IM QALB by Pun Im at Tampines Mall is a new creative, casual Thai-Malay restaurant that blends the rich culinary heritage of Southern Thailand with Malay cuisine. The menu highlights the bold, aromatic, and soulful character of Southern Thai cooking while incorporating familiar Malay flavours and techniques into a range of creative dishes.
From spicy and sour soups to grilled meats, coastal seafood, and comforting desserts, the menu showcases aromatic herbs, chilli, seafood, fermented ingredients, and spices central to both culinary traditions.
Spicy & Sour Beef Soup 4.8/5
One highlight for me was the Spicy & Sour Beef Soup ($16.80), inspired by Isaan cuisine from Northeastern Thailand. Made with three cuts of beef (gold coin, oxtail, and tendon), the soup has a rich, hearty mouthfeel, with each cut adding layers of texture. What makes it stand out is the housemade toasted rice powder, prepared by toasting Thai Jasmine Rice together with three aromatic herbs before grinding it. This adds a fragrant toasted aroma and subtle texture to the soup. The broth itself is punchy, spicy and sour, with robust flavours that make it particularly satisfying.
Golden Crab Tahu Kai Jeow 4.5/5
The Golden Crab Tahu Kai Jeow ($18.80) is perhaps one of the more interesting creations on the menu, combining Thai Kai Jeow with the Malay Tahu Telur. Made with tofu, jumbo lump crab meat, and acacia leaves, the mixture is deep-fried Tahu Telur-style until golden brown and crisp on the outside while staying light inside. It is served with a housemade sweet sauce and finished with a rich, tangy and umami-packed egg yolk sauce. I thought this was a clever marriage of the two cuisines, although I would have liked to see more crab meat in the dish.
Stir Fried Petai With Wild Caught Black Tiger Prawns 4.2/5
For something with a more pronounced Southern Thai character, there is the Stir Fried Petai with Wild Caught Black Tiger Prawns ($19.80). Petai, or stink beans, is a popular ingredient in Southern Thai cuisine, prized for its distinctive flavour and slightly crisp texture. Here, succulent wild-caught black tiger prawns are wok-tossed with petai, housemade chilli paste and shrimp paste, resulting in a dish that is spicy, savoury and packed with umami. The petai brings its characteristic nuttiness, while the prawns add sweetness to the aromatic and punchy sauce.
Stir-Fried Squid in Black Ink Sauce 5/5
My favourite dish of the meal was the Stir-Fried Squid in Black Ink Sauce ($19.80). This lesser-known Southern Thai coastal dish features fresh squid stir-fried in its own natural ink, creating a luscious, glossy sauce with a delicate sweet and savoury balance. The sauce is further layered with onions, garlic, shallots, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, giving it plenty of fragrance and depth. The squid was nicely cooked with a pleasant bite, while the black ink sauce was intensely savoury without being overly heavy. Definitely one I would order again.
Southern Thai Style Ayam Perchik 3.8/5
The Southern Thai Style Ayam Perchik ($18.80) combines Southern Thai curry flavours with the Malay-style ayam percik. Chicken thighs are marinated in a fragrant curry paste with cinnamon, coriander, and cumin seeds, then grilled three times, with the marinade basted onto the chicken after each turn. This gives the skewers a nicely charred and caramelised exterior while keeping the meat tender and juicy. Served with lontong and a sweet and tangy Thai-style achar, it makes for a fairly complete plate. While I enjoyed the chicken's texture, I felt the overall flavour could have been more pronounced and punchy.
Rose Tea with Lychee Smoothie 4.2/5
The menu also includes a selection of Thai-inspired drinks. The Rose Tea with Lychee Smoothie ($7.80) combines fragrant rose tea with sweet lychee in an icy, refreshing smoothie. It is floral, fruity and not overly heavy.
Rose Milk Tea with Cream Cheese Foam 4/5
The Rose Milk Tea with Cream Cheese Foam ($7.80) takes a more indulgent direction, pairing rose-infused milk tea with a velvety cream cheese foam. The tea's floral sweetness pairs well with the creamy foam, which adds a gentle savoury finish.
Thai Chendol Drink with Scented Coconut Milk 4.2/5
For something more familiar, the Thai Chendol Drink with Scented Coconut Milk ($7.80) puts a Thai spin on a Southeast Asian favourite. Silky chendol and sweet jackfruit are served in fragrant coconut milk, making it a refreshing, lightly sweet option to pair with the spicier dishes.
Thai Banana Fritter 4.5/5
Dessert-wise, the Thai Banana Fritter ($9.80) was another highlight. Also known as Gluai Kaeg, the Thai version differs from the familiar Malay goreng pisang by using ripe Namwa bananas and a batter enriched with shredded coconut and toasted white sesame seeds. Fried until golden and crisp, the exterior has a lovely crunch while the banana inside remains naturally sweet, soft and creamy. The toasted sesame and coconut add a pleasant nuttiness and aroma, making this a simple but very satisfying way to end the meal.
Overall, IM QALB by Pun Im offers an interesting take on Thai cuisine, pairing Southern Thai flavours with Malay influences. While some dishes worked better for me than others, the restaurant clearly tries to move beyond the usual Thai restaurant offerings, particularly with creations such as the Golden Crab Tahu Kai Jeow and Southern Thai Style Ayam Perchik.
My personal favourites were the Spicy & Sour Beef Soup and especially the Stir-Fried Squid in Black Ink Sauce, which I found particularly bold and flavourful. If you enjoy spicy, aromatic and herb-driven flavours, IM QALB is a new addition in Tampines worth checking out.
Note: This is an invited tasting.
Im Qalb by Pun Im
Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5
#04-02
Singapore 529510
Tel: +65 8145 6713
Website
Nearest MRT: Tampines (DT, EW Line)
Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 930pm
Direction:
1) Alight at Tampines MRT Station (EW Line). Take Exit C. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 3 minutes. [Map]
2) Alight at Tampines MRT Station (DT Line). Take Exit D. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]
