Chat Thai, Haymarket
It seems like everyone knows about Chat Thai. Well, everyone except me, and until now.
I had walked past the Haymarket branch, pushed my way through the waiting crowds and wondered what the fuss was all about. Somehow, though, Chat Thai managed to rate on my radar and I had to visit. Immediately!
Som Tum – Spicy Papaya Salad $10
And often, see I managed to visit two nights in a row, with different dining partners, and this post is an amalgamation of both visits.
Firstly, the queue: on Monday night I signed up on the DIY bookings list at 6:25, and soon enough we were whisked through the thickening crowds and seated. On Tuesday I signed up at 6:30, and we had to wait until 7:10 until we claimed our table.
The room is newly renovated, warehouse style with cool art on the walls and an amazing light feature. The staff are calm and collected, never flustered. The whole operation seems very well organised and runs smoothly.
Crying Tiger $14
Ship and Shore $14
The Som Tum is spicy, really spicy, I wish we had some rice (sticky!) to go with it. But once I got used to the heat the diverse flavours and crunchiness was able to come through. Crying Tiger is super beefy with a wonderfully disparate sauce, the beef was a little tough, though.
Ship and Shore, a mix of prawns, chicken, pork and egg dressed with chilli jam is mild and delightful. The quarters of fried egg are wonderfully crisp and gooey all at once, the meats are tender and the herbs and onion makes this dish a favourite.
Loot Shong coconut milk drink with pandan dumplings $3.50, Caramelised Ice Tea $4.00
Prawn and omelet in Tamarind Curry $18
Red Curry with Beef $14
On both visits we ordered 3 dishes plus rice for two people, and couldn’t finish all the food. Maybe it is all the protein that makes this food so filling, and such good value.
Stir fried Chinese Broccoli with Roasted Pork $14
Of all the mains, the stir fried chinese broccoli with port is my favourite. So simple, just beautifully cooked chinese broccoli devoid of bitterness, with roasted pork so crispy and crunchy in a mildly garlicky sauce. A really nice foil for the hugely punchy flavours of the other dishes like the Prawn and omelet Tamarind Curry which is spicy, fishy, sour and so tasty.
Sticky rice with Coconut milk and Coconut pudding $7.50
Both visits I ordered this dessert. The only thing on the dessert menu that I tried, and that is saying something. Actually, we tried to order the iced bread dessert, I know right, iced bread? and the waitress said that it was too large for just one person, so I never got to find out what iced bread even is.
But back to the doubly coconutty sticky rice dessert with a name that I can’t pronounce. This dish is representative of the whole Chat Thai experience – flavours, dishes and ideas that are undeniably Thai, treated with a very light hand and a sensibility that is more thoughtful than your local Thai takeaway. The palm sugar and coconut custard is unctuous and not too sweet, rich and nutty with the sticky rice.
Simple and well executed, just like Chat Thai.
Chat Thai
20 Campbell St, Haymarket
ph. 9211 1808
For other outlets, see their website.
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9 Comments
Chat thai! such a creat place with really cheap food.
Had a horrible first time experience a couple of months ago.. One of our meals was the green curry and guess what was found in there…
A massive long thick hair! we returned the meal and they offered to make us another one which they ended up forgetting.. they insisted we still pay for the infested food =|
Despite this i would still like to go there again as i enjoyed the remainder of the foods. I admit the chicken skewers were very dry.. cant complain considering the skewers are a bargain.
It’s a shame my bf doesnt want to go there again =( just have to get a group of my friends to go with next time
The red curry looks so thick and delicious! Lots of kaffir lime leaves on top – yum!
haven’t been to chat thai in the longest time, much as i love it. they do beautiful brothy noodle soups as well. ultimate late winter comfort food. or for any time really!
that coconut pandan drink would’ve done wonders matched with the spicy food. looks good too
Iced bread! Now you’ve got me intrigued!
Looks great! thanks for the review. I am in the same boat as you, have walked past many times but never made it past the front doors.. the queue has always been rather unforgiving.. will go early I think *licks her lips*
iced bread?! lol i wouldve said to the waitress that i was very very hungry…
smileona: Oh no! That is terrible, maybe the service was good on my visits because the owner was hovering around.
Christie: The red curry sauce was really tasty, the beef was a little tough, unfortunately.
shez: I forgot to talk about the drink! I love the coconut and pandan drink. Rich but light, with heaps of chewy noodles (?) and jackfruit! Really interesting. I noticed heaps of people ordered it too.
Y: I am intrigued about the iced bread too. I will have to go back and see what it is all about, just might wait a few weeks though!
bridget: The queue is pretty horrendous, but I think that you can book, which would be a great alternative. I wonder what the line is like at lunch time too.
chocolatesuze: Unfortunately I was already stuffed – had to force the sticky rice in, then I had to loosen my belt on the bus home. Good times.
Interesting, I’ve never had a tamarind curry let alone a curry with omelet in it!
Ah Chat thai, use to frequent this place alot during Uni! It’s a good balance of price and quality , but we always over order! (in a good way)