The best casual Thai restaurants and eateries in Singapore

There’s really only one reason that keeps us trailing back to Kra Pow and it is the drunkard noodle. Wok-kissed flat rice noodles and your protein of choice are given the Kra Pow treatment, which means it is tossed in the fire with heaps of garlic, fish sauce, Thai basil and Thai bird’s eye chilli. Legend has it that this fabled recipe came upon a time when someone got inebriated, went home to cook with what was left in the fridge and resulted in this soul-awakening plate. A plate may look rather unassuming but it does pack a fiery punch that is humbling, to say the least. Non-spicy purveyors, stay clear or try the non-spicy wok-fried noodles. The flagship remains in Far East Plaza but the outfit has branched out to Chinatown Point to better serve the lunch crowd in the CBD.

Kra Pow Thai Restaurant
Address: 14 Scotts Road, Far East Plaza, #03-26/27, S(228213)

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Head chef Candy hails from Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand, and she is known to use spices sourced from her hometown in her cooking. The cosy Thai restaurant along Tanjong Pagar goes straight to business with its wide range of hearty Thai dishes. Despite the central location, prices won’t break the bank and there are express lunch sets that will set you back under a tenner. The signature is the khao soi, a Northern Thai coconut curry noodle, which comes with a tender chicken drumstick, mee pok egg noodles, and topped with crispy noodles. The broth is comfortingly rich and creamy, with subtle spice. To amp up the Scoville units, make sure to mix well with the homemade dry chilli oil on the side. To refresh the palate, order a zippy serve of pomelo salad that comes with crisp prawns and fresh chillies.

Kin Leaw Chill Thai Food
Address: 26 Tanjong Pagar Road, S(088449)

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This Isan-Thai restaurant is consistently dishing out authentic Northern Thai flavours in the Upper Thomson neighbourhood. Food lovers flock over for the fluffy crab omelette, liberally stuffed with blue swimmer crab meat; the savoury and smoky pad Thai; and the juicy and robust moo ping (Thai minced pork skewers). But our favourite hit was the steamed Thai-style sea bass. The insistence on only using fresh seafood promises sweet and delicate flesh complemented by the palate-awakening combination of lime, garlic, and chillies to flavour the broth. If you’re into crispier textures, ask for the fish to be fried, which arrives crispy with a classic dressing of Thai sweet and sour garlic chilli. The restaurant has also opened another outlet on the outskirts of Yishun.

Numman Thai Kitchen
Address: 200 Upper Thomson Road, #01-03, Thomson Imperial Court, S(574424)

One of the stalwarts of the Golden Mile Complex, Beer Thai House by Thai chef Somsak Chomprach finds a new home at City Gate Mall. Once selected to be the chef to a Thai princess in 2009, Chomprach now works alongside his daughter to serve up traditional Thai fare that won’t break the bank. Standouts from the wide array of dishes are the Thai boat noodles and the Thai braised pork leg rice. The former features a rich broth that favours the sweeter palate while the latter is a hearty and gelatinous plate that will please all meat lovers.

Beer Thai House
Address: 155 Kitchener Road, City Gate #01-01, S(208528)

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Run by a young couple, this Thai hawker in the heartlands of Clementi West first went viral for their crispy garlic pork collar. Thai national Palmy, a former chef who spent a decade cutting his teeth in Thai restaurants in Sydney and Singapore, helms the kitchen and whips up Thai dishes that are both comforting and affordable. One dish worth making the trip down for is the soft-shell crab curry. Expect creamy yellow curry, packed with earthy spices, slathered over crispy morsels of fried soft-shell crab. Other highlights include the seafood pad Thai and mango sticky rice.

Nakin Thai Food
Address: Blk 722 Clementi West Street 2, #01-150, S(120722)

Orchard Towers has recently cleaned up its act, giving reign to Thai Tantric as the main draw of the card. Expect absolute no-nonsense Thai plates that will satiate and tickle the taste buds at this stalwart. Regulars fawn over the sweet and savoury pineapple fried rice that pleases both young and old. Aside from the regular Thai noodle stir-fries, try the pad kee mao which packs an explosive punch. Come in troops and order a spread to share as the dishes here are generously communal. Even the crab omelette deserves some attention. Let the chefs know if you’d like to enjoy milder spice as the status quo seeks to light up your taste buds.

Thai Tantric
Address: 400 Orchard Road, #03-44, Orchard Towers, S(238875)

Forced out of the now-defunct Golden Mile Complex, this former Thai noodle bar-turned-restaurant finds a new home in the bustling neighbourhood of Telok Ayer. The folksy atmosphere remains well intact—despite the energetic interiors—as well as the cult favourite spicy boat noodles. Each bowl is generous in portion and features a broth that is robust with a hint of sweetness at the finish. Not in the mood for boat noodles? The menu also features classic Thai dishes such as fluffy fried crab omelette, spicy Thai mama noodles, tom yum soup and other fiery dishes.

Thachang
Address: 171 Telok Ayer Street, S(068621)
 

Yet another enduring casual eatery in the confines of Orchard Towers, Korat Thai is now owned by Class 95’s radio DJ duo of The Muttons, made up of Justin Ang and Vernon A. Fortunately, the culinary standard and prices remain largely unwaivered. Portions run large so make sure to bring your appetite. The communal tom yum mama pot is the go-to order for many but if you’re not afraid to make a mess, go caveman style with the nourishing leng saap (herb pork spine soup). Other hits are the creamy khao soi, Thai basil pork rice, pad see ew (stir-fried rice noodles), and the indulgent fried soft shell crab in yellow curry.

Korat Thai Cafe
Address: 400 Orchard Road, #03-28, Orchard Tower, S(238875)

Another legacy restaurant, A-Roy Thai has been operating for 26 years, bringing in herbs and spices directly from Thailand to create mouthwatering dishes that have attracted the likes of royalty. Some of the dishes A-Roy Thai specialises in include yum tha krai (lemongrass salad), pla krapong nueng ma now (steamed sea bass in a sour and spicy soup), and even a green tea version of the iconic Thai milk tea. Don’t miss out on highlights like the kaeng panaeng, a thicker version of Thai red curry, or deep-fried chicken wrapped in pandan leaves. For an alternative to mango sticky rice, opt for the tapioca with coconut milk for an equally satisfying finish.

A-Roy Thai
Address: 238 Thomson Road, 03-61/64 Novena Square S(307683)

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