Though Sala Thai might not look like much from the outside, with mustard yellow walls and a red and green roof with little-to-no decoration, after walking in, you are teleported to a world filled with greenery and the aroma of authentic Thai food. With a photo-op containing a sleek black bench with multiple plants around on the left, the decoration in Sala Thai is top-tier. The warm lighting inside sets the mood for a perfect lunch or dinner. Thanks to the superior interior design, the various dishes that Sala Thai offers reminisce the vast cuisine of Thai food.
Beginning with appetizers, we ordered the satay chicken paired with their homemade peanut sauce as well as their roti canai which came with curry. Paired with the peanut sauce, the satay chicken was savory. The highlight of the chicken was its tenderness and softness. The peanut sauce added a sweet touch to the chicken, adding to the dish’s flavor and overall taste. Our second appetizer was the roti canai which was crispy and crumbly on the outside, but fluffy and flavorful on the inside. After eating it with the curry, a sense of nostalgia came to mind. The savory flavors of the curry complimented the crumbly roti well.
Moving onto our main dishes, we ordered the basil fried rice chicken, pad thai chicken, and panang curry paired with steamed rice. The basil fried rice chicken was rich in flavor. The main star of the dish, the chicken, was cooked to perfection while the rice was warm and soft contributing to the dish’s wonderful taste. Moving onto the pad thai chicken, the noodles were thick yet moist and they paired well with the savory chicken. Though the presentation looked regular, the taste of the dish was exemplary. Meanwhile, the panang curry with chicken, my personal favorite, was perfectly cooked. The dish was presented to us in a sleek white bowl with the chicken and vegetables at the center swimming in the main part of the curry. The blend of bell peppers, tomato, onions and other vegetables created a rich and unforgettable taste. Paired with the steamed rice, the panang curry was truly outstanding.
Finally, for our dessert, we chose the fried banana with vanilla ice cream. Unlike our appetizers and main dishes, this one took a little longer for the chefs to prepare. This dish came with two fried bananas paired with one scoop of vanilla ice cream. The ice cream was sweet and cold and the banana was crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. The inside of the banana was warm and paired with the chilling ice cream, it created a prominent flavor. Though the fried banana was lackluster alone, when eaten with vanilla ice cream, the dish definitely reached my expectations.
Other than the food, the restaurant’s service was quick and friendly as the waiters often gave recommendations and suggestions on what to order. The lighting in the restaurant was warm and helped create a cozy and snug atmosphere. Even though the utensils, napkins and plates were ordinary, they were reminiscent of a homemade meal.
The food, ambience and service of Sala Thai were all exceptional. The food was the best part of our experience at the restaurant. If you are looking for a restaurant with a homey atmosphere, Sala Thai is the place for you!
