Thai Express may not offer the most authentic Thai cuisine, but it is the definitely the most successful chain locally with 24 branches, and somehow has become a default choice for many when they have Thai food cravings.
I am so relieved that Thai Express has moved beyond the usual Tom Yum Goong, Pad Thai and Green Curry because Thai food is so much more than that. With a new menu with over 130 items, they have chosen to go more street – with a variety from different regions, and more obscure parts of Thailand.
Some of the new favourites include the popular street snack – Khoa Tang Naa Tang, rice crackers served with special creamy chicken and shrimp sauce ($7.90); Gai Op Pattaya Thai-style roasted chicken thigh ($9.90); Pueak Himmapan fried taro with cashew nut ($9.30), super spicy Kraphoa Gai Kai Yeow Maa stir-fried minced chicken with Thai basil and century egg ($9.30); and a very different sweet-spicy Kway Teow Sukhothai ($11.30).
To my surprise, somebody finally brought in Complicated Noodles, at least that’s how Thailand’s Greyhound Café (Bangkok) calls it. Thai Express’s version is named a more forgettable Kway Teow Lui Suan, a DIY minced chicken and dry kway teow salad dish ($9.30). (DIY really means Do It Yourself, don’t think too much).
There is nothing too complicated about this dish, but it will probably get your hands quite messy. (Must wash before eating!) So the ingredients are served on a wooden board, with stacks of square noodle sheets, lettuce, and a bowl of spicy minced pork. The trick is about how you can wrap everything up – lettuce, kway teow, a teaspoon of meat and spicy dressings in that sequence – all elegantly and effortlessly. And stuff the entire clutter in your mouth in graceful fashion. Practice makes perfect, and you never know eating can be this fun.
The Kway Teow Sukhothai ($11.30) departs from the familiar taste of any noodles. This stick noodle with minced chicken and prawn swimming in chilli oil soup topped with crushed peanut, is hot, sour, salty and sweet at the same time. The element of sweetness is stronger than usual, tasting somewhat like a diluted minestrone soup, and all on the table agreed it is both strange and memorable.
One of the most popular dessert I call ‘Big Brother’, but is actually named ‘Ta Kor’ ($6.80) is a half-and-half Thai fragrant pandan jelly with coconut custard. Forget about the calories for the time being, and indulge in a sweet happy ending.
Thai Express Vouchers Giveaway!
Thai Express will be giving away 5 sets of $20 vouchers to 5 Blessed DanielFoodDiary.com readers to enjoy its new menu.
All you need to do is to
Step 1: LIKES the FaceBook page of DanielFoodDiary.com
Step 2: SHARE this post on Facebook or RETWEET on twitter
Step 3: COMMENT below to name your favourite new Thai Express dish. (Do include your email add)
Results will be announced 25th Feb (Mon).
Thai Express
Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road, #03-24, Singapore 238839 (Dhoby Ghaut MRT), Tel: +65 6339 5422
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:30pm
Other Branches: Bishan Junction 8, Bugis+, Bukit Panjang Plaza, Changi Terminal 3, CityLink, Clementi Mall, Esplanade, Holland Village, JCube, Jurong Point, Kallang Leisure Park, Kovan Heartland Mall, North Point, Paragon, Parkway Parade, Plaza Singapura, Raffles City, Siglap Springvale, Sun Plaza, United Square, Tampines One, Tiong Bahru Plaza, West Coast Plaza, VivoCity
Other Thai Restaurant Entries
Sweet Salty Spicy (Rail Mall)
Baan Tong Thai (Tiong Bahru)
First Thai (Purvis Street)
Suan Thai Restaurant (Killiney Road)
Porn’s (Liang Seah)
