I was so excited when I heard the Thai restaurant Zaap was coming to York. I visited one in Leeds many times when I lived there, and it always had such good food. If you are looking for an authentic taste of Thailand, then Zaap Thai is perfect.
About Zaap
Zaap is a popular Thai street food restaurant that has come to the historic city of York, aka my home city! The restaurant has a brilliant atmosphere, a large menu and tasty food. You can just tell that Zapp has a real dedication to providing the real taste of Bangkok.
The decor in Zaap Thai York is amazing, it captures the feel of a bustling Bangkok street food market. As soon as you enter the restaurant, you’ll see neon lights, funky tuk tuks, and bright colours that give you the feeling of being right there. in Thailand
The Zaap Thai York Menu
The Zaap Thai menu is one of the largest of any restaurant in York — over 80 dishes covering starters, soups, salads, noodles, rice dishes, curries, stir-fries, grills, and desserts. There’s a dedicated plant-based section using vegan meat alternatives, which is genuinely impressive. Prices are reasonable for York — most mains sit between £10 and £15. The menu is laminated and stays on the table throughout your meal, which is just as well given how many times you’ll be tempted to go back for more.
There is plenty of choice for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans. They have classic favourites like Pad Thai and Thai Green Curry to lesser-known gems like Prawn Dumplings and Thai Fish Cakes.
There’s even a separate plant-based section that has dishes with the option of having plant-based chicken or prawns, so plenty of options for both vegans and vegetarians. You can enjoy Vegetable Spring Rolls, flavorful Papaya Salads, or the aromatic Thai Green Curry with tofu. The chefs at Zaap Thai are committed to using fresh ingredients and traditional Thai cooking techniques to give you the true taste of Thailand – and you can taste it for sure.
Starters
I don’t know about you, but I love a starter, and the Zaap Thai street food York menu has plenty of choice. The Bangkok Platter is a great thing to start with and perfect for sharing. This selection of popular street nibbles has steamed pork and prawn dumplings, crispy wontons stuffed with chicken and prawn, chicken satay, chicken gyoza, and Thai fish cakes. Pair it with a refreshing Chang beer, and you’ll feel like you’re strolling through the streets of Bangkok.
There’s a vegetarian option for this, also. Bao buns are always a great thing to start with. There are many options, and you can order just one or two, which is ideal for sharing.
We picked the Tempura Prawn Bao Buns in a sweet chilli sauce. They came with two prawns in each, which was more than enough filling. It was delicious and really got our taste buds going.
Mains
For the main course, I felt a bit overwhelmed, to be honest. I’m glad I try to eat plant-based as much as possible, as it helped narrow the menu down. I was tempted by the rich and aromatic Massaman Curry, the Red Thai Curry Stir Fry, and the classic Pad Thai Bo Ran with noodles, egg, spring onions, tofu, and peanuts. In an effort to try something different, I picked something I’d never tried before!
From the plant-based section, I picked the Pad Gratium Prik Thai (stir-fry with plenty of garlic and black pepper) with plant-based prawns. It was absolutely delicious. You could tell it was made with the freshest ingredients, the garlic and pepper just popped out of the dish, and the prawns were a pleasant surprise. There was also fresh coriander which really popped when you got a piece and complemented the other flavours well. The prawns actually tasted like real prawns. They had a rubbery-like texture with the crunch of a fresh tiger prawn. You could tell a slight difference, but it was impressive how close they were to the real thing. A great vegan and vegetarian dish!
My husband had Khow Moo Krob Jae Ban, a popular Thai street food, of crispy pork belly and jasmine rice with their special green Zaap sauce. He really enjoyed his tasty food as well.
Drinks
Zaap Thai Street Food has a great drinks menu featuring Thai cocktails, mocktails, soft drinks, hot drinks and imported lagers.
Desserts
If you have a sweet tooth, then make sure to save room for dessert. Zaap Thai has a unique range of sweet desserts to try. The traditional Thai dessert of mango sticky rice is highly recommended. We never get dessert, though, so we didn’t explore the dessert menu too much. Although it is kept out on the table so you can look well in advance. I hate it when you don’t get to see the dessert menu until after you have eaten!
The Service At Zaap
At Zaap Thai, the staff are friendly and attentive. We felt welcomed and taken care of from the moment we stepped through the door. We were seated quickly and able to pick the table we wanted as it was quiet on a Thursday afternoon. Although it did take some time for them to come back for us and take our order. We sat waiting for a while before anyone came, despite it being quiet. This wouldn’t have bothered me usually, but we had our 2-year-old with us, so we like to get the food on our table as soon as possible!
When we finally ordered, it also took a while for them to bring our two Cokes. But after that, the food was ready very quickly. I honestly thought we would be waiting an age for it!
Zaap Thai York Location and Opening Hours
You can find Zaap York at 7 Lendal, just over Lendal Bridge in the city walls. The address is: 7 Lendal, York YO1 8AQ
Zaap Thai operates on a walk-in policy, so you cannot book in advance. Just show up and wait to be seated.
Opening Hours:
| Day | Opening Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 pm – 9:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 12:00 pm – 9:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12:00 pm – 9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12:00 pm – 9:30 pm |
| Friday | 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm |
| Saturday | 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm |
| Sunday | 12:00 pm – 9:30 pm |
Final Thoughts on Zaap Thai Street Food York
We really enjoyed our meal at Zaap Thai York. The atmosphere is brilliant — the decor and neon lighting genuinely make you feel like you’ve walked into something special rather than just another restaurant on a York side street. The menu is one of the best things about it: over 80 dishes means there’s always something new to try, and the plant-based section is impressive enough that I’d go back just for that. The service was a little slow to start on our visit, but once the drinks came the food arrived quickly. On a busy Saturday evening you’d want to be prepared for a wait. It’s walk-in only so no bookings — arrive early or be patient. If you’re looking for Thai food in York, Zaap is the obvious first choice. It’s been here a few years now and it’s only got better.
Zaap Thai Street Food York
7 Lendal
York
YO1 8AQ
Walk-in only — no bookings taken.
FAQs About Zaap Thai York
Can you book Zaap Thai York?
No — Zaap Thai York operates a walk-in only policy. You cannot book in advance. On busy Friday and Saturday evenings there can be a wait, so arriving earlier in the evening is worth considering if you’re coming with a group.
What is on the Zaap Thai York menu?
The Zaap Thai menu has over 80 dishes covering starters, soups, salads, noodles, rice dishes, curries, stir-fries, and desserts. There’s a dedicated plant-based section with vegan meat alternatives. Highlights include the Bangkok Platter starter, Tempura Prawn Bao Buns, Pad Thai, and the Pad Gratium Prik Thai from the plant-based section.
Is Zaap Thai York good for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes — Zaap has a dedicated plant-based section on the menu using vegan chicken and vegan prawn alternatives. The plant-based prawns in particular are impressive — close enough to the real thing to surprise you. There’s also a good range of vegetable-based starters and sides throughout the main menu.
Where is Zaap Thai York?
Zaap Thai is at 7 Lendal, York, YO1 8AQ — just over Lendal Bridge, inside the city walls. It’s an easy walk from the train station and the city centre.
What should I order at Zaap Thai York?
The Bangkok Platter is a great starter for sharing — a mix of dumplings, wontons, satay, and fish cakes. For mains, the Pad Thai is a reliable classic, or if you want something a bit different try the Pad Gratium Prik Thai stir-fry (garlic and black pepper). Mango sticky rice for dessert if you have room.
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Wow, some of those dishes look incredible! Barb would love it there. I would need someone to take my hand and guide me through. It was just be too overwhelming to focus on one thing and really experience it.