TONG THAI authentic Thai restaurant: four-course set menu review

From the moment we’ve reached the 4th floor of the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Business Bay, there was an alluring red energy directing us towards our destination. We had been craving Thai cuisine for a few days in fact and this came right in time to satisfy, and exceed, our expectations. For the on-going “Restaurant Month”, Thai Tong had specially curated a four-course set menu with the sole purpose of best-representing the authenticity of its origin country Thailand. As you walk the hallways that guide you to the dining hall, every corner is decorated with historical artefacts, facades telling the ancient stories of Thailand with big buddha statues and ringing bells, soothing waterfall sounds and shimmering golden red lights. The crown jewel, to my eye’s pleasure, was the wave of red lanterns enveloping the ceiling like a star-lit sky. This is what I would call, the magnetic effect. And Tong Thai got us under its spell.

The friendliness of the hostesses and attendants only adds to your appetite & brings out the excited foodie in you.

Upon arrival, we were received with a lovely, comprehensive explanation of what to expect as we sipped our fresh passion fruit juice and nibbled on Po Pia Phak – vegetable spring rolls with sweet pineapple chili sauce and Prawn Crackers. Delicious and interesting opening sweet flavors. From the starters we picked the Gai Satay – grilled chicken skewers with peanut sauce and cucumber dip, and the Som Tum Malakor Kung, now that salad-like appetizer could be a meal in itself with fulfilling portions of green papaya and steamed prawns. The playfulness of the Tamarind dressing is a hook.

                                             
Gal Satay & Som Tum Malakor Kung 

Before we moved on to the main course, we washed down those delectable appetizers with a heartwarming cup of soup, the food for soul kind of soups, we picked the Tom Yum Phak – a mixed vegetables-based spicy soup and the Tom Kha Gal – a chicken coconut-based soup, both filled with fresh ensemble of ingredients like mushroom, lemongrass, lime, galangal that made every sip feel like the first one, simply insatiable and so delicious. While soups can be filling, these were altogether light enough to keep us going for the main course. 

                                               
Phad Thai Kung Sod & Nua Phad Samoon Pral                                              

Let’s just say the beef tenderloin in the Nua Phad Samoon Pral is unbelievably tender and juicy it melts in your mouth with an explosion of Thai herbs, chili and hot basil flavors. What a dish! Definitely highly-recommended for meat lovers out there. Matched with a side rice cup, this choice is a winner. From the beef to the prawns – can you really think Thai food without Phad coming to mind? The tamarind sauce comes to claim its prize once more as it seasons the stir-fried rice noodles with sprinkles of peanut on top. The smoothest noodles one can have.

As we sipped on the bottle of Sauvignon Blanc we picked as a choice of beverage, we finished our flavorful Thai journey with two desserts – just like the cherry on top! Satisfying our sweet tooth much-wanted finale were Tub Tim Krob – a cup of water chestnut, palm seed, jack fruit & coconut syrup served on crushed ice and Tim Boran – Thai style ice cream mixed with sweet sticky rice, palm seed, jack fruit & peanut. Just, perfect. 

Restaurant Month spans till the end of May so make sure to jot down a night or more and head on to Tong Thai to experiment with the true taste of Thailand.

khàawp-khun Tong Thai for this wonderful night, we shall be back soon!

Timing: Daily from 6 PM till midnight

Location: JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Business Bay

Contact: (04) 414 3000