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When I’m with my friends, the one craving that they always have is for Thai cuisine. And truth be told, we often have to travel far. Hence, imagine my happiness when Nampla announced that they would open Manao Thai in Admiralty.
If you are familiar with Thai cuisine, the business name Nampla would definitely ring a bell, as they are known for their bold flavours and flawless execution of Thai food.
Manao Thai is located in Sambal Sambal Coffeeshop, less than a minute’s walk from Admiralty Station’s Exit D.
Manao Thai is the first stall on the right when you enter and is easily recognisable by their large, bright menu posters.
What to order at Manao Thai
With over 30 options on the Manao Thai menu, we were totally spoilt for choice.
We finally decided on the “Phad Kra Paw Moo“, Basic Minced Pork Rice (S$4.90). It came loaded with chilli padi, onion, minced pork, holy basil and sliced long beans on the side, and was topped off with a sunny-side-up egg on the rice.
Visually, it looked stunning. Each element came together to give the dish a pop of colour, making it vibrant with pops of red chilli and emerald long beans scattered through the minced pork. I personally found that the minced meat was juicy and paired well with the crunchy long beans, with the chilli padi coming in to give a light, spicy sensation.
The runny texture from the sunny side up elevated the dish, contrasting with the firmness of the other ingredients. It tied the whole dish up to trigger an explosion of flavours in my mouth, which I felt was not too overpowering.
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What is Thai food without tom yum? Yes, that’s right. When we saw that Tom Yum Fried Rice (S$7.90) was on the menu, we had to get it.
The tom yum fried rice was paired with onion, straw mushroom, prawn, tomato and calamansi.
It’s reddish-brown rice grains made me curious about how close it would taste to the actual tom yum flavour itself.
For S$7.90, I personally felt that the number of prawns given could have been more. The straw mushrooms, on the other hand, were quite plentiful and together, we thought that they were well seasoned.
We tried the dish before adding the calamansi. It starts off slightly sweet, giving way to the bright aromatic tom yum notes, and the spice sneaks up on you at the end for a nice kick.
The calamansi’s citrus notes helped to cut down the richness of the dish and make it less overwhelming, a tip for those who want a milder version of the dish.
One of the staff members there recommended we try out their other rice options, which did seem appealing to me, but after consuming 2 carb heavy dishes, I wasn’t quite ready to consume another.
I was curious about the “Jumbo Ob Woon Sen“, Jumbo Claypot Vermicilli (S$20.90), as it was priced on the higher side for a coffeeshop. The staff explained to me that the dish would include a combination of 4 prawns and crab bits and could be shared amongst 2 people. As seafood is a cornerstone in Thai cuisine, it will certainly be my next order when I come back.
Who Manao Thai is best for
It’s great for those who are peckish for good Thai cuisine at wallet-friendly prices. The portions are relatively large and will leave you both full and satisfied.
How to get there?
Manao Thai is located right outside Admiralty MRT Station (NS10), and you can head towards exit D. Alternatively, you can take a bus and alight at the Admiralty Station bus stop.
Do we recommend Manao Thai?
Yes! Not only is the location accessible, but the quality of the food is superb. The dishes we tried delivered the punchy, savoury taste that you would expect from Thai cuisine.
Both dishes were a good representation of Thai cuisine, and Manao Thai packed a ton of flavour in each dish, while still selling them at reasonable prices. While some dish prices may be a little higher than what you would expect to pay at a coffeeshop, my suggestion is to order a few and share them with your friends. That way, you will get to try a wider variety of food without breaking the bank.
The flavours capture the essence of Thai cuisine, giving it a bold, vibrant and layered flavour profile. You’ll notice the bright tang from the calamansi, the strong aroma of herbs from the basil, and the slow-building heat from the chilli padi. This makes the dish feel balanced and have depth.
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