KEN HUNTS FOOD: Khāo Thai Restaurant @Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang.

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Khāo Thai Restaurant @Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang.

A fairly new Thai restaurant at Raja Uda, Butterworth- Khāo; both the interior and exterior decor barely suggests any Thai elements. The interior decor is modern with a wood-tone, but the seats are less comfortable (fine for a quick fix but not practical for gatherings over chit-chat). The word Khāo refers to Rice in Thai; with a name like Khāo, one can expect the Thai restaurant to carry a Rice-focused Thai menu. The restaurant serves good food- at least we were happy with the quality of our orders, reasonable prices too. Worth checking out if you happen to be in the neighborhood.

Pad Phet Fish Rice with Omelette (Rm 18.80)

Pad Thai (Rm 14.80)

Mango Kerabu (Rm 14.80)

Coconut Ice Cream (Rm 13.80)

We started with the quintessential Thai appetizer- Mango Kerabu and we must say we loved it. It has a bold, alluring Mango aroma with a touch of acidity and chili heat. One of us thought that the Mango could be crunchier but the flavor combo was good. The Pad Thai was our favorite of the day- it was expertly cooked with all boxes ticked- spot on seasoning, good aroma from the tiny dried Shrimps, a hint of Tomato Ketchup and most importantly, the texture of the noodles.... addictively chewy but not rubbery. With a squeeze of fresh Lime, it introduced a nice refreshing touch to the dish; easily one of the best Pad Thais in Penang. The Pad Phet Fish Rice with Omelette was alright- the flavor was good but we thought they could be more generous with the sauce to go with the Rice. The fish was fresh and the Pad Phet flavor was there.