The continuing surge in popularity of Thai cuisine around the world and here in Manila is seen with the increasing number of Thai restaurants both homegrown and established brands from Bangkok. In the competitive clutter of the dining scene, achieving a meaningful and relevant key point of differentiation that sets one restaurant apart from the rest becomes crucial. For Thai restaurants, earning a coveted seal of authenticity from the Royal Thai Government is one competitive advantage. And for Nara Thai, earning back-to-back #ThaiSELECT seals is your sure sign of consistent quality and authenticity in all their Thai specialties...
A Bangkok original and now with restaurants in Hong Kong, Myanmar, Mumbai, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Manila, Nara Thai is aggressively expanding its network of branches built around authenticity, value and consistency in quality. And it's earned the brand the coveted #ThaiSELECT recognition from the Ministry of Commerce of the Royal Thai Government. Not once, but twice. Read on to find out why...
The balanced harmony of contrasting and diverse flavors from sweet and sour, salty and spicy makes Thai cuisine one of the most unique dining experiences and Nara Thai is on a mission to celebrate Thai food and culture around the world. The brand's name is inspired by the Sanskrit word meaning "Thai Woman" setting the tone for a uniquely Thai experience.
Recognized by the Royal Thai Government with two consecutive #ThaiSELECT honors, Nara Thai takes you straight to the bustling streets of Bangkok with its rendition of traditional Thai cuisine made with the finest ingredients for bold, fresh and real flavors.
Start your dining experience at Nara Thai with the refreshing Thai Milk Tea (P 185) with its sweet and creamy notes finished by the deep and soothing hints of tea. Then, pick your your Thai feast from Nara Thai's extensive menu from starters and appetizers, salads, soups, rice dishes, noodles, meat, curry, fish and seafood dishes all the way to tasty sides and dessert. A quick scan of the menu offers various options good for two, five and ten perfect for an intimate meal or festive gathering with friends or family.
Tease your palate with some of Nara Thai's popular starters like the crisp Yum Phak Kom (P 350 good for two/P 875 good for five/ P 1,750 good for ten) or deep-fried spinach served with minced pork and chili lime dip. The mildly bittersweet and herbal notes of the deep-fried spinach comes through with each bite announced by an audible crunch. The savory dip completes the delectable play on flavors and textures.
The Goong Kabeuang (P 550 good for two/P 1,375 good for five/P 2,750 good for ten) or deep-fried crispy prawn pancake brings a delicate briny sweetness from the succulent prawns to the palate for a light yet tasty starter. The special dip cuts through the richness and you're ready for another bite. Soft and fluffy, the comforting prawn pancake goes on my list of personal picks at Nara Thai.
The Roti with Massaman Sauce (P 350 good for two/P 875 good for five/P 1,750 good for ten) is another popular Thai staple with soft and round unleavened flatbread paired with a mild Thai curry sauce. The subtle nutty sweetness of the roti becomes the perfect vessel to mop up the rich curry, leaving lingering savory notes with each bite.
The familiar Som Tum Kai Khem (P 550 good for two/P 1,375 good for five/P 2,750 good for ten) or papaya salad with salted egg brings a medley of contrasting flavors from sweet, tart and sour in a perfectly balanced blend to open up the palate for the savory courses. The freshness of the ingredients delivers clean yet complex layers of flavors in that typical Thai style. With six other salad options to choose from, Nara Thai has all your salad cravings covered.
Nara Thai's kitchen then picks up the pace serving up the next batch of specialty dishes...
...starting with the Gai Pak Panang (P 520 good for two/P 1,300 good for five/P 2,600 good for ten), a Thai style spicy barbeque chicken fresh off the grills. The delicate yet rich flavors of the juicy chicken with its smoky hints are complemented by the sharp acidic notes of the mildly sweet and sour vinegar dip with onions and chilies. One more skewer? Yes, please.
It's just not a complete Thai experience without the familiar bagoong rice, right? The Khao Phad Nam Prik Goong Seab (P 520 good for two/P 1,300 good for five/P 2,600 good for ten) completes your Thai feast and cravings at Nara Thai. The popular fried rice with sweet pork, condiments and salted egg brings all the flavors and textures you love in one dish. Mixing everything up ensures you get all the flavors in one spoonful.
Nara Thai offers seven variants of Thai rice dishes featuring chicken with pineapple, green curry with chicken, prawns, crab, shrimp paste and spicy chili and basil with chicken or pork. Extra rice? You bet.
The Gai Tord Krob Sauce Ma Nao (P 520 good for two/P 1,300 good for five/P 2,600 good for ten) is a savory dish with crisp and juicy deep-fried and battered chicken draped in a sweet and tart lime sauce. With a lighter batter and softer texture than the usual Chinese style lemon or orange chicken, the Gai Tord Krob Sauce Ma Nao with its subtle and even nuanced notes is a safe bet at Nara Thai.
Thai style curries are another specialty of the house, with eleven tempting options on the menu at Nara Thai. The Kang Kiew Wan Nuea (P 650 good for two/P 1,625 good for five/P 3,250 good for ten) or green curry beef is one of many curry offerings at Nara Thai. Sweet, savory and just a hint of soothing heat, the fork-tender beef simmered in rich and thick curry with its complex blend of spices will have you going for an extra order of steamed white rice.
When in season or available, the soft shell crab specialties like the Phu Nim Tord Sauce Ma Kam (P 990 good for two/P 2,175 good for five/P 4,950 good for ten) is an absolute must-try. The succulent, juicy and crisp crab slathered in a sweet and tart tamarind sauce packs solid flavors with the fresh, clean and briny sweetness of the crab punching through. The fresh flavors are followed by yet another layer of flavor from the sauce completing another masterful play on contrasting textures and notes. You may also opt for the Fried Soft Shell Crab with Garlic at Nara Thai.
The Phu Phad Pong Karee (P 550 good for two/P 1,375 good for five/P 2,750 good for ten) is an indulgent curry specialty with lumps of stir-fried crab meat in a rich and thick yellow curry, and another personal pick on my list at Nara Thai. The fresh and clean sweetness of the crab and the savory notes of the yellow curry combine for a flavorful punch best enjoyed with steamed white rice. If you love crab and curry, this one nails it.
The iconic Thai classic, Tom Yum Goong (P 480 good for two/P 1,200 good for five/P 2,400 good for ten) with plump shrimps simmered in a spicy lemongrass and lime broth is just what you need to warm your palate and body on cloudy days. Infused with all the distinct flavors from the various ingredients including shrimps, vegetables and fresh herbs for that sweet, salty and spicy weave of contrasting notes, the broth perks you up with its bold yet balanced flavors.
That harmonious blend of contrasting flavors is a signature highlight of traditional Thai cuisine, perfectly recreate in a bowl of Tom Yum Goong.
The Ayutthaya Beef Boat Noodles or Kuay Tiew Rua Nua is another traditional Thai staple faithfully recreated at Nara Thai. The slices of fork-tender beef, vegetables, herbs and noodles gently simmered in a thick aromatic broth offer comforting sips and bites transporting you to the winding maze of Bangkok's canals.
For dessert, a trio of Nara Thai's popular signature dishes served as a fitting finale to a lavish Thai feast with the Khao Niew Ma Muang or mango and sticky rice with coconut milk, the Khanom Tako Sakoo (another personal pick) and Bua Loy Kai Kem or coconut milk rice dumplings with salted egg.
Made with coconut cream, the custard-like Tako is pure silky smooth indulgence.
If you prefer to go all out, then the Thai Summer Mix (P 155) is definitely the one for you. An impressive sweet ending to an authentic and sumptuous Thai feast at Nara Thai, imagine an indulgent and fully loaded stacked bowl of shaved ice topped with red mongo beans, kaong, jackfruit, nata de coco and water chestnuts capped by coconut ice cream and coconut cream. Similar to our own shaved ice dessert, the Thai Summer Mix has a sweeter finish with its use of coconut cream.
The Durian Sticky Rice may not be for everyone, but the "King of Fruits" is another traditional element in Thai cuisine. Slathered in thick, creamy and lusciously smooth coconut cream, it's another indulgent option to your Thai feast at Nara Thai.
With its extensive selection of authentic Thai dishes, its easy to see why Nara Thai was awarded the coveted #ThaiSELECT seal. Not once, but twice. Authentic ingredients, traditional culinary techniques and execution and consistency in quality plus value and variety almost guarantees a third consecutive seal of approval from the Royal Thai Government. In the meantime, savor real Thai flavors yourself at Nara Thai in SM Megamall, and be transported to the Land of Smiles with just a few bites...
Nara Thai is located at the Third Floor of SM Megamall Fashion Hall, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. You can also call 8637 3860 for inquiries or visit their FB Page an IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/narathaiph/ and https://www.instagram.com/narathaiph/ for more information and updates.
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