Bali Thai: Family's Frequent

One of the regular favourites among our families, because the food portions served here makes it nice for sharing (in a group).

Avocado Shake,   S$4++,   

Thick avocado goodness, very sweet together with the Gula Melaka (sugary sap from a coconut tree). Do bear in mind however, to stir the mixture well before drinking, else you would end up like us, enduring the bottom half in sulking bitterness.

Tahu Telur,   S$8.50++,   

Imagine a 'anti-tofu eater' desperately grasping for more of this after the first try. It was that great. Hot silky beancurd underneath a layer of crispy deep fried skin, plus a dive into the sticky peanuty sauce - fantasitc!

Pandan Chicken (6 Pieces),   S$17++,   

A must try when you come to Bali Thai! As you unwrap the pandan leaves, one unique tender and succulent kind of chicken was born. Fall deep in love with the enchanting pandan fragrance, which comes with each mouthwatering bite.

Pineapple Rice,   S$9.50++,   

Half a pineapple fruit used as a 'bowl' for better relation to the dish, but that 'bowl' was also the only source of pineapple. No cut pineapple chunks at all - you have to dig out the hard flesh from the walls, and it really was a bother. Fried rice itself was was rather typical.

Green Chicken Curry,   S$11++,   

One of the best Green Curry we've tasted. It was thick with appropriate amounts of coconut milk and spices, which flaunted the strong ambrosial flavour of the curry and chicken slices.

VERDICT
Balinese and Thai cuisine are often associated with high levels of spicyness. An added bonus for people who appreciate hot food, but for those who do not, Bali Thai still whips up equally delectable non-spicy dishes.

Bali Thai - IMM
#01-21, IMM Building
2 Jurong East Street 21, S(609601)
(+65) 6560 5660
Mon - Sun: 11.30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

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Lerk Thai: Lacks Aroma

It was one of those occasions when you have no plans of where to eat.

We were walking past the ground floor of Paradiz Centre, and we decided to hop into one of the smallest branches of Lerk Thai. It was bright, clean, and able to house only a maximum of 30 customers I suppose.

Kway Teow Tom Yam Talay,   S$6.90++,   

The Tom Yam broth was the clear, see through type, loaded with prawn(s), few pieces of squid, mushrooms, beansprouts, and a handful of Kway Teow as the main. Soup was sensational sour and spicy, but however, the portion wouldn't be enough to fill even a 5 feet tall guy. Then again, S$6.90 (restaurant price) with seafood? You shouldn't expect much.

Pahd Thai,   S$6.90++,   

The fragrance of Thai's famous Fried Kway Teow wasn't very well carried out by this restaurant. Noodles felt bland and "old" - like they've been fried over a forgotten period of time. Dried shrimps and chilli flakes were very spicy, and they seemed to convey the message, "tasteless? Fear not! Add these in to mask everything."

Pahd Woon Sen,   S$6.90++,   

This was a little better than the Pahd Thai. Quite a lot of vegetables plus few chicken pieces, fried together with Tang Hoon (glass noodles). Moisture and taste obtained the passable mark.

Gaeng Kiew Whan Gai,   S$7.00++,   

A good dish of Green Curry takes pride in gentle spicyness, yet maintaining its thick strong flavour of the coconut milk. This was, yes, not very spicy, but definitely not flavoursome enough. Worse, it was served barely warm.

VERDICT
Lots of the dishes were just 'not fragrant enough'. Taste wise, they were nearly clean forgotten as soon as we stepped out of the restaurant. Probably it was due to the allocation of substandard chefs to a less patronised branch of Lerk Thai. Apart from all, the prices were reasonable enough for a bet at another branch.

Lerk Thai - Paradiz Centre
#01-06, Paradiz Centre
1 Selegie Road, S(188306)
Sun - Thur: 11 a.m. - 10.30 p.m.
Fri - Sat: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
http://www.lerkthai.com.sg

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