Cinnamon Lakeside’s Royal Thai, one of the island’s most reputed Thai food establishments, recently unveiled its new menu by the 2 new master chefs amidst a distinguished gathering. The event, hosted by the Thai ambassador, featured Thai entertainment, camaraderie and fantastic food!

Authentic and delicious Thai food has always been the cornerstone of Royal Thai’s popularity. My recent experience at the unveiling of their new menu simply cemented this, reminding me why Royal Thai continues to be widely sought after by those who love Thai food. Guests at the event were served a wide array of food, both mainstays and exciting new entrants to the menu. It was physically impossible to try all the food they served as it comprised many dishes, but I did manage to sample quite a few and thought they were all of exceptional quality and taste.

Appetisers, Salad & Soup
An array of appetisers were served, including Thod Mun Pla (fried fish cake with chilli cucumber sauce), Gai Satay (Thai chicken satay with spicy peanut sauce), Salmon Saab (Fresh salmon with spicy seafood wasabi sauce), Som Tum Goong (spicy raw papaya salad with prawns) and Yum Ruammit Talay (spicy seafood salad with glass noodles and chilli lime sauce). The fried fish cakes have always been my favourite at Royal Thai, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. Perfectly fried, and paired with the sweet sauce, this will likely remain one of the most sought-after appetisers at Royal Thai.

I also loved the Salmon Saab. The spicy seafood wasabi sauce was a revelation and paired perfectly with the salmon. If you’re apprehensive about trying a raw appetiser, don’t let it hold you back. The salmon was excellent! The spicy raw papaya salad was refreshing and added a nice crunch to the salad. The soup we were served was the Spicy King Coconut and Duck Soup with Thai Herbs, which was a light yet rich and aromatic soup. 

Mains
Guests were served Kao Suay (steamed Thai rice), Kao Phad Gai (chicken fried rice with egg) and Pad Thai Goong Rue Talay (traditional Pad Thai with prawns or seafood). Although the fried rice was tasty and is perennially beloved by Sri Lankans, I always recommend steamed Thai rice since it pairs well with all the dishes, allowing their diverse flavours to come through. The sweet-savoury Pad Thai was also excellent! Well-balanced flavours without tipping over made it thoroughly enjoyable.

We were also served a number of dishes that comprised Choo Chee Goong (prawn in homemade chilli paste), Pla Muek Phad Prik Phao (cuttlefish in spicy chilli sauce), Hoy Chell Phad Gra Tiem Prik Thai Dum (scallop garlic black pepper), Pla Gao Neung Manao (Steamed garupa with lime and chilli dressing), Massaman Gae (lamb curry in mild peanut sauce), Gaeng Phed Ped Yang (Red curry duck with lychee and pineapple), Poo Phad Pong Karee (crab meat yellow curry with celery and spring onion). There were also vegetarian offerings - Gaeng Kiew Waan Rue Gaeng Dan Pak Ruam (green or red curry vegetables), Hed Phad Ga Phrao (wok-fried spicy mushroom and hot basil) and Phad Pak Ruam Mit (Stir fried mixed vegetables in soya gravy).

The steamed garupa was another dish that I absolutely loved. The fragrant sauce that was sweet, sour, spicy, and well-balanced made with a handful of basic ingredients was just perfect over this delicately steamed white flesh fish. The cuttlefish, prawn and scallop dishes were also firm favourites, not only due to their vibrant flavours but especially because the seafood was cooked to perfection without being overcooked. The vegetarian entrants too were quite delicious.

Dessert
Banana Custard Spring Rolls, Mango Sticky Rice and Pandan and Coconut Cake were some of the desserts on offer that evening. Mango Sticky Rice has always been a firm favourite, but I was surprised to find myself enjoying the banana custard spring rolls and pandan and coconut cake. The cake was very subtly flavoured, which I loved, and was just sweet enough. The spring roll on the other hand was crunch, and deliciously sweet. The latter was not normally something I would have tried, but I’m glad I did as it was delish!

Overall
Royal Thai has always been at the forefront of excellent Thai food in the country, and it’s no secret why it has held on to that position for so long. The new additions to the menu are a welcome change and I was won over by their food yet again, reminding me why it’s been one of my favourite places for Thai food! 

Photo courtesy: Cinnamon Lakeside