Multicultural Cuisine of…
Thailand
Na Songkhla Thai Restaurant
40 Were St,
Montmorency
(03) 9343 4739
Ok, I have a food confession to make: up until fairly recently, I’d always been kinda scared of Asian food. I’m an Italian girl, and grew up with predominantly Italian food. So, we didn’t really eat much Asian food, and the few times we did, it wasn’t great (because my family, bless them, didn’t know where to get decent Asian food from!). And so, I thought, I was scared for life.
A year or so ago, my fabulous friends from work decided they were all going out for Thai food after a work meeting. I smiled and nodded and followed the crowd to the car park. I jumped in my car, yelling out that I would follow someone else because I wasn’t sure where it was, and yes, I was excited, and yes, I was starving! I got in my car and called Sous-Jeff immediately. What was Thai food? What would I eat? Could I just order plain rice? Was everything going to be spicy?! Arghhh!!! He told me to just go along and give it a try – I might even like it. If not, he’d order me a pizza.
Fast forward over a year, and it’s now one of my favourite restaurants, with Sous-Jeff and I eating there every few weeks. Getting over my fear that all Asian food might be spicy, my eyes were opened up to a lot of different cuisines that I’d been previously afraid to try. Isn’t it absurd how much one bad experience can completely skew your view on things? Since then, I’ve tried quite a few Thai restaurants, and I will confidently say that Na Songkhla is without a doubt the best. With that in mind, it’s off for another trip to “Monty Thai” as it’s affectionately known within our group of friends and colleagues.
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| Por Pia Puk (Vegetarian Spring Rolls): $6.90 |
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| Crispy Chicken (didn’t catch proper Thai name, sorry!): $8.90 |
The crispy chicken thighs, again with the home made sweet and sour sauce are delicious. The chicken thighs are very soft and tender inside their crispy shells, and have everyone coming back for more.
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| Satay (chicken): $8.90 |
Satay chicken got my vote. Anyone who’s eaten here can vouch for the mouthwatering peanut sauce that is available with the roti bread. To my absolute joy, the satay chicken came out smothered in the sauce. We opted for the chicken, but you can also get beef, or a mix of both. The chicken was again, very fresh and tender and soft.
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| Roti bread and peanut sauce: $3.90 |
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| Goong Ob Mo Din (Prawn Clay Pot): $15.90. Cooked and served in clay pot with ginger, topped with vegetables and bean thread noodles. |
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| Mas-Sa-Man Curry (Sweet Yellow Curry): $15.90. Mild yellow curry cooked in coconut milk with potatoes, peanuts, onions and carrots. Options to have with chicken, pork, beef or prawns. |
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| Gai Yang (BBQ Chicken): $15.90. Chicken fillets marinated in honey, chilli, garlic, lemon grass and red wine. |
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| Gang Dang (Red Curry): $15.90. Traditional Thai curry, made from red curry paste, cooked in coconut milk with beans, red capsicum and zucchini. Option to have with chicken, beef, pork or prawns. |
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| Pud Mad Mamuaug Hima Pan (Cashew Nuts): $15.90. Meat stir fried with cashew nuts, roasted dry chilli and a sweet flavoured sauce. Option to have with chicken, beef, pork, prawns, or mixed seafood. |
So, everyone laughs at me every time we go over for Thai, because I always order the same time: “Hi, could I please have a roti bread with peanut sauce, spring rolls, a number 36 cashew chicken and coconut rice? Thankyou!” The cashew chicken is just that good. I have actually tried a few other dishes, but with my severe aversion to anything spicy, this is by far my favourite. It has a tiny hint of chilli, but stil weak enough that I can handle it. If you enjoy your food a little hotter, the lovely kitchen staff are more than happy to oblige to any requests of “make it spicy, please!”
I could keep writing for another 1000 words on how brilliant I think this restaurant is, how lovely, friendly and attentive the staff are, how delicious the food is, and how comfortable and hospitable a restaurant it is, but really, just give them a call, book a table for dinner (open from 5:30pm, 7 days), and try it for yourself – you won’t be sorry!
Would rate it 10 out of 10.
hehe I loved the background story of your first time eating Thai cuisine :) Isn't it funny how you get to grow to love a cuisine!