A spicy coconut broth loaded with shrimp, chicken, rice noodles, and fresh herbs—rich, aromatic laksa. The first thing you notice is the aroma. Coconut cream blooms in a peppery heat that swirls above the pots of a Kuala Lumpur food court. One spoonful later, the dish’s quiet thesis reveals itself : […]
Better than take-out




















Authentic Tom Saap – Isan Hot-and-Sour Soup
A fragrant, spicy Thai Tom Saap soup where a simmered pork broth meets roasted herb paste, fresh lime, and chili flakes. Say saap in the Isan dialect and the scene is set : the word simply means “delicious.” Add the simple verb tom (“to boil”), and you get Tom Saap—a bowl […]
Authentic Phat Phet – Wild Boar Stir-Fry
As soon as the red curry paste hits the shimmering oil, a fragrant cloud rises. Diners sitting street-side lean back, their eyes already watering. Phat Phet makes its presence known from the very first bite. The meat is coated in a chili paste so intense that even Bangkok’s seasoned commuters […]
Pad Pong Karee – Thai Crab Curry
A creamy, spicy Thai crab curry, blending roasted chili paste, milk powder, and crisp aromatics for a main dish packed with flavor. Follow the scent of toasted curry mingling with briny steam drifting through Bangkok’s alleys at dusk. You’ll likely stop in front of a wok where a crab sizzles. […]
Gaeng Hang Lay – Thai Pork Curry
A slow-cooked Thai Hang Lay curry, where tender pork soaks up fragrant spices and homemade curry paste. Lift the lid off a pot of Gaeng Hang Lay. Aromas of ginger, tamarind, clove, and melting pork fat drift out. Unlike the coconut milk-rich curries most travelers know—like Thai red curry or […]
Authentic Pad Prik Gaeng – Red Curry Pork Stir-Fry
A Thai stir-fry of pork and crisp-tender beans, coated in a homemade red curry paste fragrant with citrus and warm spices. The name promises ginger (“khing” in Thai). Yet most wokfuls of Pad Prik Gaeng lean mostly on chili and makrut lime leaves, with no trace of the rhizome. The absence puzzles […]
Yam Khai Dao – Thai Fried Eggs
Crispy fried eggs topped with a tangy, spicy, and aromatic Thai salad—perfect for a quick, flavor-packed meal. When the wok hits its smoke point, a raw egg slides in with a sizzle. In seconds, the white puffs up into a golden, lacy crisp while the yolk wobbles in the center: […]
Authentic Moo Palo – Thai Caramel-Braised Pork
A savory Thai stew of pork belly, eggs, and tofu, scented with spices and soy sauce, simmered until tender. As soon as the palm sugar hits the hot oil, it turns into a dark, nutty caramel that coats the pot. A few seconds later, star anise and cinnamon release an […]
Nikuman – Japanese Steamed Pork Buns
Pillowy Japanese steamed buns with a juicy pork center perfumed with ginger, shiitake mushrooms, and soy sauce. On an icy night in Tokyo, numb fingers seek comfort. They find it in the plume of steam rising from a street vendor’s bamboo steamer. Inside are snow-white buns, so soft they tremble; […]
Authentic Indian Chapatis
These homemade Indian chapatis are incredibly soft and puffy, and make the perfect side for your favorite curries. The magic happens the moment a thin disc of dough hits the open flame. It tightens, puffs up, then rises like a little golden balloon. This instant transformation is more than just […]