Khao Pla

A veritable North Shore institution of Thai food, Khao Pla is widely recognised as one of the most delicious, authentic Thai eateries in Sydney. Every menu item is an instant hit, being so full of flavours and ooomph.

Crying Tiger

Crying tiger is a classic Thai grilled beef dish. I used to think it was named thus because of how spicy it is, but turns out that was just my pathetic spice-tolerance talking. In the scheme of Thai cuisine, crying tiger is quite low on the spice-scale. I have since heard that the name is due to the fact that in the past, the dish was made of the lowest quality beef, so tough that even a tiger couldn't chew and enjoy it, which made them sad and cry.

Rest assured, the crying tiger at Khao Pla is made of high quality, marbled, melty beef. It has a slight, pleasantly charred flavour which does not distract from the tender meat itself, and is paired with a delightfully tart tamarind sauce.

Grilled corn

Gently caramalised, refreshingly sweet, but still with a spicy kick, the grilled corn went down like a treat, though I couldn't necessarily call it a standout dish. It's just solidly good in its simplicity.

Fish wrapped in banana leaf

I have taken a disgustingly unappetising photo of this dish - but in my defence, it's hard to make this fish paste wrapped in cooked leaf look good. The taste, however, is an entirely different matter. Fragrant, salty, complex, this is a dish best enjoyed as an accompaniment to rice, or to be shared - it really is too flavourful on its own.

Grilled octopus 

The octopus may not have been tender, but it had a satisfying chewiness (rather than an unpleasant one) and the sauce? Divine.

Green curry

Salty, rich, with tender chicken pieces and bamboo shoots, the green curry is a simple staple of Thai cuisine that is perfectly executed at Khao Pla, with a balanced flavour and very little oiliness.

Score: 4.5/5
Cheap eats prices, high quality taste.
Cost: generally under $20.
Address: 7/370-374 Victoria Ave, Chatswood