Jatujak

SM Megamall Branch

First of all; I love thai food. I fell in love with it right from my first authentic pad thai in one of the sidestreets in Bangkok so many years back. Which is why I'm picky when restaurants claim themselves to be 'authentic' thai cuisine. Jatujak, however, completely delivers - their food is good and one of the most authentic thai restaurants in the metro.

Me and my family have been dining in Jatujak for the last few years and we're always satisfied with the food and the service.

Tonight, Jojo (my husband) and I had dinner here and decided to order a couple of dishes we haven't tried before. Aside from our usual order of Bagoong Rice/Kao Kluk Gapi (P160), we had Duck curry/Kaed Ped Pet Yang (P295) and Beef with Basil/Kaprao Nua (P265). We asked that the dishes be prepared not-spicy and the waiter happily obliged.

The duck curry was good and tasted of rich coconut milk. The duck meat had a slight aftertaste which was okay seeing that it was duck but I still would have hoped that it didn't have it. It was served in a clay pot which helped keep the dish warm all throughout dinner. I think there was enough for about 3 people in that pot.

The beef basil was also okay. It wasn't as awesome as our usual preferred dishes from Jatujak but it went well with the bagoong rice. It was nice to try something else on the menu, but their tried and tested dishes are still the best bets if you will be trying the restaurant for the first time.

My personal recommendations would be tor try their Green curry chicken, Thai spring rolls and Crispy pork. Their bagoong rice is always right on the money with its green mango, chunky pork bagoong, red onions and cilantro.

Service wise, the waiters are usually cheerful, accurate and prompt. Expect though for service to slow down a bit during rush hour but we've never had to wait too long for our food to be served.

Their ambiance and decor is fit for casual dining. Their tables and seating can get crowded though, but not too unmanageable.

Pricewise, I think the food is well worth the money. All dishes are intended for sharing and taste great. Its a comfortable place to have casual lunch or dinner, and a great place to enjoy hearty, delicious thai food which has been adapted to the Filipino palate. I definitely recommend giving Jatujak a try :)