Good Thai food is always rare to come by hence when two foodie friends mentioned this place to me, I knew I had to give it a try. Thumbs up to their recommendations! Must admit I was doubtful at first. It didn't look like a Thai restaurant but more like a tai chow restaurant since it had very few Thai artifacts. Moreover it was in an area where the predominant choice was banana leaf rice.
To start off, we sampled their Mieng Kam (RM12) - one of my favourite Thai snacks. Eating this always brings back memories about the yummiest Mieng Kam I had in Bangkok which was made by an old lady at Chatchuchak and served to us in with a skewer. At this no frills restaurant, pick and mix from a selection of toasted coconut flakes, chopped bird eye chilies, young ginger cubes, chopped shallots, cut lime cubes, toasted peanuts and toasted dried shrimp. Pile them on top of fresh betel leaves, drizzle over the sauce made from maltose and fish sauce and fold. Pop them into your mouth and you'll find that they're so addictive that you can't stop.
Rather than you think we're both gluttons, we made two visits to this place hence the abundance of food ordered. We tried their seafood tomyam (RM10 for small) - spicy stuff! It's the white version minus the reddish tinge most people prefer. I liked this a lot and couldn't stop drinking it even though my senses were begging me not to as they were screaming from the extra dosage of chopped green bird eye chilies in the soup.
Another must try if you love spicy food - their Steamed Fish Lemon Style (RM29). Served in a metal food warmer with hot charcoals underneath, it's absolutely divine. If you're a slow eater like me who loves to savour her food bite by bite, you'll find it works well here as the flavours really absorb into the fish when kept on this type of warmer. Be warned again as this will give your senses a kick. You can ask them to tone down the spiciness but then why miss out the fun?
Out of the dishes we had, this was my least favourite, their version of Green Curry Chicken (RM 12). It may look like it does not have a lot of coconut milk but I was told otherwise. The portion is pretty generous though - lots of chunks of chicken and vegetables.
Another favourite - the deep fried kangkong (RM7). The leaves of the water spinach is deep fried with a light batter so it tastes like Japanese tempura. Splashie Boy's favourite and till today, he still remembers this dish well.
This place is also one of the selected few which serves the kedondong (ambarella) juice with sour plum. Really delicious and cools you down especially when those chilies heat you up. Besides this outlet, this restaurant also has a branch in Butterworth, Penang.
Khuntai Restaurant
6 Jalan 5/44
Petaling Garden
Off Jalan Gasing
Petaling Jaya
Tel No: 03 – 7781 7523
(Pork free - Southern Thai cuisine. To get here, from Jalan Gasing, at Lotus go straight and take a left turn into Taman Petaling. Go straight, take a right and then the first right. Drive past Acha Curry House and Kavitha's, take a right. Khuntai is on the left hand side facing the field. Open 11.00 am to 3.00 pm, 5.00 pm to 11.00 pm)
*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from the restaurant for writing this review.
22 comments:
i bought d yummy mieng kam frm the old lady in chatuchak too few years back. sadly i could not find her when i was there last december :(. any landmarks to this restaurant boo?
The deep fried kangkong looks delicious. It would be interesting to see it being fried. I feel full just looking at your pictures lah. :-P
Ooo..yummy..i wanna try the fish. How to get to this place? No dessert?
sc - awww, that is so sad as her mieng kam was so good. It's near Acha and Kavita's at Taman Petaling.
lemongrass - aiks! Make sure got space in tummy for lunch.
precious pea - updated the directions. If you know how to get to Acha Curry House, it's just across from it. Not much of a dessert selection here as really no frills place.
I'm a die hard fan of spicy food. Will definitely try this one out. Gracias!
tankiasu - okay. Maybe then it won't be spicy enough for you???
Must be a new restaurant. I never seen this restaurant before eventhough I used to go to Kavitha and Acha quite often. You see, my office was just across the road. If not, we would have been there since we loves Thai food or food....
Is this near the park which had poles to hang bird cages?
Looks like my kind of Thai food! Need a cork to stop the flow of saliva. Drools.
I have heard of Khuntai before but just never had the chance to try their food. It does look good ..that betel nut leave appetizer sounds delish and the green chicken curry [insert edrool here].
Can someone bring me there when i get back to Msia??
*wipes off drools*
looked so good and the price seems ok too. must try the kangkung cos its so unique!
saw this in kuali..yeah looks damn good to me..but my fav thai food is green curry..so should i go ar?? what was wrong with it?
mieng kam sounds new to me! wondering how it tastes..... glad to hear they open at night! :D
That fried kangkong looks loverleeee! You're right about finding good Thai food. Must give this place a try, the food looks simple and delicious.
I love mieng kam. I first had it at a friend's wedding dinner at Royal Chakri, and have been hooked ever since!
The portion you ordered is enough for how many people?
Ooo..i know where oledi...so near to my former secondary school. Hmm..after makan can go visit my school, having been back for 12 years oledi.
thank god!
the one (of the many) thing that i would miss here in Syndey is Thai Food !!
Tomyum, pad thai, deep fried morning glory (deep fried kangkong) and som thum (green mango salad).. oh boy..
flower - no idea how long they have been here though. It seems they moved from Asia Cafe in Subang Jaya.
tummythoz - yes, the restaurant faces the field.
the expedited writer - oops, sorry to make you drool. Call us when you get back, we'll go for some good thai food.
babe - yup, I like the kangkung a lot. Not very healthy but once in a while.
someone who is constantly craving - hmmm, couldn't pinpoint it but it didn't taste like those I have eaten before.
meiyen - if you don't want to make a trip here, places like chakri palace also serve mieng kam and also selected restaurants.
jackson - when when?
paprika - yup, good thai food is hard to come by. So upset there's no more stalls at the Buddhist temple in Jalan Gasing now as that was good Thai food.
kat - portion generous for 4 pax. Problem is sometimes you run of certain items, i.e. leaves or the pick and mix stuff.
precious pea - wow, didn't know that is yr old school area. Hope you have fun reliving memories.
swee - I thought Thai food should be good in Sydney. In fact most Asian stuff should be good there due to the migration of people.
really? thanks for da info..:D
meiyen - yup, it's pretty common stuff nowadays.
daun kadok is not to be mistaken with betel leaf... in miengkam preparation... slurp...
http://asiafood.org/glossary_1.cfm?alpha=C&wordid=3252&startno=1&endno=25
hi tks for the writeup. went there last nite 20Sep and its full to the brim. some were even waiting and queing. i tried meing kam, steam fish, pandan chicken, cashew nut chicken, battered kangkong and the kedongdong juice. too much for me n missus to finish.. will be going there again pretty soon..
You should try Thai Corner in PJ New Town! Jalan Yong Shook Lin somewhere near the old cinema... They also have a branch in USJ Taipan... My all time fav Thai restaurant!! yummmm
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