Thai Orchids Cafe & Bar

Thai Orchids as of yet is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Hong Kong. I discovered it some years ago with my university friends, at the time I was broke so only ordered a coconut while I watched the others feast. I pushed the place from my mind until more recently, while I was living in Yau Ma Tei. I’d often go to the cinema to watch the latest movie and I’d pass Thai Orchids time and time again until I thought I’d take my girlfriend there for a date night. We’ve been coming back every since!
Stupidly I didn’t book a table in advance but luckily we were fifteen minutes earlier than the rush hour crowd. Literally, within fifteen minutes of sitting down the place filled up with a waiting list. We sat down and had a look through the menu, Pad Thai… nice, chicken with cashews… nice, tom yum… nice. I could go on for a while but I’ll save you the time. We ordered a Pad Thai, some spring rolls, and a spicy, crispy fish salad. The spring rolls were good (with enough sweet chili sauce anything is good!), the Pad Thai was great, but it was the fish salad that formed the everlasting bond we now have with the place. Strips of mango, cashew nuts, crispy fish, lettuce and more that a little bit of spice. We were downing the waters it was so spicy, but it wasn’t a deterrent, just a speed bump along the way. The coconuts helped to cool our mouths down but there’s only a finite amount of coconut water in those things!
Needless to say we’ve been back a number of times, usually combined with a movie, and have tried much more of their menu — with the fish salad as a constant appetizer — and I’ve never been disappointed. The next time I go know exactly what I’m going to try, the curry IN a bowl made of bread. Who are these geniuses?!