Restaurants, Reviews | Posted on April 11th, 2025 | return to news
Gurkha Asian Fusion
2 Southampton Road, Ringwood, BH24 1HY
Review by Luke Graham. Meal provided courtesy of Gurkha. Images © Viewpoint Magazine
In March, my partner and I visited this popular Asian restaurant in the heart of Ringwood.
Gurkha opened in the town around four years ago. It quickly outgrew its original site in Market Place and moved to its current location just off the High Street in early 2023.
Originally focused on Nepalese cuisine, Gurkha now offers an Asian fusion menu combining the best of Thai, Chinese, Nepalese and Indian dishes.
When we arrived at Gurkha on an early Saturday evening, we were greeted by the team of polite and well-dressed waiters before being led to our table. The dining area was clean and spacious, and I enjoyed the interesting and eye-catching décor, including a large mural on one of the walls.
We were impressed by the range of menu choices which should satisfy all tastes: classic Indian curries, Chinese takeaway staples, and traditional Thai favourites like green curry, panang and pad thai. There were also some surprising – and tempting – combinations, like a Japanese chicken katsu served in Thai massaman curry sauce.
We started off with a simple poppadom each and a chutney tray, featuring a sweet mango chutney, delicious mint sauce and chopped fresh onions. The poppadoms were crisp and tasty.
From the list of starters, we opted for the onion pakora. Similar to bhajis, these bitesize fried balls of onion and potato were a perfect balance of soft, chewy and crunchy. We ordered one plate between us as a side but wished we had ordered a plate each!
For our main meal, I chose one of the restaurant’s signature dishes: the Grandma’s Curry. Based on the chef’s family recipe, this dish featured spicy chicken in a rich sauce. It was absolutely delicious. The chicken was moist and succulent and the sauce was flavoursome, with a delightful spicy kick that was not too overpowering. I paired this with a humble bowl of steamed rice, so I could enjoy the full flavour of the curry. The rice was light, fluffy and perfectly cooked.
My partner opted for the chowmein, which came with onion, chicken and fresh spring onions. Again, this was excellently cooked and flavourful. I often find Chinese noodle dishes to be quite greasy, but these didn’t taste greasy at all – in fact they were quite fragrant, with a slight taste of coriander that made the dish even more delicious.
Despite feeling full from all this tasty food, we couldn’t resist trying the dessert menu.
I went for the kulfi mango, a traditional Indian ice cream. The mango flavour was subtle, unlike mango sorbets that are often too sweet, and the ice cream itself had a delightful creamy texture. A lovely dish.
Meanwhile, my partner had the Manhattan Stack, a rich combination of chocolate sponge cake, profiterole, cream and toffee. I didn’t hesitate to try it when she offered me a bite — it was heavenly.
Gurkha also offered a full drinks list, with plenty of wine choices and cocktails, but I opted for a simple refreshing lager to go with my curry, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Throughout the evening, wait staff were attentive without being overbearing, knowing exactly when to check in with us, take away our empty plates and bring us our next course.
We had a wonderful evening at Gurkha, and I’m keen to go again to sample more from its varied and delicious menu. Perhaps next time I’ll have the roasted crispy duck, the fish curry made with tamarind and coconut milk, or the mouth-watering combination of chicken katsu and massaman curry.
If you’re planning your next evening out and fancy Asian food, I heartily recommend Gurkha.
To reserve a table or order delivery, visit gurkharingwood.co.uk or call 01425 471717.
Please share post:
LATEST NEWS:
CHARITY OF THE YEAR 2025
Subscribe to the online magazine news letter
