Siti Thai Food Stall: Affordable pad thai & pad kra pao at repurposed 1940s theatre
Having spent a significant part of my childhood in Bangkok, I’ve discovered that Thai food brings me a sense of comfort. There’s a unique allure in the vibrant flavours of Thai dishes that has always captivated me. When I learned about Siti Thai Food Stall in REXKL, I felt compelled to experience it for myself.
Despite trying numerous Thai restaurants throughout the Klang Valley, I gathered that none of them truly captured the essence of authentic Thai flavours. The social media videos showcasing Siti Thai Food Stall raised my expectations for the place, and I was eager to give it a try.
The stall was easily located by the red and blue colour scheme among the other eateries on the ground floor of REXKL. The typical lunch rush hasn’t started yet so I quickly went to the counter and surveyed the menu.
What I tried at Siti Thai Food Stall
I started off with the Stir-Fried Minced Chicken Basil Rice (RM16), commonly known as pad kra pao among locals. While beef or seafood were alternative choices, I opted for the timeless classic of chicken.
Upon the arrival of the dish, scepticism crept in. While I wouldn’t claim expertise in Thai cuisine, the sauce of the kra pao seemed notably thick, perhaps a tad too much for some tastes. Nonetheless, I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and try it anyway.
The dish showcased a combination of rice, minced chicken, onions, basil leaves, chopped long beans, and a sunny-side-up egg. The absence of chilli was the initial indicator that this experience might unfold unfavourably. Upon the first bite, I was promptly met with a wave of saltiness. It was challenging to determine which aspect was more undesirable, the thickness of the sauce or the excessive amount of salt.
Adding to the dismay, the rice exhibited a texture reminiscent of day-old leftovers — cold, dry, and utterly disappointing. If a meal could embody sadness, this would undoubtedly be its equivalent.
I then turned my attention to the Seafood Pad Thai (RM22). In comparison to the pad kra pao, this dish looked more promising. It had a combination of rice noodles stir-fried with prawns, squid, and fried egg served with a wedge of lime, crushed peanuts, bean sprouts and spring onion.
After thoroughly combining everything and taking a mouthful, I had to pause and truly absorb the experience. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much to take in. Despite the noodles appearing evenly coated in Pad Thai sauce, they lacked flavour. Feeling that a touch of chilli flakes might help, I added a big dollop in. Much to my disappointment, my attempts to rescue the noodles were in vain. I tried everything — squeezing in lime, adding chilli flakes, fish sauce, chopped chillies, you name it. It remained a clump of tasteless noodles.
In terms of texture, the noodles stuck together but remained pleasantly chewy. On the flip side, the bean sprouts were overly crunchy and stiff. The redeeming quality of the dish was the abundance of prawns and squid.
Final thoughts
My experience at Siti Thai Food Stall wasn’t very successful. Given the price I paid for the portions, I felt it wasn’t a worthwhile investment. While this stall might satisfy some, it simply didn’t appeal to my taste.
Expected damage: RM16 – RM25 per pax
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