Thailand in the Philippines

Ah, Muang Thai! When I think of this restaurant, I immediately remember their freshly made food - wonderful shrimp salad, bagoong rice and wonderfully fresh fruit shakes. Then I remember the cozy ambiance, the adobe pink walls, the elegant Thai décor. Oh, and I can’t resist the convenient Thai-goods shopping on the side. Cap it all off with service that is efficient and polite … it’s Thai food, plus!

We’ve been eating here for several years now and the quality of the food hasn’t changed at all. You can expect to eat well even on just 500 pesos (for two!).

Muang Thai is Thai food … so be prepared to ingest lots of herbs like wansoy and lime drizzled/garnished this-and-that. Some of our favorites include shrimp salad (fresh veggies, shrimp with a sweet-sour lime dressing), tom yum (hot and sour soup, fragrant with lemon grass), pad thai (the classic must-have Thai noodles), bagoong rice (rice enmeshed with Thai shrimp paste, with slices of sweet pork, green mango and egg), satay (tender chicken strips on sticks, grilled and served with its peanutty sauce and side dish of cucumbers in bagoong), curry clams (freshwater clams with turmeric). I could go on and on … but leave you to discover what you like!

Ask for condiments too – a little collection of fish sauce, fresh and dried chilis, sugar, peanuts, and whatnot – so you can adjust the tastes to your liking. And if you’re not into hot foods, as many dishes have chilis (this is usually indicated in their menu), just make your request and they are happy to oblige.

You need to ask them what their fresh fruit shake are. Extremely affordable at just 45 pesos, you can have a large glass of avocado, mango (green or ripe), or even strawberry shake. They also have the classic Thai coffee, served in a tall glass with the coffee mixture at the bottom and packed with crushed ice to which you add the syrupy sweet milk.

For dessert, you gotta have the warm sticky rice with ripe mango, all drizzled with coconut milk. Comfort food! I tried their Thai version of maja blanca (corn starchy, coconut milky with sweet corn kernels) – yummy, yes – but was turned off upon seeing staplers being used to hold together the banana leaf cups. (Dang, if I ate one of those staple wires … %$^&)(! Since we can’t stay away from Muang Thai, I’ve learned my lesson and have NEVER ordered this again.)

We usually sit somewhere near where there is a mini-landscaped area, as the greenery (all real) and the sound of water trickling from the tiny waterfalls is quite soothing. When you’re done ordering, or done eating, its worth meandering over to the front of the store where they have a beautiful selection of Thai goods for sale – from Thai sampaloc to ornately embroidered bags to wood carvings.

I am always pleasantly surprised at getting the bill, as it such value-for-money! Please don’t forget to leave a tip as they don’t have a service charge.

What an inexpensive way to vicariously experience Thailand in the Philippines!

Note: It’s been a while since I’ve written about a restaurant. Not that we haven’t eaten out lately. Maybe because I’ve narrowed my little list of where-to-eat considerably. Or maybe because cooking at home has become so enjoyable! The challenge of eating out is to find a place that serves it up really well, but doesn’t cost an arm or a leg. And Muang Thai fits the bill perfectly!

Muang Thai
77 Malakas St.
Brgy. Pinyahan
Quezon City
(along the the street nearest McDonalds, right across Sulu Hotel)

494 Banawe St.
Quezon City
Tel. 741.8696

Update  2/5/09: The Baguio restaurant has closed down.