeply comforting, and this is one we’d happily order again and again.

We always order the Pad Thai (£15.50), and this time went for prawn. We love the crispy peanuts on the side, but this version felt heavier than we remembered and lacked the freshness we usually enjoy. The chicken version might be the way to go, though the portion of prawns was generous.

To drink, we had the Lychee & Jasmine with Mango Bubbles (£5.75), and the Mango Boba Colada (£10.25) – a Piña Colada meets bubble tea.

This fun cocktail came with Duppy Share rum, coconut & mango infusion, lime, prosecco, and mango boba bubbles. It definitely packed a punch and was a tropical, refreshing pairing for the food.

So why didn’t Rosa’s quite hit the same high notes this time? On reflection, we think it’s at a tipping point – straddling the line between authentic Thai charm and broader chain appeal. The check-in via iPad and the slicker processes make it feel more like fast food. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, Wagamama and Banana Tree have done something similar with Japanese and pan-Asian food, but it’s a different vibe to what Rosa’s once was.

One way to reclaim a bit of that relaxed dining atmosphere? Order in rounds. We found that asking for starters first, then mains later, gave the evening a more natural rhythm and helped us enjoy the food at a more leisurely pace.

Overall, you still can’t go far wrong with Rosa’s Thai. The flavours are there, the dishes are solid, but it’s no longer quite as personal or memorable as it once was.