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Fa-Ying by Rama V in Paradigm Mall boasts a trendy concept where diners can enjoy good Thai cuisine, Thai tapas and Thai BBQ skewers in a chic ambience. The place is cosy and laid-back with an alfresco lounge area – perfect for those looking for a chill out spot.

I tucked into three popular starters – Dory in Nam Tok Style (RM14), Thai Minced Beef in Cucumbers (RM12) and Grilled Scallops with Spinach (RM16). All were tasty, but my favourite of the trio was the dory – crispy and full of flavour from the sauce.

Fa-Ying’s Thai Lamb Sate (RM20) was superb. Well seasoned and grilled to smoky perfection, the meat was tender with just the right balance of fat. The satay sauce was both peanut-y and tangy.

Fa-Ying’s salads are a popular order and rightly so. I loved the Pomelo Salad with Prawns (RM16) – an assemblage of juicy pomelo, chopped herbs, fresh prawns and tangy dressing. I wonder if the Rama V group owns a pomelo estate somewhere in Ipoh … because that was a lot of pomelo. I questioned if we were given special privileges, but Andre insisted everyone gets the same amount.

I also liked the Lemongrass with Tiger Prawns Salad (RM22), the most piquant of the three salads I had that afternoon. This is a modern take of the classic Thai kerabu and a definite hit among spicy food lovers.

Those with butter tongues can seek solace in the Thai Watermelon Salad (RM12), a refreshing composition of watermelon cubes, goat cheese and mint.

I’m not a huge fan of sandwiches, but Fa-Ying’s Roasted Duck Sandwich (RM20) was one of my favourites. The combination of duck, vegetables and sauces in lightly toasted Ciabatta hit all the right notes. I was quite sad to see it finish.

If you like beef burgers, give the Beef Burger a try. The patty was adequately seasoned and went nicely with the crunchy vegetables, but it was still the duck sandwich that won me over.

Spaghetti with Thai Green Chicken Curry Pesto (RM22) was quite decent, but I would have preferred the pasta to be al dente. In Fa-Ying’s defense, many customers aren’t accustomed to the al dente texture so when you order, make sure you specify your pasta doneness. Oh, I would have liked chicken thigh instead of breast too.

Fettuccine with River Prawn in Chu Chee Style (RM32) was also pretty good but like the former pasta, the noodles were overdone. That aside, the gravy was tasty and sweet from the flavour of the prawn.

rif and I liked the Cod Fish with Manow Sauce & Broccotini (RM42) from the main course selection. The cod was justly cooked with a smooth and moist texture. And the manow sauce gave the dish a tangy-sweet twist. Good stuff!

Another main course we tried was the Grilled Tenderloin with Green Curry (RM42). Presentation was lovely and the green curry lent a touch of Thai to the tenderloin. I’m generally not a fan of tenderloin, but the meat was cooked to a beautiful medium rare and was tender all over.

For dessert, we sampled the Mango Sticky Rice (RM16), Banana Fritters with Vanilla Ice Cream (RM14) and Thai Lemongrass Creme Brulee (RM14). My favourite of the lot was the mango sticky rice, deep fried till crispy on the outside. The banana fritters tasted as good as they looked. I liked the touch of black sesame in the batter as it gave the dessert a good aroma.

The creme brulee didn’t wow me the way the other two desserts did. I found the texture a tad ‘curd-like’ and there wasn’t enough lemongrass presence.

Fa-Ying boasts a good selection of cocktails — Thai Tom Yam (RM21), Sex on Koh Phi Phi Beach (RM22), Anna and The King (RM23), Mango Thai Pandan (RM21), Marquessa (RM100) and the Absolut Vodka Tower (RM90). My favourites were the Thai Tom Yam and Marquessa.

The Thai Tom Yam was mildly spicy, while the Marquessa had a nice bite from the chopped apples. And while I finished almost half the bowl of Marquessa, Andre ordered me a snack of grilled calamari to balance the alcohol out. For more info, visit Fa-Ying by Rama V’s Facebook Page.

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Ambiance: 7/10
Price: 5.5/10
Food: 7/10 (pork free)
Verdict: We were pretty impressed with the food we sampled. Hopefully, Fa-Ying can maintain such quality and consistency.

Fa Ying by Rama V
GB-08 Paradigm Mall
47301 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7803-6281
GPS Coordinates: N 3 06.334 E 101 35.758

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