Thai Yim

249 Springvale Rd
Glen Waverley, VIC 3150 
thaiyim.com.au

Desperate times called for desperate measures. Exam time was so busy that I was actually debating forgoing breathing if it meant that I would get more study done. And that doesn’t leave much time for going out to eat and other necessary blogging duties. So I changed tact a little; I browsed around until I found a restaurant that delivered in my area (for free too, if you spend more than $25) – Thai Yim, and did my first ever blog post from home.

Tom Yum Goon ($10)

You can’t have Thai food without starting off with some Tom Yum Goon ($10), whole prawns cooked in the traditionally spicy and sour soup. I had high expectations because several Urbanspoon reviews claimed that this was one of the best tom yum soups ever. The soup had the right mix of complex herbal and pungent flavours, with all the heat and intensity drained out until it’s a shell of itself. I wouldn’t say I disliked it but I was definitely disappointed.

Red Chicken Curry ($14)

The Red Chicken Curry ($14), where do I start? The sauce had so little character that really, the only word for it would be inoffensive. And aside from the traditional ingredients of chicken, bamboo and carrot, there were bizarre additions of zucchini and string beans. But worst of all, the whole thing was so unacceptably saccharine that it made my accompanying dessert wine sour in comparison. I understand the need to cater to local tastes but good lord!

Larb Gai ($12)

The Larb Gai ($12) was a lot better, thankfully too or I would be risking aneurysm just finishing this post. There was finally a bit of life in the food, owing to the crunchy red onion and fresh chilli and herbs mixed in with the chicken mince, finished with a generous squeeze of lemon. But it just had to be ruined by the bed of mesclun greens; if there’s anyone out there who hasn’t tried warm purple lettuce before, DON’T. It is slimy and just plain disgusting. 

I ordered a lot of food; I would say it’s for research but I also had an ulterior motive – with no mum to cook for me for the next 2 weeks because she’s in Korea and Taiwan with the rest of the family eating up a storm, it was a relief not to have to worry about food for the next day or two. Even if eating it was only borderline enjoyable. 

I did cook my own rice though, because I’m ‘economical’ like that.

Rating: 10.5/20 – dessert curry.