Oldie but Goodie is a monthly column where we feature noteworthy restaurants, cafes or bars that have been open at least six months and are worth a try.
Humble and casual, A Rui Thai Restaurant does not constitute ‘fancy’ in any sense of the word. Instead, the homey eatery run by a Thai family serves typical, everyday dishes consumed regularly by the good people of Thailand.
Situated on the restaurant-packed Xiaomei Dajie, a side street of Liwan Lu, A Rui, with a low-key storefront identifiable only by its Thai moniker, has been serving frugal students exotic flavors for years now.
There’s not much to the decor other than cheesy plastic ferns, but patrons come to relish the authenticity of produce from the kitchen, run by middle-aged Thai ladies who can be seen shoveling food from woks to plates through a take-out window.
Boasting reasonable prices from RMB10-50 or so a dish, A Rui’s bilingual menu, in Thai and Chinese, is short and simple. Ingredients range from Chinese kale and Manila clam to squid and shrimp, making A Rui a kind of Thai dapaidang, or street-side eatery.
Of course, the classic Tom yum kung (RMB45) is a popular order, but the Thai-style Manila clam (泰式花甲, RMB35), with an appetizing spicy and sour taste, is highly recommended.
The Chinese kale (炒芥蓝, RMB25), on the other hand, is not as impressive, partially due to its salty flavor. Try the papaya salad (木瓜沙拉, RMB20) which makes a refreshing starter.
Authentic Thai flavors coupled with bargain prices make A Rui a standout on this bustling Liwan food street.
Price: RMB50
Nearest metro: Chen Clan Academy, 10 minutes
Open daily, 11.30am-10.30pm. See listing for A Rui Thai Restaurant.
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