A New Khao Kai Branch Just Opened in Quezon City
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At Poblacion in Makati City, where trendy restaurants and gimmicky bars are found all around, it can be hard to find an authentic dining experience that remains faithful to its theme. But that isn't the case with Khao Khai “Thai Chicken House.” Anybody who has been to this little Poblacion gem knows exactly what they're getting: good, honest Thai cuisine.
"Nobody eats Pad Thai back in Thailand," owner Daniel Mabanta says. "Well, except for tourists."
Fortunately, we don't have to go all the way to Poblacion anymore to do so. Khao Khai “Thai Chicken House" has officially opened its second branch at Del Monte in Quezon City.
Mabanta, whose family is behind Señor Pollo and Crying Tiger, says that he's helping fill the "void" for Thai dishes. "In terms of Thai eateries, I felt that we really didn't nail the experience. We're serving westernized Thai dishes. I felt there was a void there, one that deserves more attention."
Much like its other shop in Poblacion, visitors are treated to quite the dining experience for this new branch in Del Monte. The quirky mismatch of colors, shapes, and random posters add a sense of exoticism and liveliness to the atmosphere. Its design can be attributed to a unnamed Hong Kong artist, who was asked to capture the vibrance and richness of Thailand's local scenes.
So what should a first-time customer order? Here are some Khao Kai essentials for that next food crawl.
Victory Wings
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Dried Pork Curry
Kor Moo Yang (Grilled Isaan Pork)
Gai Tod with Sticky Rice and Som Tam
"That's quintessential Thai for you," he said.
As the owner of a Thai restaurant, Mabanta tends to seek out other newer diners around. But at heart, he's always been a purist about Thai food. "They would serve the typical Pad Thai, bagoong rice," he expresses. "But Thai cuisine is so much more vast."
And with the new branch, he's looking to open more palates to all the possibilities of Thai cuisine.
Khao Khai “Thai Chicken House” at Del Monte Corner Biak na Bato in Quezon City is open daily from at 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
