Formerly known as Little Thailand, is now Maekhong Thai which is still under the same ownership. The Thai cuisine restaurant is located in Port Moody and we found out later on, at a small residential building. Furthermore, the outside looks really creepy. At first, we were confused why there was a trailer here and when we walked up, there were police officers speaking to a resident about a domestic dispute. Turns out, the restaurant is located at a residential building. In addition, we thought it was nice how the restaurant offers patio seating. However, the patio may be for the whole apartment building and not the restaurant.
Walking in, the owner's daughter was friendly as well as welcoming, and let us choose any seat. Every table has purple coloured linen with gold and navy accents, along with a plate and utensils folded in a napkin, placed on a bamboo sheet.
Maekhong Thai gives off a traditional Thailand home feeling. The interior has a few Thailand symbols such as a brass figure of Asian elephants hanging on the wall along with a portrait of a goddess, and a buddha statute head. However, asides from a few Thailand symbols, the restaurant looks old and well, not going to lie, it was quite stuffy.
PRAWN TOM YUM GOONG, FAMOUS HERBAL HOT N' SOUR SOUP. PRAWN AND MUSHROOM WITH FLAVOURED LEMONGRASS, LIME LEAVES, CHILLI AND CILANTRO, REGULAR SIZE ($10.95).
The waitress asked if we like spicy food and of course, we said yes. The tom yum goong has a strong aroma of lemon grass and tastes spicy. Furthermore, although the soup has a nice spicy and tangy flavour, the broth tastes a bit flat and could have been more rich. Either way, the spices are here and we enjoyed the soup. As for the ingredients, the butterflied prawns are nicely cooked and have a nice snap.
COCONUT RICE, LARGE ($4.50).
The coconut rice is pretty good and tastes better than U & I Thai's. The rice is perfectly cooked and has a slightly sweet coconut taste. In addition, the fried garlic was a nice touch and provided a bit of crunch as well as that nice extra flavour. However, after the few first bites, the rice tasted a bit too sweet (personal preference) which overwhelmed the curries, so we ordered a bowl of regular rice.
BEEF MUSSAMAN CURRY, INDIAN STYLE CURRY WITH YAM, ROASTED PEANUT, CARROT, PEARL COOKED ONION IN COCONUT CREAM SAUCE ($12.95).
The beef mussaman has a really rich curry base. There is a strong flavour of coconut milk along with spices, and tastes slightly sweet but of course, more spicy. Furthermore, the generous amount of yams taste tender as well as sweet, and the crushed peanuts on top are properly done. However, the slices of beef taste bland, chewy and dry. The mussaman was only saved because of the tasteful curry base and the yams.
PANANG GAI, RICH CREAMY CHICKEN CURRY WITH COCONUT, GROUND PEANUT, PEPPERS, CARROT AND LIME LEAF, GARNISHED WITH BASIL ($12.95).
The curry tastes very milky but basic, and some dried chilli pepper along with shrimp paste could have helped. As for the chicken, the meat tastes very tender and again like the massaman, the crushed peanuts are appreciated. Furthermore, there are also roasted peanuts in the curry which provides a bit of crunch and extra flavour.
WHITE JASMIN RICE, SMALL ($2.00).
TOTAL: $35.10 + TIP $7.90 = $43.00.Overall, Maekhong Thai has a warm homey vibe and serves homestyle cuisine. However, for those who are looking for restaurant-style food, Maekhong Thai may not be for you. As for the staff, the owners are very friendly and when we walked up to pay, the father popped his head out from the kitchen, smiled and said goodbye. In the end, we may come back to try more dishes just to support this family run business.
POSITIVES
- Warm and welcoming owners
- Spices are all there
- Homestyle food
NEGATIVES
- Restaurant is a bit stuffy
LITTLE THINGS
- We found a $10.00 coupon on MobileBandit!
Service: 3/5
No comments:
Post a Comment