THE Vi Pa Thai restaurant is easy to overlook.
It’s small and tucked away in a corner behind a petrol station in Myaree Village.
It’s also not listed on any third-party delivery service, so it’s fairly low-profile unless you live in the area.
A local foodie I know “Tim Tam” said it was a hidden gem, so I jumped in the Chook jalopy and spluttered up Marmion St to investigate.
The restaurant was scrupulously clean and well presented: sounds like a given but it’s amazing the number of places I’ve visited that were dirtier than Oscar’s bin in Sesame Street.
It was a nice setting with large paper lanterns rubbing shoulders with Thai artworks, ornate leather chairs and wood-grain tables.
The exterior didn’t do it justice – it was a lovely spot for a casual meal – and the staff were smiley, pleasant and friendly.
The menu had a large range of “authentic Bangkok” dishes with starters, mains, salads, curries, noodles and sides.
Highlights included the fish with ginger and plum sauce, panang curry, tom kha soup, jungle curry, drunken spicy noodles and lemongrass stir fry.
Vi Pa gets brownie points for having a decent range of salads including laab and creamy roast chilli, as opposed to the perfunctory two or three dishes.
We kicked off with the intriguingly-named Money Bags (four for $13.90).
The deep-fried wontons had a lovely light, crispy batter and were stuffed with minced chicken and prawn.
They were nicely presented with a little piece of string tied artfully around the top of the pastry bag.
I’m not a big fan of deep-fried food, but this was a delicious entree with a quality filling, and it got the tastebuds zinging for the main event.
The test of any Thai restaurant’s mettle is its chicken green curry ($19.90).
Vi Pa’s had a lovely blend of aromatic spices wafting from the bowl, and I couldn’t wait to tuck in.
The creamy sauce was thick and had just the right amount of spice, while the chicken was tender and tasty.
I often bemoan the lack of veg in a green curry, but this was teeming with red and green peppers, water chestnuts, carrot, peas and green beans. A delightful medley that helped make it a delicious, well-rounded meal.
The accompanying jasmine rice ($4.90) was fragrant and there was probably enough for two adults.
Next up was the See Ew noodle with beef ($20.90).
This stir-fry classic had a colourful array of veg including bok choy, carrot, water chestnut and onion.
The thick noodles were coated in a subtle fragrant sauce and it was a good choice for kids or adults who don’t like a lot of spice.
There was plenty of beef and while it was good quality, it was a touch over and could have been more tender.
That aside, it was a fresh, vibrant dish.
In between talking about Minecraft, Ronaldo, PAW Patrol and other important geo-political issues, my kids wolfed down some spring rolls (four for $11.90).
I had a sneaky taste and can confirm they had a light, crispy coating with a nice mix of vegetables and glass noodles.
Maybe I’ve become emotionally numb to spring rolls after consuming hundreds over the years – the culinary equivalent of tying your shoe laces – but it would be nice if someone did something unique with them.
The majority of dishes in Vi Pa were under $20, which is great value in this day and age.
It ticks all the boxes for a good local restaurant – big portions, moreish food, friendly staff and a nice ambience – so it’s no surprise it’s busy most nights of the week.
And I like they are not listed on a third-party delivery service – down with the corporate machine, globalisation, 5G, internet banking, and all those other things that make our life easier. Err, wait a minute…
Vi Pa Thai Restaurant
1/454 Marmion St, Myaree
vipathai.com.au
by STEPHEN POLLOCK