Sawadee Thai restaurant has been around for more than 20 years. They first had a stall in Orchid Country Club, then stayed at Sembawang for 15 years before moving to Bugis area last December. With a new location, they have a more extensive menu with featuring a plethora of traditional and modern Thai dishes.

With much focus on their presentation, we were served a tasting platter of Green Mango Salad ($10 / $15) and Thai Rice Crackers Dip ($9/5pcs, $14/10pcs). While I enjoyed the rice crackers that are served with a thick chicken sauce, I thought the mango salad was too sweet for my liking. I would love to have a more punchy salad. Crab Springroll ($10/3pcs, $15/5pcs) has rice paper roll stuffed with crab meat and fried to crispy golden brown and served with thai chilli sauce.

Thai Spicy & Sour Coconut Soup ($13 chicken, $15 prawn) was served in a small coconut shell. Even though the presentation is pretty, but it is pretty difficult to scoop out the ingredients. We love the sweet coconut flesh but the spices kinda covered it up. I still prefer to my usual bowl of clear tom yum soup.

There’s just something magical about the combination of duck and red curry which explains why it’s one of the most popular Thai dishes. Hearty Duck Curry ($15 / $22) offers a bowl of coconuty red curry cooked with succulent roast duck meat, chilli. lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves. Perhaps adding some pineapple slices will give it a more refreshing touch.

Betel Leaf Wrap ($12 / $18) or Miang Kham is a popular Thai street food. Designed to be eaten in a single bite, each betel leaf is wrapped with dried shrimps, roasted peanuts, shredded coconut, chilli, onion, ginger and homemade prawn sauce. It has a lovely combination of sweet, salty, sour, spicy and crunchy flavours. Must try!

Another of my favourite is the Thai stuffed Chicken Wings ($10/3pcs, $15/5pcs). I like how the restaurant laboriously debone the wings and stuff it with chicken meat, shitake mushrooms and crunchy minced asparagus. The wings are first steamed then deep fried when orders are placed.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Thai Style Otah ($15) with delicious fish paste blended in coconut milk, herbs and a hint of fish sauce in a traditional clay plate. The bright orange colour from the otah is already a winner and we were surprised to find chunky coconut flesh within each otah.

I love the heat from Spicy Steamed Fish ($28) while my family can’t take it. LOL! The steam gently cooks the fish until just tender. The combination of garlic and chilli creates a tangy but pleasant sauce.

Olive Rice ($13 / $18) is the epitome of comfort food with class – olive fried rice tossed in olive served with chicken strip, fried dried shrimps, lime bits, chilli and onions.

Durian lovers rejoice! Being a Durian lover myself, I couldn’t not try out Sawadee Thai’s Durian with Glutinous Rice ($5) which tastes sooooo good! However, if you find durians too pungent to try, go for the safer option – Mango with Glutinous Rice ($6).

There were a few hits and misses in their dishes and there’s room for improvement in some areas. However as it is, Sawadee Thai is one viable option for those who wish to have Thai food in Bugis.

Sawadee Thai

Address: 9 Tan Quee Lan Street
Opening hours: 11am to 2.30pm for lunch; 6pm to 10.30pm for dinner
Tel: 6238 6833

Website

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(CLOSED) IT’S TIME FOR GIVEAWAY AGAIN! Since my birthday was yesterday, I wanted to share the joy with all of you. Big thank you to Sawadee Thai, FIVE lucky readers will each walk away with $30 dining voucher (no minimum spending)!!!

HOW TO WIN?
Tell us one dish that you would love to try at Sawadee Thai.

Very simple, isn’t it? Closing date: 3 June 2014 (Tuesday), 23:59. Good luck!