Ekkamai: Thai Set Lunches & Teh Time Treats

Plaza Batai's bastion of Thai cooking is bringing out a wave of new specialities that could keep us lingering here from noon till long past sunset: An expanded selection of set lunches that offer delicious value starting at RM22.90++, Teh Time treats that'll tickle the fancy for Thai sweets, and fresh modern recipes for its a la carte menu (Thai tacos, anyone?).

Click above to watch our special video on Ekkamai and interview with its head chef Awee.

With more than two decades of professional experience, taking her from her homeland to London to KL, Ekkamai's head chef Awee is one of the most skilled Thai chefs working in Malaysia - it's no surprise though that many customers might not recognise her name, since she's an unassuming talent with no thirst for the limelight, preferring to let her work speak for itself.

Running in both Plaza Batai and Publika, Ekkamai's weekday set lunches currently number a lucky 13, extensive enough that you can eat here in the afternoon for two weeks and still not finish sampling everything. There's truly something for everyone, from the crowd-pleaser of Tom Yum Fried Rice with wok-fried chicken, prawns, kangkung and egg to the vegetarian-friendly Paneer Pumpkin Curry, a fun medley of Indian and Thai inspirations, prepared with hand-pounded red curry paste that's free of fish sauce, to Wagyu Radna Beef Noodles, smoky-charred koey teow in thick gravy with Australian wagyu rib eye slices, gorgeously grilled to medium-rare glory, sumptuously and surprisingly succulent for a set lunch offering.

Other options span favourites like Thai Laksa, Pad Thai and Pad Gaprow with Rice to Clear Boat Noodles, Bah Mee Pok Noodles, Pad Kimao Drunken Noodles (pictured above, wok-fried kwayteow with chopped beef tenderloin, chillies, basil and fresh lime) and more, a diverse and distinctive repertoire at RM22.90++ per dish (add RM8 to enjoy the Wagyu Radna Beef Noodles). The set lunches also come with a house-made drink and dessert of the day, with lovely possibilities like floral-shaped jellies.

When we visited Ekkamai slightly past 2pm, the lunch crowd remained robust, with some staying on for the restaurant's Manis Teh Time session, pairing a choice of Thai sweet-tooth temptation with two cups of coffee and/or tea for only RM19++. Indulgences include Thai Tako (coconut milk and water chestnut pudding); Steamed Banana And Tapioca; Khao Niaw Sangkaya (sticky rice with coconut custard); Khao Tom Mat (sticky rice steamed with banana, crowned with desiccated coconut) and more.

From Tako to Tacos: By the time tea is over, it might be worth sticking around for dinner, especially with engaging concoctions like the Tom Yum Tacos (RM22), a Thai-Mex triumph of crispy tortillas stuffed with tom-yum-spiced crispy dried shrimp and pomelo salad, pleasantly piquant. The Tom Yum Tacos are new to the menu, as are other originals like Thai Crispy Noodles - a Cantonese-influenced 'Kongfu Chow,' Duck Kiamchai, and Josper-Grilled Charcoal Prawn In Shell.

Many thanks to Ekkamai for brightening up our weekday with its lunch and tea. Selected food photos in this post are courtesy of Ekkamai.

Ekkamai
8, Jalan Batai, Plaza Batai, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603-2095-2772
34, Level G2, Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603-6203-9883

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Snitch by The Thieves, The Gardens Mall

Image
First they stole our brunch-loving hearts in Bangsar. Now they spill the secrets of our lust for laksa, rice bowls, pho and po' boys at The Gardens: Snitch by The Thieves marks the second caper by the bandits, bakers and baristas behind Breakfast Thieves, promising not only Melbourne-inspired cafe favourites but everything from Asian comfort fare to American soul food. While it's impossible to replicate Breakfast Thieves' glasshouse-like APW setting in Mid Valley, it's clear that Snitch isn't meant to be a copy of its elder sibling, striving instead to cultivate a character of its own with colourful, cheerful hues splashed across a warm, welcoming space that includes an alfresco area with a third-floor view overlooking the mall's boulevard. Snitch retains Breakfast Thieves' vibrant flair for contemporary all-day breakfasts with a stylish flourish, spanning corn cakes with hummus and pineapple salsa to potato hash with beetroot citrus-cured salmon, savoury cr
Read more

Toriyoshi Yakitori Bar, Damansara Uptown

Image
Toriyoshi stands out among the Klang Valley's kushiyaki bars by serving up specialities with Malaysian influences: Try the nasi lemak yakitori don, unmistakably aromatic, accompanied by all the familiar anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and sambal, plus a runny egg and slices of smoky chicken meat, skin, heart and gizzard (a fair RM15 with radish soup, pickles and ocha). Several chicken skewers also channel local inflections, such as sambal-slathered chicken breast (RM6) and buttermilk-bathed thigh (RM7). Other unconventional grilled offerings span freshwater lobster (RM15; skip this, since there's not much flesh beneath its exterior) and textured otak-otak (RM8), washed down with green tea (RM6) or a Japanese whisky highball (RM20). Toriyoshi Yakitori 23G, Jalan SS21/37, Damansara Utama,  Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Open Mon-Fri, 12pm-3pm, 6pm-12am; Sat, 6pm-12am. This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com
Read more

Corner 13, Puchong

Image
A Taiwanese-inspired braised pork rice bowl (RM13.50; served with vegetable soup) and Chinese steamed buns stuffed with Vietnamese-style lemongrass grilled pork (RM12.50): This cosy cafe brings flavoursome bursts of East Asia to this little corner of Puchong. Cafe Corner 13 2, Jalan Bandar Tiga Belas, Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor.  Open Tuesday-Friday, 11am-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-9pm. This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com
Read more