The Place
Image by Tristin Zhang/That's
Located on the second floor of the new Wenlifang Building on Ersha Island, Thai Alley is a spacious restaurant with commanding views of the mighty Pearl River. The dining area boasts opulent decor and is divided into three parts: a dimly-lit area near the entrance, a bright section near the floor-to-ceiling windows and an area with Japanese horigotatsu seating, consisting of low tables and a recessed floor so that diners can stretch out their legs. While the horigotatsu seating area ain’t the Thai way, it’s cool that there are options.
The Food
Image by Tristin Zhang/That's
Thai Alley produces thoughtfully executed Thai cuisine. The restaurant’s extensive menu features dishes from across the Southeast Asian nation, and highlights include the beloved tom yum soup (RMB38/118), bu pad pong karee (yellow curry crab, RMB218), ko mu yang (grilled pork neck with a spicy dipping sauce, RMB68) and pad thai (stir-fried rice noodles, RMB55).
To whet your appetite, start with the scallops in sour and spicy sauce (RMB55), the piece de resistance of Thai Alley’s appetizer selection. The scallops come in a mixture of sliced ginger, lemongrass and shallots, all steeped in a sour-tasting soup.
Image by Tristin Zhang/That's
Skip the mediocre Angus beef in yellow/green curry (RMB98). This curry dish comes with eggplant, sliced bell peppers and beef and is far from delicious.
The chicken steak with lemon and salad dressing (RMB58), on the other hand, is as delightful as a chicken dish can get. Entombed in a crunchy coating and covered with a fruity, creamy sauce, this dish is a palate pleaser if there ever was one.
Food service at Thai Alley is lightning fast, although we recommend you don’t rely too much on the menu images when ordering, as they are not entirely accurate.
The Vibe
Image by Tristin Zhang/That's
Even though the restaurant was only half-full when we visited at lunchtime last month, the space was noisy, with loud chattering amid a shuffle of Thai and Chinese songs.
Price: RMB120
Who’s going: Ersha Islanders
Good for: appetizing Thai fare, family-friendly dining
Nearest metro: Wuyangcun (Exit B), 35 minutes’ walk
Open daily, 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30-10pm; see listing for Thai Alley.
[Cover image by Tristin Zhang/That's]
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