Let’s start this post with me being really honest – I am a meat lover, and it’s rare for me to have a complete meal without any meat. But Gin Khao recently launched a Thai Vegetarian menu which I surprisingly really enjoyed! It has always been a challenge to find restaurants that serve a balanced menu of both meat and vegetarian food, and I think I just found one!
The Wok Fried French Beans with Olive Leaves ($9.80) looks really ordinary but trust me when I say it’s not. Its taste is beyond what it looks. The saltiness and sweetness from the olive leaves blends really well with the long beans. We had 9 dishes that day, and even though we were so bloated from the food, this was the only plate that was left empty.
Another of my favourite dish was the Taro Fritter ($8.80), which was a really nice snack to start off my meal. I could hear the loud crunch when I bite into the fritters. This is rather filling though, I would actually suggest ordering it as a sharing dish.
On the other hand, the Thai Spicy Crispy Noodles ($8.80) (in the same photo) was a slight letdown as it wasn’t as crispy as expected. A random thought but it actually reminded me of the side decor for dim sum. I like the hint of spiciness and it could have been a great appetizer if the crispiness can be enhanced.
Cault Marmite ($12.80). Sounds so fanciful huh? My brother actually mistook it for chicken, and he was wondering why there was meat. It’s actually Cauliflower! I felt like I was eating a completely different dish because I couldn’t really tell that it was cauliflower on the first bite. Just don’t think too much and you might be fooled by its rather firm texture and convince yourself that it’s not vegetables that you’re eating.
My brother was looking forward to the Thai Glass Noodles with Mushroom Pot ($12.80), but I was just like “Hmmm but there’s mushroom..”. But I was quite surprised that the mushroom taste was not too overpowering. In fact, it was a very satisfying and flavourful pot of glass noodles.
The Phad Thai Veggies ($10.80) is a refreshing and healthier version of the usual Phad Thai. It does taste a lot healthier with a subtle sweetness, if you’re someone who prefers lighter flavours, this would be a suitable choice for you. It can also be a good complement to the other dishes with a stronger and richer taste.
While I don’t really eat Mala, I quite enjoyed the tingling spices of the Mapo Tofu ($10.80) which wasn’t too overwhelming. It doesn’t give much of the numbing sensation, which is perfect for my liking. If you are going for the real deal, this may not be the ideal dish for you. But otherwise, it was really appetising for my tastebuds and I could still have spoons of it nearing the end of our dinner. Rice is not optional imo unless there’s really too much dishes on the table!
There are other varieties of appetiser and dishes that is enough to cause a dilemma – Wok Fried veggies with Mabin Sauce, Yum Wakame and more!
Yay to more food choices especially when you hang out with friends who are Vegetarians! Most of the dishes are meant for sharing, it means you get to try out different varieties. But if you’re a big eater by all means order 1 whole plate to yourself! The prices are really affordable, making it a great place for a quick lunch if you’re also working around the area.
Gin Khao
One Raffles Place
1 Raffles Place, #04-29 · 6532 2387
Quayside Isle
31 Ocean Way, 01-12
6570 2208
P.S. This is a food tasting invite but all opinions are my own
