Banana Tree Restaurant Locations, Menu & Everything You Need to Know (Plus How to Grow Your Own)
If you’ve searched for banana tree recently, chances are you’re after one of two very different things: a table at the popular Southeast Asian restaurant chain, or advice on growing an actual banana tree plant in your garden or conservatory. This guide covers both, starting with everything you need to know about the restaurant before moving into the plant-growing basics further down the page.
What Is Banana Tree?
Banana Tree is a well-loved UK restaurant chain known for its vibrant, pan-Asian menu drawing on Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Sri Lankan cooking traditions. Since opening its first site decades ago, the brand has built a loyal following thanks to its punchy flavours, relaxed atmosphere and reasonably priced sharing plates. Whether you’re after a quick lunch or a proper night out, Banana Tree restaurant branches are designed to feel casual yet a step above your average high street chain.
Banana Tree Menu Highlights
The Banana Tree menu features bold, aromatic dishes that are easy to share. Expect starters like crispy spring rolls and satay skewers, followed by mains such as massaman curry, pad Thai, and Sri Lankan-style black pork curry. There’s a strong selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes too, so groups with different dietary needs are well catered for. Cocktails, including lychee martinis and spiced rum concoctions, round out the experience nicely.
If you’re heading to the West End, the Banana Tree Soho menu follows the same core structure as other branches but occasionally features limited specials, so it’s worth checking online before you go, as menus can shift seasonally.
Banana Tree Locations Across the UK
One of the most common reasons people search “banana tree” is simply to find their nearest branch. Here’s a rundown of some of the most searched-for locations.
Banana Tree Soho
Tucked into the heart of London’s West End, Banana Tree Soho is a favourite for pre-theatre dinners and after-work drinks thanks to its central location and buzzy atmosphere.
Banana Tree Covent Garden
Just a short walk away, Banana Tree Covent Garden offers a similar vibe with the added bonus of being close to shopping and entertainment venues, making it popular with tourists and locals alike.
Banana Tree West Hampstead
For those in north-west London, Banana Tree West Hampstead brings the same menu to a slightly quieter, more neighbourhood-feel setting.
Banana Tree Islington
Another London favourite, Banana Tree Islington sits within easy reach of Upper Street’s bars and shops, making it a solid choice for a casual dinner out.
Banana Tree Windsor
Outside the capital, Banana Tree Windsor is a popular pick for visitors exploring the castle and riverside, offering a relaxed spot to refuel.
Banana Tree Bath
In the south-west, Banana Tree Bath fits neatly into the city’s mix of independent eateries and well-known chains, drawing in locals and weekend visitors alike.
Banana Tree Chelmsford
Essex diners can find Banana Tree Chelmsford serving up the brand’s signature dishes in a modern, easy-going setting.
Banana Tree Birmingham
The Midlands is represented too, with Banana Tree Birmingham bringing Southeast Asian flavours to the city centre dining scene.
Banana Tree Henley
A smaller, more intimate setting, Banana Tree Henley suits the town’s riverside charm and attracts a steady stream of regulars.
Banana Tree Salford Quays
Up north, Banana Tree Salford Quays offers waterside dining alongside the brand’s usual menu, popular with both office workers and weekend visitors.
Banana Tree Haywards Heath
In West Sussex, Banana Tree Haywards Heath gives commuter-belt diners a taste of the chain without needing to head into London.
Banana Tree Portsmouth
Down on the south coast, Banana Tree Portsmouth serves the full menu in a setting popular with families and groups.
Banana Tree Oxford
Finally, Banana Tree Oxford rounds out the list, offering students and city visitors a reliable spot for Asian-inspired dining.
Banana Tree Milton Keynes
Also worth a mention, Banana Tree Milton Keynes gives shoppers and cinema-goers in the area a solid dining option within the same retail and leisure hub.
Locations can open, close, or temporarily change hours, so it’s always worth checking the official website or calling ahead before you travel.
Prices, Deals & Student Discount
Banana Tree sits in the mid-range price bracket — not the cheapest option on the high street, but generally good value given the portion sizes and ingredient quality. Sharing plates and set menus are a smart way to sample more of the menu without overspending.
One search that comes up often is the Banana Tree student discount. Many branches, particularly those near university campuses like Oxford and Portsmouth, have historically offered discounts to students who show valid ID, though terms can vary by location and change over time. If you’re a student hoping to use this, check directly with your local branch or the restaurant’s official channels, as discount policies aren’t always applied consistently across every site.
Booking a Table
Reserving a table is straightforward through the Banana Tree website, where you can select your preferred branch, date, and party size. For larger groups or special occasions, call the restaurant directly, especially for popular locations like Soho and Covent Garden, which tend to fill up quickly on weekends.
Reviews & Reputation
Customer feedback for Banana Tree is generally positive, with diners often praising the flavourful curries, friendly service, and relaxed setting. As with any chain, experiences can vary slightly from branch to branch, so it’s worth glancing at recent reviews for your specific location before booking, particularly if you’re visiting for a special occasion.
Banana Tree vs Similar Restaurants
Compared to other pan-Asian chains like Wagamama or Busaba, Banana Tree leans more heavily into Sri Lankan and Malaysian influences, giving it a slightly different flavour profile. Portion sizes and pricing are broadly comparable, so the choice often comes down to personal taste and which chain is conveniently located nearby.
Not Just a Restaurant: Growing Your Own Banana Tree Plant
Away from the dining table, plenty of people search “banana tree” because they’re interested in the banana tree plant itself — either as a striking addition to a garden or as an indoor statement plant. Here’s a practical rundown of what’s involved.
Can You Grow a Banana Tree From a Banana?
This is one of the most common questions gardeners ask, and the honest answer is: not really, at least not from a supermarket banana. Most shop-bought bananas are seedless hybrids, so there are no viable seeds inside to plant. If you’re determined to try growing one from an actual banana, you’d need a wild variety that still produces seeds, which isn’t something you’ll find at your local supermarket.
How to Grow a Banana Tree
For most home gardeners, growing a banana tree means starting from a young plant, rhizome, or division rather than a seed. Here’s a simple step-by-step approach:
- Choose the right variety – Musa basjoo is a popular, hardy choice for UK gardens, as it tolerates cooler temperatures better than tropical varieties.
- Pick a sunny, sheltered spot – Banana plants thrive in full sun and need protection from strong winds, which can shred their large leaves.
- Prepare rich, well-draining soil – Mix in plenty of organic compost, as banana plants are hungry feeders.
- Plant and water generously – Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the growing season.
- Feed regularly – A high-potassium feed every couple of weeks through summer encourages healthy growth.
- Protect over winter – In the UK climate, wrapping the trunk with fleece or straw helps hardier varieties survive frost.
If you’re specifically wondering how to grow banana tree plants from an existing rhizome rather than starting from scratch, the process is similar but gives you a head start, since the rhizome already has established root structures ready to send up new growth.
For those hoping to go all the way back to basics, how to grow a banana tree from a banana genuinely isn’t practical with supermarket fruit, as mentioned above — but planting a small nursery-bought specimen and following the steps above will get you a thriving plant far more reliably.
How to Plant a Banana Tree
Once you’ve got your young plant or rhizome, planting a banana tree comes down to timing and preparation. Spring is the ideal planting window in the UK, giving the plant a full growing season to establish before colder weather arrives. Dig a hole roughly twice the width of the root ball, enrich the soil with compost, gently firm the plant in, then water thoroughly.
How to Grow Banana Tree Without Seed
Since viable seeds aren’t really an option for most home growers, learning how to grow a banana tree without seed simply means propagating from rhizomes, offsets (sometimes called “pups”), or young nursery plants. This is the most common and reliable method, and it’s how virtually all ornamental and fruiting banana plants are propagated commercially.
How Long Does a Banana Tree Take to Grow?
If you’re wondering how long a banana tree takes to grow before it looks established, expect noticeable growth within the first year under good conditions, with plants often reaching several feet tall by the end of their first summer. However, if you’re hoping for actual fruit, that’s a longer game — tropical varieties grown outdoors in the UK are unlikely to fruit reliably due to the climate, and even in ideal conditions, banana plants typically take 9 to 18 months to produce fruit after reaching maturity.
FAQs
Is Banana Tree restaurant halal or vegan-friendly?
Most branches offer clearly marked vegetarian and vegan dishes, and some locations cater to halal requirements — it’s best to check with your specific branch.
Does Banana Tree offer delivery?
Many locations partner with major delivery platforms, though availability depends on the branch.
Will a banana tree survive a UK winter outdoors?
Hardier varieties like Musa basjoo can survive with proper winter protection, though they may need cutting back and insulating each year.
Conclusion
Whether you’re booking a table at Banana Tree Covent Garden for date night or trying to figure out how to grow a banana tree in your own back garden, there’s clearly more than one way to bring a little tropical flair into your life. From menus and locations to propagation tips, hopefully this guide has covered exactly what you were looking for.