DETAILS
The swanky new location amongst a blatant burgeoning dining scene on Westfield's upper levels has enabled Chat Thai to enter a more formal dining scene. Even so it is still sticking to its principles of relaxed dining with authentic, fresh fare at affordable prices. The exposed brick surfaces, a trademark of the Chat Thai aesthetic, is accentuated by dark wooden furnishings, luxe table wares, and moody lighting that washes the space in a warm, golden glow.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Chat Thai is an example of Sydney's growing sophistication when it comes to Thai food, dishing up authentic, full-throttled flavours. Open for both lunch and dinner, the Chat Thai menu is overwhelmingly grand, full to the brim with colourful, vibrant dishes like the todt mun goong gaeng kaew - fried green curried prawn mousseline, drizzled with pickled plum sauce for entrée as well as street food inspired offerings like the louck chin bhing – grilled pork ball dumplings. The menu is divided into various sections from spicy salads, to curries, soups, noodles, wok-fried and one plate wonders, and presents diners with an insight into the authentic tastes of south-east Asian food culture. The crying tiger, which consists of char-grilled beef tenderloin with smoked chilli and tamarind relish, is a piquant delight as well as the yum ma krue – a char-roasted eggplant salad with ground chicken and prawns. The five spice stir-fried emerald duck with seasonal greens is wonderfully fragrant, and the one plate wonder of stir-fried crisp pork belly, with fresh chilli, holy basil, fried egg and rice is a popular choice at lunch time. There is also a carefully composed, expansive dessert menu that features glutinous treats of steamed rice flour dumplings filled with a paste of ground peanuts and palm sugar, as well as daily wonders like pandan infused sago, corn and young coconut in coconut milk on Tuesdays, and other seasonal specials. A leading local wine judge has helped Chat Thai assemble an envious wine list and cocktail menu, along with an international array of beers.