Bancoq aims to be different than many westernised Thai places. Norman Thanakamonun, the new restaurant’s owner, hails from Bangkok and wants to bring Adelaide more authentic cuisine.
“Everyone can do a Thai green curry and Massaman, but we want to do something different,” Norman says.
The family-run spot serves up street food that you’d see in a Bangkok market––meat skewers and sticky rice, Thai chicken wings, and roast chicken coming soon. Norman ideates and cooks the dishes with his brother Eric, his son Thaison works on customer service, and his mom cooks a traditional Thai dessert “that you can’t get anywhere else in Adelaide” such as Pandan layer cake and cream puffs every weekend.
Bancoq also has a lot of seafood dishes, such as calamari burgers and crispy fish, due to Norman’s career history. The chef formerly headed Hutt Street seafood restaurant Blanc after founding it in 2004. Norman opened Bancoq because he was homesick for his native country’s food, and he wanted to cook up something authentic.
“Bancoq’s food is real street food you’d see in the market,” he says.
“I want to remind people of when they were in Thailand or when Thai people miss home, they can eat this.”
The Malvern spot focuses on takeaway, but they also have fast casual dining, with about seating for about 15 people. If you want to try an authentic Thai dish right here in Adelaide, Norman seems like the right guy to go to.
“I have so much passion,” he says says.
“Adelaide deserves something good.”
Find Bancoq at Shop 9, 269 Unley Rd, Malvern.
