Thai food—you either love it or you stay the hell away from it.
Thai food—you either love it or you stay the hell away from it. If you’re in the former camp , do us a favour and check out these 5 eateries serving up authentic and affordable dishes, proving that you don’t need to travel all the way to Bangkok for your fix.
1. Koh Nangkam
If you’re a frequent Haji Lane trawler, then you need to check this one out. Tucked away at the end of Jalan Kledek is this nondescript Thai eatery, Koh Nangkam.
You can expect to find decently priced Thai staples such as Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Papaya Salad and Green Chicken Curry. With spot-on flavours and generous portions, this eatery is also known for their off-menu dishes – request for their Plain Omelette ($2.50) and the Hatyai Chicken ($8), which is essentially crispy fried chicken with a super addictive batter.
No Thai meal is ever complete without a bowl of Tom Yum soup ($8), order Koh Nangkam’s white version, which is lighter but packs more punch than its red counterpart. Don’t forget to give their Stewed Beef Noodles ($6.50) a try. With chunky yet tender beef, slippery noodles and a broth that reminds us of boat noodles, this one screams comfort food.
As with all good Thai eateries, the seating area can get quite cramped – although they have long tables to accommodate larger groups of people. We definitely recommend reserving a table beforehand, or else you’ll be left waiting till l the cows come home.
6 Jalan Kledek
12pm to 10.30pm
2. Korat Thai Cafe
Also at the infamously seedy Orchard Towers, Korat Thai Cafe is a great spot to indulge in some people-watching. Don’t expect much from the interiors, the setup is strictly low-key with just ten or so plastic tables. Here, the food takes centre stage.
Start with their Mixed Seafood Salad ($10), with a hefty pile of juicy prawns, cuttlefish and glass noodles coated in a tangy sauce with the right amount of spice. For something with more crunch, order their Chu Kee Cereal Prawns ($7) or the Stir Fry Cashew Nuts with Prawns ($10).
Their Tom Yum soup is all you would ever want from the quintessentially Thai dish – with generous helpings of everything and a broth that offers just the right kick. Their sinfully good Deep Fried Omelette is also a must-order – crispy around the edges and fluffy on the inside.
400 Orchard Rd
6 pm to 3 am
2. Thai Super Bowl
Instead of the usual Thai dishes, this eatery at Hougang 1 has been drawing customers with their huge tom yum hot pot, filled to the brim with instant noodles and a variety of other ingredients – which is a popular dish in Thailand.
Their signature Thai Super Bowl, which will feed four to six people nicely, is generously served with mussels, prawns, crab sticks, eggs, minced meat and not to mention maggi noodles. The concept reminds us of the Korean army stew, and this one just has a Tom Yum broth instead.
The broth is on the mild and creamy side, thanks to the coconut milk – making it perfect for those who can’t take spicy food well.
1 Hougang St 91
11.30 am to 9 pm
4. Diandin Leluk
Located at Singapore’s “Little Thailand”, this eatery is by far the largest and one of the more popular eatery at Golden Mile Complex.
With a comprehensive menu where nothing is overly expensive, you may take a while to decide on what to order. For something hearty, try their Tom Yum Fried Rice with Seafood ($6), which comes with generous portions of fresh squid, prawns and straw mushrooms. Their signature Fried Catfish Salad ($10) is also a must-try, especially since you can only get it here. Imagine spicy, tangy mango salad piled atop a battered catfish – it’s the perfect contrast of flavours.
A word of caution; the Tom Yum soup here packs a whole lot of spice and punch, so it’s definitely not for those with a low tolerance for spice. Complete your meal with the Red Ruby ($3) which essentially is pieces of soft, sweet jelly encasing crunchy water chestnuts in coconut sauce.
5001 Beach Rd, Golden Mile Complex
Open 24 hrs
5. Thai Tantric
Despite its sleazy location in Orchard Towers, Thai Tantric is perpetually packed. Those working in the vicinity have come to love their cheap, authentic Thai dishes, while the rest of us would just travel all the way there for a reliable Thai meal.
They have now shifted out from their old unit, which looked like it came out of a street in Bangkok, to the other side of level 3.
Compared to the other eateries featured here, Thai Tantric has slightly steeper prices, but the dishes are still considered affordable for its quality and humongous portions. Try their Green Curry Fried Rice ($7) – this wok-fried dish has hints of coconut and lemongrass flavours making it a unique dish you will instantly fall in love with. Also, don’t forget to order their Crispy mid-wings ($12) and Crispy Omelette, which you will never fail to see on almost all the tables.
#03-23 Orchard Towers
11.30 am to 10.30 pm
6. Jane Thai Restaurant
Previously located at Orchard Towers, this popular, wallet-friendly Thai eatery has moved to the streets of Katong. It’s succinct menu still features many Thai classics – from Thai curries, seafood and noodles.
Green Curry Chicken ($10), is slowly becoming everyone’s Thai favourite. Jane Thai’s rendition features a homemade paste, strong aromas and tender chunks of the protein. If you’re bored of the standard omelette, then try the Omelette with Minced Prawns ($8) – which still has the perfect amount of crispiness and fluffiness.
Another staple on the menu that we really enjoyed, the Olive Chicken Fried Rice ($8.50) is what we would totally order to satisfy our carbohydrate cravings. There is something unique about the aroma of olive fried rice that makes us love it so much. You simply can’t go wrong ordering this dish that is good for sharing between two hungry people, at least.
41 East Coast Rd
11.30 am to 12 am
