Blue Monkey Thai: New Thai on the block, Randwick (14 Jan 2012)

39 Perouse Road, Randwick NSW 2031

Monday – Sunday, 5 pm – 10 pm

Phone: (02) 8021 2160 or (02) 8021 6120

Thai-spotting at The Spot

Just when you thought The Spot in Randwick couldn't have any more Thai restaurants along comes Blue Monkey Thai. Obviously the locals must love their Thai and the competition doesn't seem to worry them. Upon arriving for some take-away the restaurants was pretty much full and buzzing. The service was friendly and efficient and the decor looked like a nice place to dine. The Steamed dim sim ($6.90, 4 pieces) was quite nice and decently sized. The Chicken wing ($5.90, 4 pieces) had nice flavours with a crisp coating although I'm still a bigger fan of the chicken wings from Taste of Thai. The Chilli and basil sauce stir fry with deep fried tofu ($11.90) was full of fresh ingredients and plenty of tofu. The chilli was really hot so be careful — my mouth was on fire at one stage. I'd definitely be interested to try again and possibly dine in. I got a 20% discount due to their promotional Grand Opening special for take away orders over $20 which made it a bargain.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Friendly and efficient service, Nice decor, Plenty of menu choice, 20% grand opening discount, Looks popular, Dishes looked good, Reasonable prices

CONS: Limited parking in the area, No seating available to wait for your take away order

MUST TRY: Revisiting to dine in and sample more dishes

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Take away packaging

Time for dinner

Steamed dim sim ($6.90, 4 pieces)

Chicken wing ($5.90, 4 pieces)

Chilli and basil sauce stir fry with deep fried tofu ($11.90) — watch out for the hot chillies

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Ayam Goreng 99: Indonesian, Kingsford (3 Mar 2010)

464 Anzac Parade, Kingsford NSW 2032

It tastes better than it looks

This long-standing student friendly restaurant serves up the very popular crispy chicken of Ayam Goreng ($6) with a no fuss presentation along side the slightly different flavoured Ayam Kalasan Thigh ($6). The skins are crispy as hoped with fairly moist meat although could be better for my liking. Try not to be put off by the small serving of Rendang Curry Beef ($4) which likens itself to a pile (blob) of brown . It’s very tender and flavoursome and has obviously been cooked for a very long time. The cheap Tahu (Tofu) Deep Fried ($2) is simply what you’d expect although something I probably wouldn’t necessarily order again unless I was vegetarian, although you probably wouldn’t be here in the first place if you were.

Equally popular to the chicken seems to be the Sate Kambing and Lontong ($9.50). You don’t often find compressed rice in other restaurants and there’s no shortage of flavour from the peanut sauce, sweet soy sauce and fried onion lathered on top. For an extra hit of flavour add some hot chill and oil in the mix if your taste buds and stomach can handle the fire. Ordering dishes is via writing them up on a piece of paper so I guess if you get the order wrong you can only blame yourself (and your hand writing).

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Very cheap, Tasty options, Mainly Asian customers (so it must be good, right?)

CONS: No fuss presentation of dishes, Can get a little crowded and noisy when busy, Need to write out your own order

WORTH TRYING: Sate Kambing and Lontong

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Rendang Curry Beef ($4)

Tahu (Tofu) Deep Fried ($2)

Ayam Goreng ($6), Ayam Kalasan Thigh ($6)

Hot chill and oil

Sate Kambing and Lontong: Charcoal Grilled Marinated 5 Lamb Satay Sticks served with Peanut Sauce, Sweet soy sauce and fried onion ($9.50)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Self hand write your order

Menu

Help yourself to water in colourful plastic cups

Seating

Opening hours

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