Durham’s international food scene is thriving with cuisines to suit every taste bud now on offer. And the latest to join the party is Chilli Padi, an authentic Malaysian restaurant that recently opened it doors at Aykley Heads.
East Durham Business editor Leanne Fawcett went along to put the menu to the test…
Spanish, Brazilian, Turkish, Indian, Italian, Thai, British. Just some of the countries represented within Durham’s eclectic food scene.
Now you can add Malaysian, in the form of newcomer Chilli Padi.
After enjoying huge success in Newcastle, owners Robert Lao and Charles Tang decided the time was right to expand and after finding suitable premises at Aykley Heads in Durham (the building was previously the home of Bistro 21, chef Terry Laybourne’s venture), Chilli Padi Durham was born.
Serving authentic Malaysian food, diners are promised to be taken on a culinary journey, along the way indulging in vibrant flavours that celebrate the diverse cuisine of the southeast Asian country.
So, when my husband and I were invited along to give it a try, we could not say yes quickly enough.
Having had a perusal of the menu in advance, we knew what to expect. And it was clear the biggest dilemma was going to be what we’d order, not because there isn’t enough choice but because we actually could have ordered everything on the menu. It all sounded delicious.
When we arrived, we took in the environment, which in some ways feel very Asian and in others reminded us of a Mediterranean bistro, the type you find nestled away down the beaten tracks of a little village in Greece.
And on a busy Friday evening night just before Christmas, we weren’t surprised at all to see that the restaurant was packed, with the type of atmosphere that comes when people are enjoying the festivities and are looking forward to some well earned time off.
After being seated, we ordered drinks, a large sauvignon blanc for me and a bottle of beer for my husband.
We then had another good read of the menu to decide what we wanted.
In the end we opted for Roti Canai, a light and crispy Malaysian flatbread served with the restaurant’s signature sauce (£7.90); Wasabi King Prawns (£9.90), and Salt and Chilli Calamari (£8.90).
Our choices for main, at the recommendation of Charmain Arrojo, Manager of the two restaurants, were Nasi Lemak (£14.90), which is Malaysia’s national dish, and Laksa King Prawns (also £14.90), another of Malaysia’s most popular dishes.
After ordering, we had a bit of a wait before our starters came, which suited us fine. We’re parents to three children, including a very boisterous toddler, so when we go out as husband and wife rather than mammy and daddy, we do like to take our time and catch up on life.
And as the saying goes, good things to those who wait and never has that been more pertinent than when we were presented with out starters.
Firstly, the smell. Wow, so inviting. Secondly, the colours of the food. Freshness was bursting from the plates and we could not wait to tuck in.
Honestly, I am not exaggerating when I say this was THE most delicious food we’ve had for a long time. And the calamari were quite possibly the best we’ve ever had, and as deep-fried squid lovers that is saying something. We did not want our starters to end, they were that good. Clean plates all round!
In between we ordered another round of drinks and reflected on the wonderful food we’d already been treated to.
Next up came our mains, and as well as the two dishes we’d ordered, they also brought us an extra dish from the smaller plates menu, which was smoked chicken. Charmain told us this dish of chicken strips coated in sweet garlic soy sauce, served with chillies and spring onions, is one of their most popular and wanted us to experience why.
Our mains were just as good as the starters.
Zingy, super fresh and so authentically Malaysian (as I said to Charmain, while I can’t say what ‘authentically Malaysian’ is, given I’ve never been there, this felt like it was it), each mouthful was a party for the taste buds.
The Nasi Lemak, a dish of aromatic coconut rice served with signature fried boneless chicken leg, peanuts, egg, cucumber, and signature sambal sauce, was wonderful, a real feast for us foodies.
And the Laksa King Prawns, served with noodles, were a real highlight, especially for me who could eat king prawns every day.
Oh, and of course the latecomer to the party, the chicken strips. Yep, we can see why they’re one of Chilli Padi’s most ordered dishes.
We did sadly get too full to finish everything off, however, even at that point it was a tough ask to stop picking as the food was so yummy. We were telling ourselves ‘no more’ but still kept sneaking one last mouthful in.
There are so many restaurants to choose from in and around Durham City Centre and while Chilli Padi is set slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the riverside area (which as Charmain explains is a strategic business move on their part; being slightly out of the city centre means they can offer their diners a more relaxed and prolonged eating experience) I don’t think it will in any way dampen its appeal. The food speaks for itself, which is all any eatery can ask for.
As for 2026, I was keen to know if there are plans to expand the Chilli Padi empire further, ideally into Middlesbrough (where I live). Charmain tells me: “We are looking at opening our first venue outside of the North East, in London. We think there’s the demand there and it’s something Robert and Charles are working on, so watch this space.”
Exciting times.
But back to Chilli Padi Durha, will we be back and would we recommend it – absolutely and certainly yes and yes!