What a find! Best Thai food certainly in JHB! An unpretentious tiny restuarant serving amazing food - huge variety. We tried both fried and rice wrap spring rolls , prawn green curry and crispy fried red Roman. All so delicious. They only serve Thai beer so bring your own wine. The menu is extensive - we will be back!
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I have visited this place numerous times over the last year. Please be aware that it is in the middle of Derek Avenue which is not the best of areas for such a restaurant. Inside the decor is extremely plain, small and simple however the food mostly makes up for these flaws. There is a great variety of vegetarian items on the menu and the owner is always willing to assist in preparing a dish as vegetarian even if it is not a vegetarian dish. This is a great option as their food is very tasty.
I have tried most of the curries (obviously with no fish sauce or shrimp paste) on the menu and one or two stir fry meals. Vegetarian items come with veg protein or soy which is a nice touch - if available. Their spring rolls are out of this world! The quality of the food here is one of the best that I have had in Joburg as it is the same as what you would have in Thailand.
I am obsessed with the deliciously soft and tasty baby eggplant and pea eggplant in a curry - there are not many places around that have such items on their menu.
Please note that if you order a meal as hot it will come as "Thai hot" and you may pop your head off if you cannot handle the heat.
Unfortunately, the ambiance is not great, the food here takes extremely long to prepare (as everything is prepared fresh and the kitchen does not have enough help which is a problem), you may also not be able to order certain items on the menu as they just forgot to get more produce and in addition the food can be inconsistent if there are certain ingredients that are unavailable due to being seasonal or because they didn't manage to purchase it.
This place needs a lot of work from a service, speed and consistency perspective which is why the rating is not higher.
If you are ever in the area pop in and try our their food as it should not disappoint.
Go for the regional specialties from the Isaan region - we had a Tom Zab soup, which I had never heard of before, and was fantastic. And there are something like 8 different green papaya salads to choose from, too. A treasure.
The vibe here is much like a restaurant in Thailand. Plastic seats and not too much going on. BUT the food is brilliant, super delicious. Do yourself a favour and go. Friendly staff who can also help you through the menu.
Go there for authentic tasty Thai food, not for the decor - as mentioned in a few of the other reviews below.The food is really exceptional and the host will advice you on the extensive menu (and chili heat!).
Starters we have loved: Som Tam (green papaya salad), fresh spring rolls and the fish cakes. Mains: Green Curry, Pad Thai, Red Pork and the Duck Stir Fry.
On our last we had the Tom Yum Goong soup... Yes please!
No need to wear your Prada shoes and Versace dress to this place. It's not what I'd call 'fine dining' with its metal tables and plastic chairs but the food was excellent. Apparently a husband and wife team, the wife cooks; the husband serves. He is a sweet sweet man. The menu is big so we went with his suggestions and recommendations: I loved the spring rolls (not the fried ones), fish cakes and papaya salad for starters. For mains: I found the Phad Thai bland but the green curry, prawn stir-fry and whole steamed red roman served on a flame-heated metal fish-shaped dish fantastic.
There's no wine so BYOB. We weren't charged corkage. It was also unbelievably inexpensive for the four of us.
Word of advice: don't take the first parking you see along Derrick Avenue. There was parking much closer.
And I googled their phone number to book a table. (The phone number on Zomato doesn't let you call). I didn't have to - even though it was a Saturday night, there were tables available.
William Philip Cadman
+4.5
Authentic Thai, a rarity for Joburg. Each and every dish prepared from scratch. Not a meal to be rushed. Delicious fresh ingredients with a full range of blistering to mild chilies for every taste. Friendly service, no frills, just amazing food.
Ria Fraser @CityFlavours
+4
This little restaurant is something to experience. We ordered starters and mains to share for the table. Each dish came when it was ready, which actually made it a wonderful food journey. I would recommend that you go for a relaxed lunch, don't rush it. Some may feel it is bad service, but I rather got the impression that the chef is a perfectionist who made sure each dish is prepared according to order and that the flavours are balanced correctly.
The food was exceptional, and the portions were generous. The sauces, whether it was a dipping sauce or part of the meal was the highlight for me, I can only describe it as liquid gold!
Lastly, I do feel that I should perhaps manage your expectations, this is a humble restaurant with plastic chairs and is very small inside, don't turn around. Go inside, put your food hat on and enjoy an unpretentious meal that you will remember for quite some time
Thai meals is in cyrildene asian street , the venue is very plain and the service is slowish but the food is proper thai , not some franchise rip off version . The num tuk pork salad is amazing , your mouth is alive after eating it . The fish cakes is tasty , the spicy laos sausage is different and interesting . The pad thai is yummee served with all the condiments . All washed down with a cold SIngha beer . This place is cool , definitely going back .
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Owner-run spot with highly unoriginal name but the food more than makes up for it.
Cyrildene is my new go-to for authentic Asian and proper flavours and ingredients.
Once you get over the kitsch decor and almost grungy interiors in pretty much most of the establishments, you start to enjoy yourself and get experimental.
The menus can be quite daunting in size and the never ending options- but when in doubt ask the owners or the waitron and they will guide you.
Some of the dishes can be rather 'unique' and not for all Western tastes. But when in Rome.
We didn't ever too far from our usuals and stuck with some safe options this time.
The Thai style fish cakes - delicious! With cucumber and sweet chilli dipping sauce.
Pad Thai- an old classic and made really nicely with prawn and calamari.
My wife had the Pad Prik Gaeng- mixed vegetables in a curry sauce with Asian spices- with calamari and prawns. Superb!
The owner comes around and asks for honest feedback, but the general consensus was that everyone loves the food.
Going back soon.
The food is great and if you like hot food ask them to make it "Thai hot"
Real Issan Thai food prepared by a Thai chef. An authentic experience!
Excellent and authentic Thai food
Great food. Needs your support
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