Genuine Food & Travel Review

Historical Context

The menu didn’t focus on a particular region in Thailand therefore I am switching it up this time. Instead of historical context about food, lets take a quick glimpse into a history of Muay Thai (Thai boxing) which is the theme of this restaurant.

Muay Thai is a form of ancient martial art in Thailand used for defense by Thai warriors in the past. In 1774, after Thailand’s capital was captured by the Burmese army, the legendary Nai Khanom Dtom defeated 10 best Burmese boxers without pause one by one making Muay Thai famous. In the early 1930s, Muay Thai rules were standardized, and since then has been part of international sports popular in many countries around the world. Now Muay Thai is also a big part of various military training in Thailand.

Value & Vibe

Price: The price is a pretty standard price for downtown. Also the price is closer to a “bar” type of restaurant rather than a regular take out or cheap eats place. Many of dishes have seafood therefore most of the main entrees ranges mainly between $20-25 with a higher end menu up to $59 for the crab dishes. Therefore certainly not cheap but also not excessively expensive in this central downtown area.

Atmosphere: We reserved the table for six people therefore were toward the back of the restaurant. We came fairly early for an early dinner but the restaurant definitely start filling up a little later. However, there is plenty of space and is not too crowded. The vibe is also modern and relaxing. Great atmosphere for grabbing some food and a few drinks.

Taste

First, a disclaimer that I am from Thailand so my perspective on Thai food might be harsher than the other cuisine as I am more familiar. However, I will also try to put things in perspective for all non-Thai natives as well.

Overall I believe the taste here is very authentic. My Thai peers also have similar opinions. Some dishes are better than the others but I would say that I was very impressive with the authenticity of most of these dishes, especially in this modern setting. For those who know Thai food, you will realize that Thai food really does not hold back on the flavor. Most associated Thai food with just level of spiciness, but in reality I found that North American Thai food typically tone the flavors down a bit (saltiness, sweetness and sourness) in order to accommodate for a larger market. This place does not hold back on the flavor so you will get the stronger flavor that is often missing in Thai food in North America.

For the main entrees, below are the order of my favorite to least favorite (1 being my favorite):

1. Spicy basil noodle with crispy chicken – This is by far the best dish in my opinion. The noodle was very well cooked. The seasoning of the noodles was great. Although typically not traditionally serve with fried chicken, I found it to be a great combination with a generous portion of fried chicken.

2. Tom Yum seafood Hotpot – The seafood hot pot was also great! Great authentic flavor served in a very traditional hotpot style in Thailand!

3. Pad Thai/Hoi Tod (Thai style oyster pancake/omelette). We also ordered just Hoitod as a separate dish. I thought Pad Thai was great. Hoi Tod was also decent (Hoi Tod is one of my favorite dish). However, I thought that HoiTod could be slightly crispier and better. But overall I think it went really well together as in Thailand Pad Thai and Hoi Tod is often sold in the same place. Therefore even though they don’t typically come together on the same dish, this dish captures the Thai true spirit of Pad Thai and Hoi Tod as a combination that can be often found in the same food stall.

4. Somtum with Crab Plara(fermented crab)– This is also another classic dish in Thailand. Please be warned that Plara (fermented crab) has a very strong smell and taste. But overall this dish is also very well cooked and would also recommend

5. Sirloin Cap Steak on Rice & Soya Egg Yolk – This is the only dish that I am not as impressed. Also, this is less of a “traditional” Thai dish. I don’t think you quite get the value that you are looking for here. The steak is also not as memorable. The only positive that I could say here is the sauce, which is very well done. Therefore, if you are looking for a more traditional Thai dish in this restaurant maybe consider skipping this one.

Mango Sticky Rice (Only Dessert) – This is not part of the ranking since it is a dessert. The trickiest part of mango sticky rice is the sticky rice itself. The flavor and texture of the rice in this dish is very well done. I would also recommend!

Score

Atmosphere: 8/10 (Friendly atmosphere)
Price: 7/10 (On a pricier side but I still think you get great value for taste and atmosphere)
Taste: 9/10 (Very Authentic)

Website: https://www.muaythairesto.com/