Last April 25, I was at Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang for the Cool Summer Fest 2016 Press Conference. And next thing I know, I found myself together with blogger friends at Just Thai restaurant just within the area. Thanks to Kathy for the invite (though it was just the first time we personally met). Honestly, I haven't tried Thai food before, so I don't have any idea what it's like. I am a self proclaimed foodie, I love to eat and I like trying out different dishes. So basically that night I'm in for a surprise and I liked it!
Upon entering Just Thai, first thing I noticed was the exotic ambiance, it somehow gave me the feeling that I'm actually in Thailand (though I actually haven't been there yet). The ceiling was high, main colors was yellow orange and brown, tables and chairs are made of wood, and the place was tastefully and not overly decorated with Thai ornaments. The place isn't that big but it is spacious enough and they also have like 2 tables outside to accommodate more customers. Don't worry though because even though it's outside, it still is very cozy with all the bamboo decorations, the Thai lady statue and a mini pond.
The food at Just Thai are freshly cooked and prepared so there's going to be a little waiting but I tell you, it's definitely worth the wait. What's good about Just Thai is that you can request for the level of spiciness, Thai spicy, mild, or Filipino spicy. I am okay with spicy food, I find it really appetizing but not all of us in the group are, so we had the food modified into mild spicy to almost not spicy at all. So without further ado, let me show you the sumptuous dish we had. Get ready for some Thai food lovin'!
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Tom Kha Gai soup P190.00
Tom Kha Gai soup or Chicken in Coconut Soup. At first, I thought chicken in coconut milk as soup? No way! But hey it's really good! It's soo creamy, sour-y with a small amount of heat.
Pla Muk Tod P320.00
Pla Muk Tod or Fried Calamari. Calamari is one of my favorite squid dish and Just Thai's version is definitely a thumbs up! It's crispy on the outside and the breading doesn't come off unlike other calamari's I've tried. The squid itself is so succulent and tasty, you can opt not to dip it anymore but for more flavors I suggest you do.
Moo Grob P280.00
Moo Grob or Crunchy Pork Belly. It's tender and very appetizing, dip it for added spice.
Pad Gaprow Talay P280.00
Moving on with the Main dish. Pad Gaprow Talay or Seafood in Basil. First of all, I love seafood so this is absolutely a treat! Mussels, shrimp, squid, fish fillet in rich creamy coconut milk, it's an explosion of flavors and I really really loved it. Though personally, I'd love to have it with more heat and spiciness. But again that's just me.
BPlah Meuk Gkratiem Manao P300.00
BPlah Meuk Gkratiem Manao or Squid with garlic and pepper. This is my favorite next to the Seafood in Basil. I am fascinated with how tender the squid is. The combination of the herbs and spices give an excellent flavor. Though again, for me it's best if it's a bit more spicy.
Gai Tod P220.00
Gai Tod or Thai Fried Chicken. Seasoned and marinated to perfection that the flavor deeply penetrates the chicken meat making it savory and juicy. It is also crispy and just like the calamari the breading isn't that thick so it doesn't separate from the meat.
Crab Meat Fried Rice. P220.00
The CrabMeat Fried Rice is visually appealing, loaded with julienned carrots, some herbs, spices and of course the crab which is the star of the dish. You can already eat it on its own.
Pad Thai P280.00
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Pad Thai is a stir-fried rice noodle dish with eggs, flavored with tamarind pulp, dried shrimp, red chili pepper, served with lime wedges and chopped roast peanuts. It's a popular street-food in Thailand, and I was excited to try it. As usual, just like the other food Pad Thai is flavorful and it was just right for my taste.
What's a meal without desserts? So let's move along...
Khao Niao Ma Muang P260.00
Khao Niao Ma Muang is a sticky rice topped with thinly sliced ripe mangoes and beautifully formed into a rose flower then sprinkled with sesame seeds. The presentation is just so beautiful that I don't want to ruin it. lol I love sticky rice and I can say that it goes well with the mangoes, don't forget the warm coconut cream!
Tha Kho P140.00
Tha Kho is a coconut pudding wrapped in pandan leaves. With my first bite I immediately thought of Maja blanca, both has corn kernels too. It's really good.
Tamarind Juice P80.00
As I was looking at the menu for drinks, I was torn between the Lemon Grass Juice and the
Tamarind Juice. I think I have tasted the Lemon Grass juice before so I chose the Tamarind. It's sweet, sour and surprisingly refreshing. Though I think the flavor is a bit strong to my taste bud, but it's not bad at all. I actually enjoyed it.
I bet you are already drooling just by looking at the pictures. Yes they all look appealing and definitely tastes good too. With every bite I felt like I'm being taken to Thailand, I learned that Thai dishes aren't simple, I find it really complex. They pay attention to every details by combining different herbs and spices and choosing the right ingredients making sure that the food doesn't just taste good but is also aromatic and presentable.
I really enjoyed my first Thai cuisine experience thanks again Kathy! And because of that, last night, I took my in laws with me at Just Thai in Molito Alabang since we are just near the area. Here's what we ordered, last night.
Tom Yum P190.00
Tom Yum is one of Thailand's famous soup. It's hot, sour and it has prawns. You can definitely taste the complexity of flavors. Though I'm not a fan of this.
Gai Ob Bai Toey P290.00
Gai Ob Bai Toey or Pandan wrapped chicken. It's a flavorful boneless chicken which became a hit to the kids and the husband. According to Jaear he liked the orange dipping sauce, it was sweet with just the right amount of spice.
Pad Talay Prik Pow P280.00
Pad Talay Prik Pow or Seafood in Chili. It's mixed seafood and I guess everyone of us loves seafood so much. It looks so spicy right? But guess what, it's not! So basically I'm the only one who loves spicy food, so we had the all the food's spiciness customized, since there were also kids eating. My in laws liked this one, well we all did.
Pad Phak Kung Sod P250.00
Pad Phak Kung Sod or Broccoli flower with Carrots and Shrimps. One thing I noticed is that the Broccoli with beef or shrimp is a staple in our menu every time we eat out so here it is once more but this time it's Thai version. It was good though the shrimp was only like 3 or 4 pieces (bitin) hehe.
Khao Krok Kapi P250.00
As usual Jaear only ordered the steamed pandan rice. But my in laws and I enjoyed this Khao Krok Kapi or Bagoong Rice. It's savory with contrasting flavors of the sweet and salty shrimp paste, zesty green mangoes, fried eggs and dried small shrimps. It also has chili on the side if you want it to be spicy.
Last night I ordered the Lemon Grass Juice and I was right, I actually tasted it before! Jaear who's kind of a picky eater didn't really liked it, he said it tastes like medicine. It wasn't that bad but I personally prefer the Tamarind juice.
Another night of Just Thai lovin' this time with my family where I got to taste other dishes. However, just like the first time the the food were customized not to be spicy. I guess I have to eat there alone next time so I can have the food adjusted according to my preference, spiciness wise. Haha!
Taste authentic Thai cuisine at Just Thai
Visit them at Molito Lifestyle Center, Alabang
Tel. No. 808-4058
For more details check out their:
Website: http://www.justthaicuisine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Just-Thai-194210380589164/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justthaiph/