Nara Thai Cuisine Receives Prestigious Thai SELECT Award for 2023
Nara Thai Cuisine in SM Megamall recently received its second Thai SELECT Award as a symbol of its continuing culinary achievements. This award is given only to selected restaurants in each country that pass the highest standards set by the Ministry of Commerce and the Royal Thai Government itself. The Hungry Kat was invited join the celebrations a few weeks ago as Nara Thai Cuisine presented its outstanding selection of authentic Thai dishes.
You can find its pioneering Philippine branch at the third floor of the SM Fashion Hall in SM Megamall. Nara Thai Cuisine started in 2006 in Bangkok and has since expanded to several branches across Thailand and other countries around Asia. It has consistently been voted as one of Bangkok’s Best Thai Restaurants and has just opened a new branch in Molito, Alabang.
It was great to be back at Nara Thai once again as we gathered with our other media friends for a bountiful Thai lunch. Nara Thai Cuisine uses authentic Thai recipes and serves them with quality ingredients prepared by their in-house Thai executive chef and Thai-trained sous chefs.
The Thai SELECT program aims to recognize and endorse authentic Thai cuisine and quality Thai restaurants and Thai food products all across the globe. The Royal Thai Government’s Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce gives the Thai SELECT award as a seal of approval. When you see this sign at a restaurant, it means that you are guaranteed to have a unique and authentic Thai dining experience every time you visit.
I started the afternoon by ordering my favorite Thai beverage, the Nara Thai Milk Tea (P185). I really love this compared to other milk teas especially because it is not too sweet. Another popular drink at Nara Thai is their Iced Lemongrass Tea (P165).
For our appetizers, the Roti with Massaman Sauce (P350) is a great way to begin our Thai adventure. Get a piece of the Roti bread and dip it in the massaman sauce which gives is a rich and deep curry flavor.
The Yum Phak Khom (P350) is a crispy starter with its fried spinach leaves served with a minced pork and prawn chili lime dip. The spinach is very light and crunchy with a mild kick from the chili dip.
Another tasty appetizer is the Goong Kabeuang (P550) or Deep Fried Crispy Prawns Pancakes. This is similar to an omelette dish but highlighted with flavorful prawns.
For those who like heavier starters, the Gai Pak Panang (P520) is a good option. These are Spicy Barbeque Chicken skewers served with vinegar that can also be a main dish by itself.
The Thai love their salads so the Som Tum Kai Khem (P520) or Papaya Salad with Salted Egg is also highly recommended. This is a refreshing and healthy salad dish complemented by the flavors from the salted egg.
The Tom Yum Goong (P480) is probably the most recognized soup dish from Thailand and Nara Thai Cuisine presents a very red and fiery version. The broth has big prawns in a spicy lemongrass and lime soup, but don’t let the bright red colors scare you, because the spice level is actually just right for Filipinos. I found myself able to handle the spiciness, so that means most diners should be able to as well.
Another soup option is the Kuay Tiew Rua Nua (P520) or Ayuthaya Beef Boat Noodles in Rich Dark Soup. This one comes with a meatier flavor without the spiciness.
Now let’s get to the main courses. The Gai Tord Krob Sauce Ma Nao (P520) is a Crispy Fried Chicken in Lime Sauce. This is a bit similar to lemon chicken but with a milder citrusy flavor.
I also love eating Thai curries so the Kang Kiew Wan Nuea (P620) or Green Curry Beef was another popular dish that afternoon. This was also served with white rice which is a must when eating curries.
For crab lovers like me, the Phu Phad Pong Karee (P920) or Stir-Fried Crab with Yellow Curry Sauce is another big hit. There’s no need to get your hands dirty because all the crab meat is peeled already. All you need to do is scoop up the crab meat and curry sauce and place them on your rice.
Speaking of rice, the Khao Phad Kra Prao (P385) or Fried Rice with Chili and Hot Basil can be a complete meal on its own. This is served with Chicken or Pork which you can mix up together.
One of the favorites that afternoon was the Phu Nim Tord Sauce Ma Kam (P990) or Fried Soft Shell Crab with Sweet Tamarind Sauce. These crunchy, bite-sized portions of soft shell crab were so flavorful and yummy, I wanted to have the entire plate to myself!
To complete our Thai journey, we had an assortment of colorful Thai desserts on our plate. These included the Khao Niew Ma Muang or Mango and Sticky Rice with Coconut Milk, the Bua Loy Kai Kem or Coconut Milk Rice Dumplings with Salted Egg, and the Khanom Tako Sakoo
That wasn’t all, because they brought out this giant Thai Summer Mix (P455) for everyone to marvel at and enjoy. This Thai halo halo version comes with Shaved Ice, Coconut Cream, Coconut Ice Cream, Red Monggo Beans, Kaong, Jackfruit, Nata De Coco and Water Chestnut. We also had the Durian Sticky Rice with its gooey and sticky rice covered in durian sauce and durian ice cream.
We would like to thank Nara Thai for hosting our lunch get-together and letting us experience their masterful Thai dishes once again. Congratulations to Nara Thai Cuisine for your second Thai SELECT award and the opening of your second branch in Alabang.
Nara Thai Cuisine
3/F SM Megamall Fashion Hall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
AzuThai Restaurant recently launched its new menu featuring well-loved Thai classics and exciting new dishes for its loyal customers. Established in 2008, AzuThai has been an institution in the Makati area, with guests and families coming back for its authentic, home-style Thai cuisine even with all the new Thai restaurants that have opened in the city.
The restaurant is managed by Chef J Gamboa and Malu Gamboa-Lindo, the same family that owns and runs the popular Cirkulo, MilkyWay and Tsukiji restaurants which are all housed in the same MilkyWay building. The Hungry Kat was invited last week to sample some of these authentic Thai dishes and it was my first time back here at AzuThai since the pandemic started.
Azuthai is open Mondays to Sundays for lunch and dinner. In 2017, AzuThai was the first restaurant in the Philippines to receive the prestigious Thai SELECT Award from the Thailand Ministry of Commerce for its authentic Thai cuisine prepared with Thai ingredients and recipes.
The dining room at AzuThai comes with a very homey and relaxed ambiance. The gardens outside add to the charming and laid-back vibe where you can enjoy a well-prepared lunch without the distractions of the busy city.
They also have private dining rooms which can house 8 to 30 guests. Our small lunch group got together that afternoon to rediscover the wonderful and authentic Thai dishes prepared by Executive Chef Watee from Bangkok, Thailand.
We started with some traditional Thai beverages such as the Thai Iced Tea (P150) and the Lemongrass Iced Tea (P150). Both were refreshing but I preferred the Thai Iced Tea with its milky tea blend.
Appetizers were served on the table starting with the Larb Moo (P595) or Crispy Minced Pork Salad with Chili. This doesn’t look like any salad I’ve seen before and I’m always happy whenever there’s more meat than vegetables on a salad. The dish is then topped with roasted rice powder and Kaffir lime leaves.
Next is a more familiar appetizer, the Satay Gai (P395). These are grilled skewered chicken served with peanut sauce and cucumber achar. The chicken is wonderfully grilled resulting in tender and smoky barbecue sticks.
I recommend ordering the Tod Man Goong (P595) for any occasion. This Crispy Fried Shrimp Cake comes with a sweet spicy dipping sauce and I’m sure kids and adults alike will love this crispy starter.
One of my favorites that afternoon was the classic Tom Yum Goong (P695). This is the traditional Hot and Sour Prawn Soup that Thailand is known for and AzuThai arguably serves the best one in the city. This hearty broth is prepared with tomatoes, mushrooms, lemongrass, Kaffir leaves and coriander to create a wonderful masterpiece.
It comes with big pieces of lovely prawns so I really enjoyed this soup. Thailand is known for making everything spicy, but the broth had the perfect balance of flavors and spiciness.
There’s also the Kai Jeaw Poo (P895) or Crab Omelet with super lump crabmeat, eggs, onions, soy sauce and served with a chili dipping sauce. This would a good dish for those early brunch get togethers.
Now let’s try some of the main courses at AzuThai. The Pla Naeng Ma Naw (P1695) is a steamed whole boneless apahap prepared with lime, fish sauce, garlic, coriander, chili. It’s a great seafood course that can be shared by the entire family.
You can’t go to AzuThai without ordering one of their curries. The Gaeng Hang Lay (P895) is a northern style pork curry made with pork belly, garlic, peanuts, shallots and hang lay curry. This is a thick curry that really goes well on top of rice.
On the other hand, the Gaeng Pet Phad Yang (P695) is a Roast Duck Red Curry made with tomatoes, pineapple, and coconut milk. This one is a bit lighter and comes with a different flavor and texture from the duck meat.
To go along with your curries, the Khao Pad Poo (P795) or Crab Fried Rice is a good option with crabmeat, eggs, oyster sauce, and spring onions.
Another Thai classic that I usually order is the Pad Thai Gai (P595) which is a stir-fried rice noodle dish prepared with chicken, egg, spring onions, and peanuts.
For desserts, we tried the Thai Style Halo Halo with Fresh Coconut Milk (P295) which is a cool and refreshing ending to our meals, but I really loved the Mango Sticky Rice Ice Cream Sundae (P350) with its fresh mango over warm sticky rice topped with homemade mango ice cream, coconut cream, and toasted rice.
Guests can even order desserts from MilkyWay like the popular Ginumis. AzuThai is also available for take-out and delivery from Tuesdays to Sundays with free delivery for orders of P2500 and above to Rockwell, Dasma, Forbes, Sanlo, Legaspi and Salcedo Villages. We would like to thank our hosts Chef J Gamboa and Malu Gamboa-Lindo for sharing with us their new exciting menu at AzuThai Restaurant.
AzuThai Restaurant
MilkyWay Building, 900 Arnaiz Ave., corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati City
Thai BBQ Original Restaurant Receives Prestigious Thai SELECT Seal of Approval
Thai BBQ Original Restaurant recently showcased its savory lineup of authentic Thai dishes that gave it the distinction of having the prestigious Thai SELECT seal of approval. This award is given only to selected restaurants in each country that pass the highest standards set by the Ministry of Commerce and the Royal Thai Government itself.
The Hungry Kat was invited last week to the Thai BBQ Original Restaurant branch in Ayala Malls Vertis North for an official Royal Thai Embassy event that highlighted a few of the signature dishes that guests keep coming back for. It was just my first time to dine at Thai BBQ Original Restaurant so I was excited to finally get a taste of their authentic Thai dishes.
The Thai SELECT program aims to recognize and endorse Authentic Thai cuisine and quality Thai restaurants and Thai food products all across the globe. When you see this sign outside the restaurant, it means that you are guaranteed to have a unique and authentic Thai dining experience every time you visit.
Thai BBQ Original Restaurant is actually a franchise from Los Angeles, California which was brought to the country by foodie and restaurateur George Pua who also owns and operates popular restaurants such as Rico’s Lechon, K-Pub, Ogawa Japanese Restaurant, and others.
Thai BBQ offers the best flavors of Thailand served in huge American-sized portions. The Vertis North branch is quite big and spacious, with al fresco seating available. They also have other Thai BBQ branches at Tiendesitas and Glorietta.
There’s also a VIP private dining room that can seat up to 14 guests or more for those family get togethers.
The Royal Thai Government’s Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, has launched the "Thai SELECT” program to certify and promote authentic Thai cuisine around the world. It is a seal of approval granted to Thai restaurants (both overseas and local Thai restaurant that serve authentic Thai food) and processed Thai food products.
The objective is to increase the recognition of quality Thai restaurants and processed Thai food products as well as to encourage Thai restauranteurs and food producers to raise their quality while maintaining authenticity. You can learn more about their programs and activities on their Facebook Page (@thaiselectditp).
Media personality and television host Spanky Enriquez presented the prestigious Thai SELECT award once again to George Pua who also discussed the history of Thai BBQ in the Philippines and his never-ending passion for food and authenticity.
Now it’s time to sample Thai BBQ’s extensive lineup of Thai food and beverages. The Pandan Iced Tea (P120) and Thai Iced Milk Tea (P140) are two of the best refreshments you can have. I particularly liked the Thai Iced Milk Tea with its distinct Thai flavors that is quite different from the usual bubble milk teas all around the metro.
The Yum Pla Dook Foo (P380) is a great Thai appetizer to share with the group. This crispy and flaky deep-fried catfish is served with a special mango salad that goes so well with it.
We also had some soup to whet our taste buds. The Tom Yum Goong (P380) is a traditional hot and sour Thai broth that comes with shrimp, mushrooms, lemon grass, chili paste, and secret spices. You can really taste the flavors of Thailand with every slurp.
The Bagoong Fried Rice (P420) is surely something that Filipinos are familiar with. Bagoong is incorporated with the fried rice which results in a dish that you can eat by itself. But don’t finish it all at once because it actually goes so well with the next dish.
Pour some of the Panang Beef Curry (P580) onto your bagoong rice for a truly wonderful journey. This rich curry dish comes with slices of tender beef in spicy Panang beef curry sauce.
You can also choose to order some plain rice to go with the curry if you want to savor all the sauces when it is absorbed by the rice. It’s not as spicy as other curry dishes which actually suited me well.
There’s also the Honey Duck Dinner (P680) which has a half-serving of steamed duck served with a honey sauce. The duck is more sweet than savory, so this should be a welcome treat for those with a sweet tooth. It comes in a gigantic plate full of java rice as well, so this is one big dinner that will surely satisfy any hungry diner.
One of my favorites that afternoon was the Pla Jien (P1200). This is a whole deep-fried garoupa cooked with spicy oyster mushroom sauce with chili, ginger, and green onions. I think I single-handedly finished this beautiful fish.
Thai BBQ’s signature house special is the Thai BBQ Spareribs (P780). These smoky thick-cut tender pork ribs are cooked in their Original Thai Marinade and served with a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce. This is owner George Pua’s favorite dish among all the specialties and he still keeps having this whenever he visits.
Thai BBQ also has a Special Plate of the Day (P199) for those quick solo lunch meals. This plate comes with two sticks of chicken sate, basil eggplant, steamed rice, and a glass of pandan iced tea. It’s an affordable set that also changes daily so you can have it every day of the week.
For those who prefer to have food delivered to their house or workplace, Thai BBQ also has set packages available exclusively on Grabfood and Foodpanda, like this chicken pandan set with rice. For desserts, the Sticky Rice with Mango (P320) is always a popular choice with its sweet mango slices and sticky rice topped with coconut sauce.
We would like to thank George Pua and Thai BBQ Original Restaurant for hosting our yummy adventure to Thailand that afternoon. Thai SELECT is a very helpful program not just for restaurant owners but also for foodies looking to explore authentic and high-quality Thai establishments. Make sure to look for the Thai SELECT seal of approval the next time you are searching for great Thai cuisine.
Thai BBQ Original Restaurant
Level 2, Ayala Malls Vertis North, North Avenue, Quezon City
