Khao Pla

Khao Pla is a tiny Thai eatery with a big reputation - the front window is plastered full of reviews and accolades, and it nearly always requires waiting for a table. The dishes at Khao Pla are authentic and interesting - although there are still the safe old bets like pad thai and pad see ew, the salads and light dishes are packed full of surprising flavours.

Yum Nashi Pear salad, $ 18

The two main components of this tangy dish are crispy battered fish and nashi pear. The fish is well-battered, not too heavy and not too light; peanuts, shallots, and dried shrimp build a complex flavour to this otherwise light dish, and the highlight of the dish is the beautifully sour dressing made of lime and palm sugar with a kick of chili. Highly recommended.

Banana Blossom, $18

This is a surprising dish. I, for one, have never tried banana blossoms before - and because this dish is quite sauce-heavy, it is rather difficult to say what the banana blossom actually tastes like. Despite being quite heavy with a strong flavour, this dish is so complex and distinctive that I would say it's a must-try dish at Khao Pla. Just read the list of ingredients: banana blossom, shreddedchicken, coriander, shallot, dried shrimp, roasted coconut, tamarind, roasted dried chili, palm sugar dressing, 4 large prawns and a poached egg on top. The poached egg, when broken and stirred through the rest of the dish, provides a welcome relief from the strong, punchy flavours.

Pad See Ew, $12

The pad see ew at Khao Pla is less saucy than those I have tried elsewhere, and instead has more of a slightly 'burnt' or 'fiery' flavour. Compared to the rest of the menu, old safe items such as pad see ew may seem a bit boring, but it is done very well and I particularly recommend using it as an accompaniment to other dishes which have stronger flavours, for example mixing it with the banana blossoms salad to reduce the saltiness of the former dish.

Kana Moo Krob, $16

Just look at the fresh greenness of the Chinese broccoli! The flavours of the dish is on point, but the prok belly was a bit dry. Full disclosure - I may be saying this because my mother cooks a beautiful, soft, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly that has completely spoilt my palate, and anything less than that just ain't gonna cut it.

Score: 4.5 /5 
The food is very innovative and the flavours authentic - when they say 'Thai spicy', they really really mean 'Thai spicy'. In a city quite saturated with Thai eateries, it's nice to find a place that takes chances and makes creative dishes.
Cost: around $25-30 pp, including drinks
Address: 7/370 Victoria Avenue (Anderson Street), Chatswood