Athlone's Kin Khao wins 'Best Thai restaurant in Leinster' award

Athlone's Kin Khao Thai restaurant added to its list of accolades by earning the 'Best Thai restaurant in Leinster' award at the third annual Asian Restaurant Awards this week.

The awards night took place in the Castleknock Hotel, Dublin, on Tuesday. Over 250 guests were in attendance, competing for the 59 awards on offer.

Kin Khao, which has firmly established itself as one of the best Asian restaurants in the Midlands will this month celebrate the 22nd anniversary of its opening in Athlone.

Founder and owner of the business, Janya Lyons, was on hand to accept the 'Best Thai restaurant in Leinster' accolade.

"We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award," said Janya. "It's a wonderful recognition of our team's hard work and passion for Thai cuisine.

"We've always aimed to give our customers not just a meal, but a true Thai dining experience – and this award makes all the effort worthwhile."

The other award recipients from the region were the Zaiqa Indian restaurants in Tullamore, Roscommon and Ballinasloe.

Zaiqa's Tullamore restaurant on Columcille Street, won the Leinster and Ireland awards for 'best front of house team', while the Zaiqa Roscommon restaurant was presented with the 'best front of house team' award for Connacht.

The 'best Indian chef' award for Connacht, meanwhile, went to the Zaiqa restaurant in Ballinasloe.

The Asian Restaurant Week and Awards were set up by former Restaurant owner and hospitality consultant Paul O'Connor to celebrate and highlight the ever-expanding Asian food scene in Ireland.

The founder of the awards, Mr O'Connor, said: "It is more important now than ever to celebrate our restaurant culture, and particularly how it has been enriched by the Asian diaspora making a home here.

"These fabulous restaurants, and the people behind them, enrich our lives, through their food, expressive flavours, and making the most of our wonderful Irish produce too.

"We are already looking forward to next year as so many of our winners announced new openings!" he added.