2016-05-17

Erawan Thai Premium @ A Thai Delight In Tsim Sha Tsui

Thai food lovers will now have another celebrated reason to head on to Tsim Sha Tsui for the irresistible the-more-you-eat-the-more-you-want Thai food. Erawan Thai Premium inherits the repertoire and core values of its two predecessors, bringing its award winning recipes with a new introduction of Thai cooking to Hong Kong. By mylifestylenews.


Tucked away on the fourth floor in the heart of the busy Ashley Road in Tsim Sha Tsui where the streets are filled with international restaurants, bars and eating outlets from the street level to many other hidden gems stationed on higher floors along the entire street. Erawan Thai Premium may not be found as easy as we thought due to the distraction of many other signages that create misleading direction before we can find the right entrance.


The service lift took us to the 4th floor, once you step into the restaurant, the large golden” throne” – The Thai Royalty chairs catches everyone’s eyes and no doubt is the most instagram snap shot contrasting the understated décor with a hint of Thai touches where the bamboo blinds and long hanging lamps as well as a few Thai decorative artworks that brighten up the restaurant.


Passing through the bar and stepping out to the outdoor roof patio where it is built to escape the city, a Phra Phrom (Four-Faced Buddha) shrine located at the far end corner that was consecrated by a Thai eminent monk  looking back to the entire open-air space creates a much more relaxing ambience for you to enjoy some of their newly introduction signature molecular cocktails.


They present the art of mixology with a one-of-a-kind “DIY” Thai spin on molecular cocktails and even a new Smoky Lab Flask Chemistry Cocktail Set for Two which we quite enjoyed.



The Rose Tea Martini invites you back to the tea party childhood with fluffy foam and Elderflower and is a delicious take on the traditional martini. The Erawan Thai Premium is another signature sweet and sour molecular cocktail that we recommend, and comes with fluffy foam of basil, apple, and green grapes that linger on the tongue.



The menu has a large selection, you can almost find most of your all times favorite dishes from all regions in Thailand (except we couldn’t find Kha Soi – A curry crispy noodle from the northern region, Chiangmai), Erawan Thai Premium offer mostly traditional Thai flavours by Chef Harnskunwat Viboon (“Chef Lek”) who previously worked in Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and is literally approved by Thai Royals and Royal Thai Consulate-General in Hong Kong.


“Thai food is not Thai food if the main ingredients are not imported directly and fresh from Thailand” says Chef Lek. The menu reflects both respect for the old and an innovation for the new.


One of the many signature dishes is the Koong Sa Moon Pai, Fried Tiger Prawns with Spicy Thai Herbs is a traditional dish that has won the 8th Grand Cuisine Awards and the Golden Award Seafood Team in 2010 with its unique contemporary mix of herbs. For a crunchy shell, and juicy inside meat, the prawns are fried to perfection and dance in crispy herbs and garlic slices. It truly is an impressive and memorable dish with very large and succulent prawns and you must not forget to taste the dried herbs with the prawns.


 Koong Chae Nam Pla – Spicy Raw Shrimps Salad is always a challenge for those who don’t frequent raw and fresh meat without cooking but boy, if you patronize this dish, might as well you best drop your Japanese sashimi routine. The Thais had been introducing this dish before many of you had your first food positioning while eating raw shrimps. Chili, lemongrass with lime based salad dressing, served with sliced garlic and mint leaves are the best compliments of this creation.


Tom Yum Koong, The Tom Yum Prawns Soup’s presentation looks right and yet lacking in substance with that spicy kick despite fresh prawns are used instead of shrimps which is a plus. Usually this dish gives you the love at first sight feeling with its intense and complex palate but this one is with exception.


Satay Skewer is a big part of Thai food culture and the Kai-Neua-Moo Satay, Grilled Chicken and Pork Satay is a little disappointment, the meat is rather dry, less tender and lacking in flavor by its marinates. Despite the coconut sauce drizzled over them adds an additional flavor to the meat yet it seems that doesn’t give a round up palate not to mention that the watery peanut sauce on side.


For something without coconut as a key ingredient, the Neua Yang Nam Tok – Spicy Beef Tenderloin Salad is worth trying, with succulent beef strips and a bit of spicy kick to it, the mints are a real good cleanser.


Another award-winning dish, Phoo Phad Nam Tom Yum, Fried Meat Crab with Tom Yum Paste, the fresh, sweet crabs are fried and then drenched in the house-made special curry is another triumph of flavours. This is a perfect dish to share as the portion is more than generous.


Roast chicken is another must-try when dining in Thai restaurant especially for those who doesn’t fancy spicy ingredients. Unfortunately the Kai Yang, Pattaya Roasted Chicken here was not really impressive. It was disappointingly dry and lacked any flavor to the meat.


Our favourite Thai staple, Phad Thai Koong Sod, Stir-Fried Flat Noodle with Shrimps was rather average and not so inviting. It was missing some complexity in flavor. It was bland even we did toss well with the condiments given.


The Kaeng Phed Ped Yang – A classic Red Curry with Roasted Duck and Fresh Fruits was tasty, but the curry was too mild and sweet for our taste. They may add poured in the lychee juice from the can instead and given the menu expressly stated 3 chilies of hotness. This is simply too mild and likely suits on kids menu.


We couldn’t have any dessert as the serving portions here are quite enough to share instead. The spice level of the food here seems has been dialed down to suit local tastes, for those that do not like their dishes too spicy, which we can well understand, but the three chilies rating should mean quite spicy, which it wasn’t and coming to enjoy a real authentic Thai food, the level of heat shall not be compromised. Nevertheless, service worth mention here as the staff are quite prompt led by some well trained managers although we have reminded them from time to time even before we place the order for not having the dishes all come at once but it did. Hurrying each dish to gulp down every morsel is not our way to enjoy food.

Tried & Tested:
Location: 3.5/5
Design & Decor: 3/5
Food & Beverage: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Value For Money: 4.5/5
Experience: 3.5/5

Highlights:
Koong Sa Moon Pai
Phoo Phad Nam Tom Yum

Flaws:
Kai-Neua-Moo Satay
Kaeng Phed Ped Yang

4/F, Astoria Building,
24-38 Ashley Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3708 8368

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated. 


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