At your next weekend brunch outing, perhaps do things a little differently at Novena eatery Baan Ying, where a free flow spread of Thai grub goes for less than $40. The new-ish Thai restaurant, which originated in Bangkok from humble roots as a tiny joint at Siam Square in 1999 to its current army of seven outlets across the city, debuted its first overseas branch in Singapore last year.
The modern minimalist space, which isn’t like any other “authentic” Thai place you’ve seen, is lit with plenty of sunlight from its floor-to-ceiling windows during the day, and brightened up with wood, rattan, and bamboo accents, green foliage, and wall frames bearing the designs of popular Thai dishes.
Featuring a menu of homemade recipes from the founding family, Baan Ying serves the usual tom yum soups, green curry bowls, and pad Thai plates — how could it not? — but also specializes in dishes that aren’t as ubiquitous, including omelette rice (which you can customize with toppings), mussels and puffball mushrooms in curry ($16.80), green chilli fried rice ($12.80), and crab street omelette ($48.80).
If you’re popping by on a weekend afternoon, you can either go the a la carte way or expand your waistline a tad more with the brunch buffet — it’s a feast of 12 to 15 appetizers, sides, and desserts, plus one main course of your choice. For unlimited guzzles of beer and wine, top up $29.80 and stay the entire four hours to make your money’s worth.
The revolving line-up includes a selection of nam prik (Thai “dips”) made with everything from minced pork and garlic to fermented catfish and chillies, served with raw or boiled veggies such as cabbage, winged beans, cucumber sticks, and Thai mini eggplants.
Once you’re done nibbling, go for heartier dishes like stir-fried pickled cabbage with pork, glass noodle salad, deep fried spicy meatballs, or crispy rice with pork and shrimp dip, which are offered alongside a bevy of green and red curries, tom yum and pork belly soups, fried noodles and rice, and sweet treats.
Oh, and you can also try your hand at mixing your own green papaya or green mango salad at the DIY station, where you can toss into the bowl as much peanuts, dried shrimp, cherry tomatoes, long beans, and dressing drizzles as you like.
Just remember to leave some stomach space for the mains, which come in four options: Angus beef steak, pan-seared bone-in Iberico pork chop (additional $9.80), grilled large river prawns sprinkled with lemongrass “floss”, and pan-fried salmon steak topped with fried ginger.
FIND IT:
The Great Baan Ying Brunch is on every Saturday and Sunday, 11am-3pm at #02-07 Royal Square @ Novena, 103 Irrawaddy Rd.
9111-7852. Adults $38.80, children aged 4-10 $19.40; top up $29.80 for free flow beer and wine.
MRT: Novena.
