When our regular Thai restaurant closed down due to the pandemic, Jien and I were left without a go-to place when our craving for Thai food kicked in. We spent a good year or so looking for a worthy replacement and Simply Thai in Happy Garden hits most of the right notes for us.
Simply decor, spacious restaurant
Our first visit was just before MCO 3.0, and we revisited them recently to see if the food is still as good as we remembered it to be. Simply Thai is spacious with private dining corners and an al-fresco area for grilling and also customers to sit.
Thai milk tea and Thai green tea
This restaurant came highly recommended by a friend of mine and her husband, who were also the ones who took me to Sri Ganapathi Mess many years ago. I like that Simply Thai is no-frills – décor is simple and food is unassuming yet tasty.
Seafood tomyam
Fresh lala
Decent prawn size too!
The creamy tomyam seafood (RM25.90 – small, RM49.90 – large) comes with mid-sized prawns, fish slices and clams. I like the balance of flavours here – moderately creamy, spicy, savoury, tangy and sweet, with a delicious aroma from the lemongrass, galangal and cilantro garnish. A small pot feeds 2-3 pax comfortably.
Tom Kha Gai
Good stuff, this one.
On our subsequent visit a few months later, I ordered the tom kha gai and it was also delicious. In fact, I prefer it over the creamy tomyam seafood. You get this rich, savoury note from the stock and fish sauce, and a creamy finish towards the end of your palate. A lot of places do it super creamy but not so much focus on the stock itself.
Green curry pork
Simply Thai’s green curry is one of the better ones I’ve eaten so far. You can opt for chicken, pork or prawns – my go-to protein for this curry is usually pork. Don’t be fooled by the sweet and creamy flavours in this dish, as the spiciness kicks in almost soon after. Steamed jasmine rice is a must.
Red curry pork
Tender pork slices in thick, delicious red curry
Another favourite of ours is the red curry pork (RM16.90 – small, RM29.90 – large). This one is thicker in texture and spicier compared to the green curry. And the pork slices are nice and tender. Again, another dish that warrants a second serving of rice.
Tofu with minced chicken
The Japanese beancurd with minced chicken and mushroom (RM13.90 – small, RM19.90 – large) was ordered for May Anne who dined with us on our first visit. Though nothing fantastic, it was a good dish for those who want a non-spicy dish and for kids.
Deep-fried kangkung with Thai chili sauce
Both Jien and I really enjoyed the deep fried kangkung (RM12.90 – small, RM24.90 – large) at Simply Thai. Light, almost tempura-like batter – this is very moreish. While portion is generous, I wouldn’t mind ordering the large one for myself the next time around. It’s also not greasy or oily despite being deep-fried, so you won’t find this cloying.
Tub Tim Krob
For dessert, they offer coconut ice cream, mango sticky rice, sweet tapioca in coconut and tub tim krob (red ruby), which I can never move past. Simply Thai’s version (RM6.90) is decent enough – light shaved ice with plenty of jackfruit slivers, chestnut “rubies” and creamy coconut milk. That’s how I like to cap off a hearty Thai meal.
My new go-to spot for fuss-free Thai food.
Simply Thai is the kind of place I see myself going on a regular basis because it’s reasonably priced, delicious and unpretentious. I can’t comment on the grilled items as we didn’t get around to trying them (they serve it at night I reckon). Will be ordering those when we visit next.
Ambiance: 6/10
Price: 6.5/10
Food: 7/10 (non-halal)
Verdict: Simple, hearty Thai dishes that wouldn’t put a dent in the wallet. Worth checking out if you’re a fan of Thai cuisine like us.
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Simply Thai
Unit LG2-1,
Seri Gembira Avenue
6, Jalan Senang Ria,
Taman Gembira,
Happy Garden,
58200 Kuala Lumpur