Saltburn’s Coco & Rum blends bold flavours and fiery Thai curries

Coco & Rum has built a reputation on the North Yorkshire coast for bold, made-to-order dishes blending traditional Thai cooking with modern influences, with diners choosing a mild, moderate or spicy heat level for each dish.

In the heart of Saltburn, the restaurant attracts diners with its Thai-inspired food served in stylish surroundings, with its success leading to the opening of a second restaurant in Middlesbrough in 2024.

Coco and Rum, Saltburn. (Image: Tees Valley Combined Authority)

The menu blends classic Thai dishes with house specials showcasing the cuisine’s rich flavours and aromas, while starters include chicken satay with peanut sauce, crispy Thai-style fish cakes, spicy squid and clay-pot mussels.

For many diners, the extensive noodle and curry menu is the main draw, with authentic Pad Thai and drunken rice noodles with vegetables and basil alongside green, red, yellow, Panang and Massaman curries, all customisable with vegetables, tofu, chicken, duck, king prawns or sea bass.

Dishes are unique, with a wide range of flavours to suit every taste. (Image: Tees Valley Combined Authority)

Seafood dominates much of the menu, with several signature dishes such as steamed sea bass with chilli and lemon, and mixed seafood served in creamy red curry sauce with king prawns, mussels, squid, fish and scallops.

The chef’s specials underline the range of Coco and Rum, with dishes including a sizzling chicken, beef and king prawn surf-and-turf platter, rich XO sauce dishes, and crispy battered duck and king prawns with tamarind sauce.

Those looking for something heartier may also be tempted by the slow-cooked lamb shank Massaman curry, served on the bone with potatoes, tomatoes and pickled red cabbage.

Coco and Rum are well-known for its range of curries, made-to-order. (Image: Tees Valley Combined Authority)

Another standout lamb dish is the restaurant’s ‘Sleeping Black Sheep’ dish, featuring marinated lamb chops served sizzling from the kitchen on a hot platter.

The menu also caters for a wide range of dietary requirements.

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diners can enjoy many of the restaurant’s curries, noodle dishes and stir-fries prepared with tofu and vegetables, while traditional options such as papaya salad, hot and sour Tom Yum soup, and vegetable spring rolls offer some lighter alternatives.

Freshness and flexibility run through the menu, from shared starters and fragrant curries to Thai seafood and chef’s specials, with Coco & Rum serving Thai flavours in dishes cooked from scratch to order.

Nearly a decade on, the restaurant remains a Saltburn food-scene favourite, blending traditional Thai recipes, modern influences and freshly cooked ingredients to leave a lasting impression on local foodies.