2023 is so exciting. Just three months in, I already found the best Japanese restaurant, the best French restaurant, the best Indian restaurant and now, the best Thai restaurant, in the form of Restaurant Chedi! Yes, the multitude of strong and nuanced flavours explored, the presentation, the passion and the exceptional service simply makes a meal here one of the best I have.
Contemporary Thai cuisine here is a must-try for foodies. The food is distinctively Thai and influenced by the cuisines of different parts of Thailand. 8 courses served in European style works beautifully, and I love it. I feel each course has a definitive theme in the taste, so I'm going to describe each based on the theme, aka first impression that comes to mind.
Simulating in taste, miang kham of wild betel leaf, homemade Thai miang reduction,
rayong dried shrimp, Hokkaido ikura packs all the strong harmonised flavours of saltiness, sweetness, bitterness, and spiciness to start the meal with a bang. This is so good and get me all excited for what's to come. And the miang reduction has this interesting fizzy element in it that I like.
A distinct departure from the taste profile of its predecessor, nam prik gapi has this Earthy flavour instead to shake thing up. Tempura tiger shrimps is crispy and full of concentrated essence of the sea. Tempura broccoli is delicious too. They taste even better with the spices from shrimp paste relish.
Pilable, succulent, slight bouncy flesh of dry-aged Chilean Seabass is Briny sweet in the dish of gaeng som fak thong. The sweetness of pumpkin and pungent favour of the spices in the piquant soup makes the fish all the more delectable. In fact, the soup is so good that I finish every drop of it.
The Hearty treat comes in the form of tom kha gai. Both the baked chicken wing meat and the oh-so-good starchy translucent rice are thoroughly soaked with the flavourful marinade. Tom Kha foam, which freshens up the taste of chicken, is amazing. It’s like you can’t feel it, but you can taste its robust flavours of spiciness, sourness, savoury and pungency.
Refreshing Thai salad, som tam ruam mit, is most probably best salad I have. Packed with juicy fruits such as mango and pomelo, these add tart sweetness and give a smooth finish to the crispy leaves. Every part of the salad is nicely drenched in the light Thai sauce.
Nam ya goong mang korn is lovely Umami presented in Thai style. This is my favourite. The Maine lobster is so tender, succulent and full of nuanced umami. It’s not easy to prepare lobster right, but the chefs at Chedi serve this in perfection. And the yellow curry accentuates the umami of the lobster. I end up wiping the plate clean of the curry with the crispy rice blocks.
Incredibly Rich in flavour, the Iberco Secreto of kor muu yang, which is the best part of pork, is juicy, tender and bursting with the nutty, evocative flavours, enhanced by the light char of grilled surface. Absolutely delicious.
Additional order: Khao pad kid terng's highlight is the Smoky aroma of fried rice with 6 months cured threadfin and crab. This is one unique fried rice. But I suggest those with small appetites to share this dish. Halfway through this, I find my stomach reaching its limit already.
Creamy tub tim krob is the perfect sweet ending to the meal. The home churned coconut ice-cream, being super creamy and slightly sticky, is the best coconut ice-cream I ever have. And the crunchy, refreshing red ruby is the perfect juxtapose to the ice-cream.
The chef hard at work grilling the food over blazing open fire.
The place is an eclectic mix of the chic, cool bar restaurant and traditional, lavish Thai heritage. I appreciate the distinctive Thai influences that make this place unique, and I also like the posh bar feel here. The service is amazing, being friendly, full of smiles and prompt to respond to requests. Especially Chef K-Jin, who explains to us the origins, the little details that go into the preparation of food and the recommended way to enjoy the dishes.
I love every dish here. Best of all, this is a gastronomic experience like no others. No wonder a young restaurant like Chedi is already having regulars already. Reservation is a must. The place is almost full house on a Monday night, just imagine how it is like on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I definitely want to back again!
Thoughts: I love contemporary Thai food here!
15 Hamilton Road
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park
