Being near our neighborhood, we're been passing by
Armada Hotel Manila for quite some time now. Yet, it was only when my friend invited me for lunch did I discover that there is an
authentic Thai restaurant called
Raja Thai Cuisine located at its mezzanine floor.
Armada Hotel Manila used to be Centara Hotel, a Thai hotel chain. Thus, it holds a Thai specialty restaurant.
Thai Cuisine is one of my favorites so I'm glad to add my dining experience at
Raja Thai Cuisine to my food memoirs.
Raja Thai Cuisine is very visible from its surrounding glass windows.
The interior is simple but classy with its hardwood ceiling and walls accented with Thai prints. It has a nice window view.
Table set up is fine dining.
It has an open kitchen so you can observe the busy chefs preparing your Thai dishes. I'm told that their head chef is Thai too.
Food
Appetizers
 |
| ♥ Kai Hor Baitoy (Deep Fried Chicken Wrapped in Pandan Leaves) (270 php) |
The Kai Hor Baitoy is boneless chicken marinated in Thai herbs, wrapped in pandan leaves and cooked deep fried. It is served with a lightly spiced chili sauce topped with sesame seeds. Raja's version of this Thai classic does not disappoint. The chicken bits were tender and tasty.
Soup
 |
| Tom Yum Koong (Spicy Prawn Soup) (475 php) |
The Tom Yum Koong is my favorite Thai soup. I've tried this in almost all Thai restaurants I've been too. I must say that all I've tried are different from one another. This one has a dominant galangal ginger flavor with a slight hint of kaffir lime, lemon juice and chili. It had generous portions of mushrooms and medium prawns.
Salad
 |
| ♥ Yum Som O (Spicy Pomelo Salad) (435 php) |
For salad, we had my favorite
Yum Som O which is a spicy pomelo salad with shrimp, sliced shallot, mint leaves, coconut, roasted chili paste, garlic, chili and coriander leaves. It was seasoned with fish sauce and lemon juice so mix it well before eating so you can enjoy the balance of spiciness, saltiness and sourness. I really loved this so I'm proud to say that I finished almost everything in this platter.
Curry
 |
| ♥ Kaeng Kiewan Kai, Nuea Moo (Thai Green Curry with Chicken) (455 php) |
I've learned to love even the bold tasting curry dishes. But for beginners, I always recommend the Kaeng Kiewan Kai, Nuea Moo or Thai Green Curry with Chicken because the taste of green curry is light and mild. In addition, the coconut milk makes it even lighter to the palate. It has red chili, red bell peppers, egg plant and basil leaves too. This is another one of the better dishes we've tried.
Prawns
 |
| Koong Khatiem Prik Thai (Prawns in Garlic and Pepper Sauce) (605 php) |
The
Koong Khatiem Prik Thai is stir-friend medium prawns with garlic and pepper sauce. This was my first time to try this but it failed to give off any memorable impact.
Pork
 |
| Moo Phad Khing (Pork with Ginger) (305 php) |
The Moo Phad Khing is stir-fried sliced pork with spring onions, ginger, capsicum, chopped garlic, chili, onion, black mushroom, seasoned with fish sauce, oyster sauce and soya sauce. Taste-wise this is fairly appealing to any diner. But, I wish the meat slices were not so tough to chew on.
Noodles
 |
| Phad Thai Koong (450 php) |
The Phad Thai Koong is phad thai noodle with medium prawns. This is a usual staple for me when visiting a Thai restaurant. In terms of flavor and ingredients, this has exceeded my expectations. But, the texture of the noodles could still be improved.
Fried Rice
Dessert
 |
| Khao New Mamueng (Mango Sticky Rice with Coconut Milk) (280 php) |
I just love Thai dessrts! The
Khao New Mamueng which is mango sticky rice topped with coconut milk is so refreshing that I finished this in a jiffy.
Drinks
 |
| Pineapple Smoothie (169 php) |
The
Pineapple Smoothie is the perfect drink for the season.
UPDATE (June 21, 2013): We ate here again and ordered
Preaw Waan Pla (sweet and sour fish),
Chicken Satay,
Pork Curry and
Water Chestnut in Coconut Cream. The family loved the authenticity of the dishes. It completely overturned my first impression and we're planning to dine here again.
Update (Sept. 30, 2013): Spotted a new Korean band called "
N.O.M" while dining here with their guide.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Raja Thai Cuisine offers the luxury of fine dining, rooftop window scenery and Authentic Thai cuisine. Considering it is located in a hotel, it does come with a price.
| Raja Thai Cuisine at Armada Hotel |
| Business Address |
2108 M. H Del Pilar,
Malate, Manila, Metro Manila |
| Business Hours |
6 pm-10 pm |
| Payment Options |
 Cash |
| Service Charge |
10% |
| Budget/Person |
500-1,400 |
| Free WiFi |
Yes |
| Unlocked Foursquare Perks |
None |
| Contact |
(02) 526-0888 |
| Other |
Website | Facebook Fan Page |
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