The latest dining addition to The Capitol Kempinski Hotel‘s Arcade area (after Berthold Delikatessen, Frieda Restaurant, and Capitol Milk Bar) is a Thai joint in the style of a casual, classy eatery, with rattan furniture pieces placed under a bright yellow canopy.
Overflowing with ample natural light in the day, the place serves all the standard dishes you’ve come to expect from the cuisine, with sauces and spices imported from Thailand. As head of the kitchen, chef Roy Ng has more than 13 years of experience in Thai restaurants here under his belt.
Here’s an interesting tidbit: The restaurant is named after the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre, which opened in Bangkok in 1933, and it sits right by the Capitol Theatre in Singapore. The Thai theater was built by King Prajadhipok to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Bangkok, and used to operate as a cinema before it became a center of classical Thai dance.
Don’t expect the dishes to be nearly as theatrical, though. It’s more of a comfort food place, where you’ll find solid renditions of your go-to Thai favorites like som tom kung (papaya prawn salad, $12), tom yum goong ($15) with prawns, fish, clam, mussels, and squid, phad Thai ($14) wok-fried with prawns, and pineapple fried rice ($15).
Other popular plates include green curry with chicken and eggplant ($18), stir-fried soft shell crab in yellow curry ($20), and steamed whole sea bass ($32).
Meats like stir-fried beef or pork with chilli, garlic, and Thai basil ($18) are recommended as well, along with grilled prawns ($20), squid ($18), and greens such as stir-fried morning glory ($10).
For dessert, the usual mango sticky rice ($10) beckons. Or you can go for coconut milk dishes like warm pumpkin yam dumplings ($8) or red ruby with jackfruit ($8).
FIND IT:
Chalerm Thai is at Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski, 13 Stamford Rd.
6715-6875. Daily 11am-10pm.
MRT: City Hall
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