Thaikhun

You wouldn't expect to find decent Thai food tucked away on the first floor of Union Square, but here we are. The whole place is done up like a Bangkok street market – complete with a genuine tuk-tuk parked inside and fairy lights strung everywhere. It's theatrical, sure, but when the pad thai arrives with that proper sweet-sour-salty balance and the green curry has actual heat, you'll forgive the shopping centre location. The portions are generous without being silly, and at around £12-15 for mains, it's fair value for the city centre. Yes, it's a chain, but they've clearly put effort into making the Aberdeen branch feel special. The staff know their stuff too – ask about spice levels and they'll actually listen.