Spicy Thai - Thai Cafe @ Aljunied Avenue 2

I am not new to Spicy Thai at Aljunied Avenue 2. In fact I have been back for a couple of times with my friends for the Thai food. What makes me come back again and again probably is the exciting menu. There always seems to have something new on the menu each time I am back.

Prawn Cake 3.5/5

We started with some Prawn Cake ($2/pc). I don't usually order the prawn cake because many times I have restaurants servicing me one that is mixed with too much flour or too thick with its batter. I would say the prawn cake at Thai Spicy is one of the better ones that I have eaten.

Fish Cake 3.5/5

The Fish Cake ($2/pc) was springy and has a hint of spiciness. Paired it to sweet chilli sauce for a more delightful enjoyment.

Nam Tok Neua (Basil Beef) Salad 3.8/5

This is one salad that the carnivores will applauded. The Nam Tok Neua (Basil Beef) Salad ($15) comes with beef strips tossed in a spicy thai sauce served with century egg. There were not much vegetable except for the basil flavour that is infused to the beef. The meat was a bit tough to my liking but the sauce was top notch. Not forgetting my favourite century egg.

BBQ Pork Neck 4.5/5

BBQ Chicken Wing 4.2/5

I was told that Spicy Thai has recently engaged a grill expert from Thailand and I was eagerly looking forward to the grill items. From the grill section of the menu, I tried the BBQ Pork Neck ($10) and BBQ Chicken Wing ($6 for 4pc/ $9 for 6pc). Both the pork neck and chicken wing were really well marinated and grilled to perfection. The infused sweetness with the smokiness and slightly charred surface made these finger licking good.

Deep Fried Kang Kong with Special Thai Sauce 4/5

 I had the Deep Fried Kang Kong with Special Thai Sauce ($10) in my previous visit. It was a unique creation definitely. Compared to my previous visit, it seemed like there was a bit more batter giving it a more crispy crunch. Having it alone is it bland. It needs to pair with the special thai sauce. Quite similar like have Indian rojak.

Dill Pattie (Cha Om) Omelette 3.8/5

I am glad the price of the Dill Pattie (Cha Om) Omelette ($8) has not increased since my visit almost a year back. It was also great to note that they have used for dill pattie in the omelette for the herby taste to stand out more.

Crispy Seafood Lad Na 3/5

Crispy Seafood Lad Na 3/5

Crispy Seafood Lad Na ($6) was another dish that I tried previously. Now the fried hor fun is served separately from the gravy for retaining the crispiness. I actually think otherwise. Although the crispiness is retained, the dish felt separated without stir frying the hor fun with the gravy to infuse the flavours.

Water Fry Egg with Thai Style Crispy Sun Dried Fish

For a healthy option there is the Water Fry Egg with Thai Style Crispy Sun Dried Fish ($12). Very interesting way of fying egg, I would love to learn from the chef how to do it. Just be warned that it is packed with a spicy, tangy kick. I thought the crispy sun dried fish was additional, it did not really complement the dish except for decorative purposes. Nevertheless it was really crispy similar to the ikan bilis.

Red Emperor Snapper with Chilli Garlic 4.5/5

Moving on to the new items on the menu, we started with the Red Emperor Snapper with Chilli Garlic (market price). Simplicity at its best with the garlic and chilli combo plus a bit of lemon zest to boost up the whole natural flavour of the fish. Everyone on the table enjoyed it. However, I thought the fish was a bit overcooked by a minute or two but overall it was a very good dish.

Thai Walking Cat Fish with Spicy Lemon Soup 4.2/5

Another fish dish on the new menu is the Thai Walking Cat Fish with Spicy Lemon Soup ($28). Restaurant seldom serves cat fish on the menu but it is actually quite tasty. The flesh is firmer compared to the red snapper. I was concern of the earthy taste of the cat fish but it was well covered by the spicy lemon soup that is used to cook the fish under constant charcoal heat.

Basil Mussels 4.2/5

Still on seafood, we tried the Basil Mussels ($15). I enjoyed how the basil flavour has been infused into the shellfish giving it an addition aroma.

Lala Beehoon 4/5

The highlight for the dinner probably was the Lala Beehoon ($18) and one of the newest creation I was looking forward to try. The silky smooth beehoon was buried underneath a pile of sweet clams. Most of us enjoyed it but some felt that it was too peppery for their weak tongue. The peppery kick did give me an adrenaline rush but I thought it overshadowed the sweetness of the clam that supposed to be absorbed by the beehoon.

Lemongrass Jelly with Aloe Vera Cubes and Calamansi 3/5

Tapioca in Coconut Milk 4.2/5

Thai Red Ruby 4/5

Sticky Glutinous Rice with Mango 4/5

Not forgetting the desserts to wrap up the sumptuous dinner. Spicy Thai offers a good selection of Thai desserts such as the Lemongrass Jelly with Aloe Vera Cubes and Calamansi ($2.50), Tapioca in Coconut Milk ($3.50), Thai Red Ruby ($3.50) and Sticky Glutinous Rice with Mango ($6). The lemongrass jelly and red ruby are perfect to cool off that fiery tongue after all the spicy food. The tapioca was steamed to a delectable softness that is excellently complemented by the sweetness from the coconut milk. Last but not least the classic mango sticky rice to complete the delicious meal and wonderful company.


Spicy Thai - Thai Cafe
Blk 115 Aljunied Avenue 2
#01-35
Singapore 380115
Tel: +65 67478558
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpicyThaiThaiCafe
Nearest MRT: Aljunied (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 12am

Direction:
1) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk towards Aljunied Road. Take the overhead bridge. Cross the road and walk to bus stop opposite Aljunied MRT station (Stop ID 81081). Take bus number 80. Alight 2 stops later. Cut through the housing estate, walk towards the food centre. Cut across the food centre and walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right and walk to Geylang East Ave 1. On Geylang East Ave 1, turn left and continue to the end of the road. Cross the road and continue on Aljunied Crescent. Walk down Aljunied Crescent and turn right onto Aljunied Ave 2. Walk to block 115. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Chang Thai @ Bishan Street 11

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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]

Sawadee Thai Cuisine @ Tan Quee Lan Street (Bugis)

For those that stay in the Northern part of Singapore would be familiar with Sawadee Thai Cuisine which used to be located at Sembawang near the famous Sembawang white beehoon. Sawadee Thai Cuisine has sinced moved from its previous premises to their new home at Bugis along Tan Quee Lan Street in December 2013, just beside the new Bugis downtown line MRT exit.

Betel Leaf Wrap 4/5

Betel Leaf Wrap 4/5

The last time I had the Betel Leaf Wrap ($12/$18) was at the defunct Sweet Salty Spicy. Not many Thai restaurants in Singapore serve this. I am glad that I got to try this street food again at Sawadee Thai Cuisine. To eat just grab a bit of everything with the homemade special sauce and have it like a wrap. You will get a burst of flavours in the mouth as you chew on the betel leaf wrap.

Green Mango Salad 3.5/5

I realized that the Green Mango Salad ($10/$15) served at the Sawadee Thai Cuisine is a bit different to the rest. A check with the kitchen confirmed that they used 2 different types of mangoes for the dish. The ripe one for sweetness and the unripe one for the crunch. While this was good, I like my Thai salad to be rich in the fish sauce and spiciness. The seasoning can be further up a notch.

Thai Rice Crackers Dip 3/5

A delightful starter would be the Thai Rice Crackers Dip ($9/$14) that is served with a rich, savoury creamy chicken dip.

Crab Spring Roll 3.5/5

While the Crab Spring Roll ($10/$15) was very enjoyable with its crispy deep fried exterior, I could not really tasted any crab meat in the filling instead. While it is understandable for cost reason, I still hope the filling mixture would have more crab meat flesh.

Tom Yum Talay 3.8/5

A staple Thai soup dish, the Tom Yum Talay ($10/$15) will whet up your appetite with its spicy and sour characteristic.

Thai Stuffed Chicken Wings 3.5/5

The Thai Stuffed Chicken Wings ($10/$15) was quite flavourful and easy to it as they have been deboned. While it is pretty enjoyable, I still preferred my chicken wings to come with bones.

Thai Style Otah 4.5/5

Served in a traditional clay earthenware, the Thai Style Otah ($15) was one my favourite dishes for the night. The steamed fish paste or mousse has delectable firm and chunky texture that comes with a subtle spiciness.

Olive Rice 4/5

Nowadays I don't go for pineapple rice but olive rice instead whenever I visit a Thai restaurant. I find olive rice is more flavourful than pineapple rice. The Olive Rice ($13/$18) at Sawadee Thai Cuisine is served with chicken and deep fried dried shrimp. The deep fried dried shrimp is quite an interesting combination which goes very well with the olive rice.

Hearty Duck Curry 4.2/5

The red curry of the Hearty Duck Curry ($15/$22) was rich and creamy. It goes very well with a plate of rice. The use of lychee and pineapple gave the dish a fruity sweet balance which worked excellently with the roasted duck.

Spicy Steamed Fish 4.2/5

I have always enjoy having Thai Spicy Steamed Fish ($28). The combination of the sweet, sour and spicy which are the fundamental of Thai cuisine fully accentuated the fresh and moist fish.

Stir Fried Fish Maw with Beansprouts 4.8/5

The simplicity of the dish coupled with an element of surprise in terms of textures and flavours blown everyone on the table away. The Stir Fried Fish Maw with Beansprouts ($12/$18) comes with soft and flavourful fish maw coated beautifully by a layer of eggs, stir fried with beansprouts. It was so good that I kept going back for more. I even exclaimed that this can be a healthy version of orh luak.

Durian with Glutinous Rice 4.5/5

Mango with Glutinous Rice 3.8/5

Wrapping up the dinner, we have the Durian Glutinous Rice ($5) and Mango Glutinous Rice ($6). Being a durian lover, my vote went to durian glutinous rice. The aromatci durian and sticky glutinous rice drizzled with coconut milk worked beautifully on the palate. For the mango glutinous rice, the purple glutinous rice stood out with its sweetness that is so good that I can have it on its own. I only wish there could be more coconut milk.

Moving to the new premises at Bugis, Sawadee Thai Cuisine has also gone upscale with its centralized location. Prices are a bit steeper compare to neighbourhood Thai restaurant. Considering the foreign working crowd in the vicinity and catering more for family dining, the Thai food at Sawadee Thai Cuisine is not as spicy and bold in flavours. Nevertheless, just asked for the kitchen not to hold back in the seasoning if you prefer a more authentic taste of Thailand.


Sawadee Thai Cuisine
9 Tan Quee Lan Street
#01-01
Singapore 188098
Tel: +65 62386833
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SawadeeCuisine
Website: http://www.sawadee-cuisine.com/
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Feast@East @ Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore

Sa-wa-dee-kap! Feast@East at Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore brings Thai cuisine favourites to their buffet line for a limited period from 18 October 2013 to 3 November 2013. Diners can look forward to being transported to the land of smiles, savouring the exciting flavours of Thai cuisine.

Yam Som Oh 4.2/5

Be warned the Yam Som Oh or Pomelo Salad was really very spicy for most of the diners at my table. I actually liked that fiery kick from the salad with the fruity taste of the pomelo lending a cooling effect to the burning tongue.

Som Tam 3/5

The Som Tam or Green Papaya Salad on the other hand was less impressive. While it had textures, it was missing the signature spicy and sour tastes in a papaya salad.

Thai Prawn Cake 4/5

Deep Fried to a nice golden brown, the Thai Prawn Cake will be loved by both the young and old. The prawn cake was crispy on the outside and when paired with the sweet chilli sauce accentuated the whole enjoyment.

Tom Yam Goong 3/5

We all agreed that the Tom Yam Goong was the weakest link of the sumptuous lunch. It was unfortunately that the fresh ingredients were missing a spicy broth that will make one break into a sweat.

Stir Fried Chicken 3/5

The Stir Fried Chicken with cashew nut and dried chilli was quite well executed. The chicken was tender and the cashew nut gave the dish a nice nutty flavour.

Deep Fried Seabass in Thai Chilli 4/5

The classic Deep Fried Seabass in Thai Chilli was cooked perfectly. The fish was moist and it was quickly stripped to its bare bone.

Red Curry Beef 4/5

The Red Curry Beef may not have used the best cut of the cow but it was still quite tender. In Thai cuisine, red curry is actually not spicy. It is more to the sweet side. The whole dish was well executed. Goes perfectly with a bowl of rice.

Goong Ka Pao 4/5

The Goong Ka Pao or Stir Fried Prawn with Thai Basil was fresh and succulent.  The bouncy flesh of the prawn was nicely coated with a delectable sweet sauce.

Pad Grappo Moo 4/5

Ususally the Pad Grappo Moo is eaten with a plate of rice and sometime topped with a fried egg. Having it alone was quite salty but the plate of minced pork was not short of the 3 fundamental tastes of spicy, sweet and sour in Thai cuisine.

Stir Fried Eggplant with Basil 4/5

The Stir Fried Eggplant with Basil was cooked beautifully still having a bit a crunch to it. It was not mushy.

Pad Thai 4/5

One of the staple dishes for Thai Cuisine is the Pad Thai. The delectable plate of stir fried noodle was worth spending a couple more hours on the treadmill, burning off those calories.

Dessert 4.2/5

Complete the feast on a high with some mouth watering sweet Thai desserts. I got to try the Thai Deep Fried Banana Fritter, Thai Glutinous Rice with Mango, Mocked Jackfruit with Feet, Glutinous Rice Fingers with Palm Sugar and Tako. My favourite was the Fried Banana Fritter for the sweet chewy texture. It reminded me of the Chinese snack, fried butterfly fritter but this will banana inside instead of red bean paste.

Lunch
Mon-Sun
Adult: $43++
Child: $22++
Senior Citizen: $35 Nett

Dinner
Mon-Thu
Adult: $46++
Child: $23++
Senior Citizen: $36 Nett
Fri-Sun, Eve of PH and PH
Adult: $48++
Child: $24++
Senior Citizen: $38 Nett

Feast@East
Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore
Level 3
50 East Coast Road
Singapore 428769
Tel: +65 63405665
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandMercureRoxy
Website: http://www.feastateast.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line), Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily
Breakfast: 6am - 1030am
Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Dinner: 6pm - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Block 99 (Stop ID 81181). Take bus number 31. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop along Paya Lebar Road (Stop ID 81111). Take bys number 43, 76 or 135. Alight 8 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]