Friday, August 22, 2014

Chang Thai @ Bishan Street 11

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I have always like to seek out neighbourhood eateries in the heartland as I find a charm in them offering comfort home cooked food while not burning a hole in the wallet. One such new eatery servicing up authentic Thai cuisine is Chang Thai at Bishan Street 11. The eatery is founded by 3 buddies in their 20s to 30, with a native Thai chef who has been cooking since the age of 12.

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Lemon Grass Drink and Thai Milk Green Tea 4/5

Dinner started with some drinks. We tried the Lemon Grass Drink ($2.50) and Thai Milk Green Tea ($2.50). The Thai Milk Green Tea is a good change from the staple Thai Ice Tea. Like its counterpart, this is a sweet and milky beverage which will come in handy for fire fighting if the food is too fiery.

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Pandan Chicken 4/5

Before the mains were served, we started with some light appetizers. I am not a big fan of Pandan Chicken ($2.50/pc) because usually it turned out to be too oily for my liking. I have to applaud the execution here. The chicken was not overly oily, tender and still came with a hint of the pandan fragrant.

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Prawn Cake 4/5

Moving on we tried the Prawn Cake ($5.80 for 3pc). Made from scratch the prawn cake has a crispy thin batter that is well complemented with the prawn paste inside. Most places the prawn paste are mixed with a lot of flour and you can't even taste any prawn inside but this is not the case at Chang Thai.

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Fish Cake 4/5

Another look easy but painstaking preparation is the Fish Cake ($5.80 for 3pc). Fish meat is removed from the whole fish, seasoned with Thai herbs and spices before shaping them into shape. Slightly crispy on the exterior with bouncy fish meat inside, an enjoyable appetiser to kick start the meal.

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Mango Salad 3.5/5

I like Thai salad because it encompasses all the staple flavours of Thai cuisine in one dish with its rich and robust flavours. The Mango Salad ($6) while I appreciate the thought of being different, giving it a more fruity note, I missed that sharpness in flavour I was seeking out in Thai cuisine.

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Beef Noodle Soup 4/5

The Beef Noodle Soup ($7) reminded me of those street hawker stalls I visited in Bangkok. We have skipped the noodles as we are saving our stomach for more delicious food. I am not sure what cut of beef they used but it has a nice layer of fat and it literally melted in the mouth. What stood out for me is the robustness of the soup that is packed with slurping goodness.

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Pad Thai 3.8/5

A staple Thai dish is the Pad Thai ($6/$9). For the price, the portion is definitely value for money. It seems like the rest of the group enjoyed the noodle but I thought it was lacking the wok hei aroma.

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Steamed Seabass with Lemongrass 4.5/5

I will usually order the steamed fish in spicy and sour sauce but with the recommendation I decided to try the Steamed Seabass with Lemongrass ($25). I was a great recommendation. The lemongrass seems to accentuate the flavour of the fish instead of overpowering it.

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Garlic Honey Chicken 4.2/5

Probably a signature dish or soon to be at Chang Thai is the Garlic Honey Chicken ($6/$8). This may looked simple but its actually pretty good with many different components coming together as one. The tender and juicy chicken, the light crispy batter, the aroma from the garlic and the honey glaze all working harmoniously as one.

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Tapioca with Coconut Milk 4/5

The Tapioca with Coconut Milk ($4) was nicely steamed to a soft texture but yet still retaining a bite. The coconut milk further enhanced the enjoyment.

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Red Ruby with Jackfruit 4.2/5

If you are a fan of red ruby, then you got to try Red Ruby with Jackfruit ($5) from Chang Thai. The red ruby is homemade and hence it was not overly starchy with a nice crunchy bite. The jackfruit gave the dessert an additional fruity finishing.

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Mango Sticky Rice 4/5

One of my favourite Thai desserts is the Mango Sticky Rice ($6). The choice of mango is very important and the glutinous rice must be sticky and moist. I think Chang Thai has got this right.

Overall I felt that the food at Chang Thai is hearty and family oriented. I actually left the place wondering if I just had Thai food? I realized I did not get the fiery rush of spiciness throughout the meal. I regret not ordering the more spicy item on the menu which somehow made my review incomplete. I look forward to my next visit to check out the other spicier items.


Chang Thai
Blk 151 Bishan Street 11
#01-195
Singapore 570151
Tel: +65 85566899
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chang-Thai-at-151/607131619335422
Website: http://changthaisg.com/
Nearest MRT: Bishan (CC Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am - 230pm, 530pm - 10pm
Fri - Sat: 11am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bishan MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to Bishan Bus Interchange (Stop ID 53009). Take bus number 54, 56 or 410. Alight 2 stops later. Walk straight to the traffic junction of Bishan Street 13 and Bishan Street 11. Cross the road and turn left onto Bishan Street 11. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2 comments:

  1. Strongly recommended their Curry Fish Head... A must Try ITEM

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    Replies
    1. Hmmm really good? It is a Thai place servicing curry fish head?

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