Rhong Tiam is an amazing Thai restaurant located on the ground floor of the Wasl Vita Boutique Shopping Plaza, opposite the Civil Defence Station in Jumeirah. The franchise comes with the Michelin star-pedigree of founder/owner Chef Andy Yang (https://vimeo.com/136186588) yet is unpretentious, and far more authentic than its casual, modern interior suggests.
The food is outstanding. This combination worked for me:
Baby Papaya Salad and Lamb Satay for starters,
Tom Yum with prawns as the soup (my friend ordered Tom Ka Gai, a spicy coconut soup with chicken…it’s the picture on the right).
For our mains…Red Curry with beef (the meat they use is unbelievably tender),
…and a Pad Thai (vegetables).
Of course, you’ll need a little sticky rice to have with your curry. I also ordered the more pungent Green Curry with chicken to take home, but preferred the Red.
Service is pure Thai; warm, friendly, inviting and hugely hospitable. Our waiter was patient and suggestive without being pushy. I ordered but, much to the surprise of my guest (and the staff), didn’t like their famous iced tea. It was replaced with a chilled coconut quickly and without so much of a raised eyebrow.
Brilliant. Worth a detour.
Waste NOT. Want NOT.