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2015-07-21
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This little jewel of a restaurant is on a side street in Happy Valley. You would never find it if someone didn't direct you there. I'm so pleased that someone did so for me!I've eaten here twice. The first time, the dish that left the deepest impression on me was the green papaya salad. It was fresh, tangy, spicy, and really flavorful. All the rest of the meal was also terrific, but this dish was a stand-out, all the more so because it is so commonly found. It made me realize that all the others
I've eaten here twice. The first time, the dish that left the deepest impression on me was the green papaya salad. It was fresh, tangy, spicy, and really flavorful. All the rest of the meal was also terrific, but this dish was a stand-out, all the more so because it is so commonly found. It made me realize that all the others I had tasted in Hong Kong were just wrong, including my former favorite pseudo-Thai place, Thai Basil.
This last time, the green papaya salad was lack-luster. I was really disappointed, and when the hostess came to ask me how it was, I told her honestly how I felt. She said she would tell the chef. I feared they had lost their former chef, but she assured me they had not.
We were very happy to find that ALL the rest of the meal was fabulous! The Gai Yang (Grilled Chicken), was fresh and really tasty. The fried fish chunks were fresh and perfectly crispy but not heavy, with a tangy, sweet, hot sauce just like I remember tasting in Thailand. Also amazing was the fried rice with shrimp paste, full of flavor! Maybe we should have gotten steamed white rice for the green curry dish, which was also terrific, but we were already stuffed. But happily stuffed!
There are only several tables in a small, tastefully decorated environment, seems to be a place for regulars, but it's also great for a romantic dinner for two.
The hostess and waitress were both extremely nice and attentive. The hostess spoke English very well, while the waitress was struggling (she told me she had just arrived in Hong Kong), but her innocent smile made me hope that harsh city life would not wipe that away.
We all walked out smiling ourselves. Definitely a place to come back to! Hopefully, the chef will return to his outstanding green papaya salad, and it will be perfect!
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