Jane Thai: Singapore Restaurant Review
Authentic Thai food in an unexpected location.
The last thing I expected to find on the fourth floor of Orchard Towers was a perfectly respectable Thai restaurant. Fearing I had come to the wrong place, I ascended the escalators with trepidation. I needn’t have worried for at the top floor I was greeted by our friendly host and welcomed into this diamond in the rough that is Jane Thai.
The interior is modest yet practical and it’s orange, very orange (like Thai milk tea). If you were in any doubt as to what cuisine is served here, a huge canvas depicting a golden buddha and Singha lined shelves give the game away. The staff here are helpful and attentive, the service was efficient and always with a smile. A welcome change in comparison to other restaurants I have frequented recently.
We visited early on a Monday lunch time and I was pleasantly surprised to see just how busy it was, even during a traditionally slow time slot. In my book, a busy restaurant filled with locals is always a positive sign. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, I’d happily eat here by myself or in a larger group.
The menu is succinct and features all of the classic favourites such as mango salad and green chicken curry. A huge plus in my book as often at Thai restaurants I’m presented with a 30 page manuscript that takes almost as long to read as it does to eat my dinner. So far, so good and as we sat down for lunch I was hopeful a good feed was coming our way. I was not disappointed.
Steamed sea bass in lime sauce (market price): This huge bass was served whole with ginger, chilli and bathed in a lime sauce. The sauce was sour and fragrant, complimenting yet not overpowering the bass itself which remained the star of the show. The fish was soft and easy to remove from the bone. Ginger and chilli provided a welcome injection of heat, and combined, this classic Thai flavour combination was delicious.
Red seafood soup ($10): My personal dish of the day, this huge bowl of soup was rammed with mushrooms, fish and green lipped mussels as fresh as they come. The coconut broth was so perfectly sour and suitably spicy I couldn’t help but return for bowl after bowl. This is a real crowd pleaser of a dish, given the generous portion size (easily serving two, and possibly stretching to three) it is incredible value for money.
Papaya salad ($8): Delivering a robust chilli kick, this authentic salad is one for those not afraid of serious heat. The papaya tasted fresh and had a good bite to it, offering some respite from the fiery chilli. Sour notes also came through from the dressing, though I do prefer a tiny bit more sweetness to balance the chilli. Still, an enjoyable dish and one that I would order again.
Pineapple rice ($7): One of the better pineapple rices I have had in a while. Served with generous chunks of pineapple, diced prawn and roasted pork, this hearty portion is a meal in itself. The sweetness of the fruit is a welcome palate cooler to defuse the burn of chilli found in some of our other dishes.
Thai Red Ruby ($5.50): This house creation consisted of tapioca flour in a rose syrup, topped with a scoop of durian ice-cream. Confession time: I’m not a fan of durian. I know, I’m sorry. Bearing that in mind this was never going to feature on my list of favourite desserts.
That said, the ice-cream was well made and smooth in texture. The tapioca was soft yet had a satisfying crunch, and the rose wasn’t too overpowering in the syrup. Unfortunately for me this was just a little too sweet all round and the durian too intense.
Thai milk tea ice-cream ($3.50 for one scoop / $5.50 for two): We couldn’t resist ordering another scoop of home-made ice-cream which we hoped would be more favourable than the durian option. Yet again, the ice-cream itself was very well made indeed. It was smooth, creamy and delicious to eat. Flavour-wise, this was more subtle yet the milky tea flavour really came through and was a great way to cool down after our main course.
My initial trepidation at visiting Jane Thai was completely unfounded. This is a hidden gem of a restaurant in an unusual location, but don’t let that put you off. For those who work or live close by, or even after a busy day shopping on Orchard Road, this is an authentic feed at a very reasonable price.
If you do work in the near vicinity you may be pleased to hear that Jane Thai also deliver. For a mere $10 you can choose one appetiser and one main course from a pretty decent list. Whilst this is a good deal at least three of you must order, but with food so delicious I doubt you’d have much trouble rounding up some friends to try it out. I will be back.
Damage: $10.00 – $20.00 per person
Jane Thai: 400 Orchard Road, #04 – 28/30, Orchard Towers, Singapore 238875 | Tel: 6966 5197 | Website
Opening Hours: Monday closed / Tuesday – Sunday Lunch: 11.30am – 2.30pm Dinner: 5.30pm – 9.30pm
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