Beautiful dining area, dishes that transport you to the beautiful scenic Thailand, Chalerm Thai serves comfort Thai dishes that are fit for royalty.

The story of how Chalerm Thai got its name is fitting for its location, at the fancy museum precint of the Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski Mall. Named after the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre in Bangkok, it draws many parallels to our beloved Capitol Theatre – they both started out as cinemas before being transformed into beautiful epicenters of food, and dance.

The five pillars of flavour are essential in Thai cuisine: sweet, sour, salty, creamy, bitter. And Chef Roy Ng has spent 13 years cultivating that. The chef has been awarded the Thai Select award by the Royal Thai Embassy (Singapore), and has cultivated a delicious menu of Thai dishes that pay homage to its wide and diverse culture, and flavours.

Simply put, it’s a explosion of flavours in your mouth.

Now for our top 5 picks:

1. Yum Pan Boong Krob (Deep-Fried Crispy Morning Glory with Chilli Sauce Dip)

This crispy, deliciously flash fried morning glory is a dish unlike no other. Beautifully crisp, tasty and fragrant, it’s a highly addictive dish that is simply a must try at Chalerm Thai. Almost melt in your mouth, it’s almost impossible to stop at just one bite. It’s light and airy, it’s almost like eating a crispy, fragrant cloud. The chilli sauce dip lends a tinge of spice to this otherwise light dish. Best eaten hot, it’s a delicious new way of eating morning glory that we wish we knew of earlier. Priced at SGD$10.

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Yum Pan Boong Krob (Deep-Fried Crispy Morning Glory with Chilli Sauce Dip). Photo: Marianne Charmaine Ng

2. Kor Moo Yang (Grilled Marinated Pork Neck with Spicy Lime Sauce)

The sauce pairing for this dish is exquisite. There’s a simplicity in this dish that we so love. While not melt in your mouth, the grilled marinated pork neck has a very flavourful ‘charred’ taste, and pairs nicely with a spicy lime sauce that enhances the meat. Less on complex flavours, more on charred meaty goodness. Priced at SGD$18.

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Kor Moo Yang (Grilled Marinated Pork Neck with Spicy Lime Sauce). Photo: Marianne Charmaine Ng

3. Kai Jiew Nua Phu (Crab Meat Omelette)

This Thai signature is incredibly tasty. Crab Meat Omelette. Need we say further? The sweetness of the crab, paired with creamy eggs makes for a very light fluffy omelette that can be eaten as a snack or a side. But we think that it’s best eaten with our next Top Pick. Priced at SGD$16

 Kai Jiew Nua Phu (Crab Meat Omelette). Photo: Marianne Charmaine Ng

4.  Khao Phad Sapoarod (Pineapple Fried Rice)

This delight of a dish comes in a whole (half pineapple), and is packed full of earthy, fresh flavours. A feast for your tummy and your eyes, this dish is colorful and vibrant, much like the cuisine itself. Bright coloured peppered with fresh pineapple, cashew nuts, raisins, and a sprinkling of pork floss, we dare say that this dish could be a meal on its own too. It’s a hefty portion, and comfortably feeds 3 people, so be sure to bring a plus one or two if you’re conserving ordering this dish. Its fragrant rice that’s fried to perfection, mixed with nutty, fruity flavours, makes this dish extremely appetizing, and can be perfectly paired with almost anything, or on its own. There’s also two variants to this dish – the prawn version for seafood lovers, or chicken. Whichever you choose, this dish is still a show stopper. (But best paired with a flavourful green curry and the crab meat omelette). Priced at SGD$15

• Related: 10 Easy Rice Recipes FTW

Khao Phad Sapoarod (Pineapple Fried Rice). Photo: Marianne Charmaine Ng

5. Kao Neow Muang (Mango Sticky Rice)

Thai food, is very diverse, and centers very much on the 5 bodies of flavour. Sweet, sour, salty, creamy, bitter. And what better way to end off your meal than with a dessert that’s both salty, creamy, sweet – all at the same time? Kao Neow Muang, or mango sticky rice, is a traditional thai dessert that’s loved by many. Fresh mango slices accompany creamy sticky rice and coconut milk, it combines sweet and salty in a perfect harmony of flavours. It’s delicious, fresh, and so quintessentially Thai. Priced at SGD$10.

Kao Neow Muang (Mango Sticky Rice). Photo: Marianne Charmaine Ng  

And don’t just stop there: Chalerm Thai offers a whole of flavourful curries to boast, all perfectly paired with its delicious pineapple fried rice. Another dish we’d like to recommend: Phu Nim Phad Pong Karee (stir-fried soft-shell crab with yellow curry) – SGD$20. With flavours that perfectly encompass the 5 pillars of thai flavours, your taste buds will have a feast at Chalerm Thai.

Location:

13 Stamford Rd, #01-85 Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski, Singapore 178905

Tel: 6715 6875

• See here for latest opening hours