Farang Thai
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What happens when a chef who has trained in numerous Michelin starred restaurants and has had long standing stints at Brae becomes passionate, almost obsessed with Thai cuisine? The answer is Farang Thai. Currently occupying Highpoint's IN: TRANSIT Precinct, don't let it's unassuming nature fool you. This is the real deal.
Chef Nathan Lancaster is that "Farang" (basically what people in Thailand call westerners) behind the name. And he's here to take Melbourne's Thai food offering to the next level. Focussing on Isaan cuisine, the northeast region of Thailand, you can expect layers of complex and bright flavours. Instead of curries that have been simmered for hours that Melbourne has become used to when it comes to Thai cuisine, there is a lot more vibrancy from beautifully flavoured salads, grilled and fried meats and sticky rice accompanied by one of the region's many " tams," or salads.
We loved tasting our way through the menu. The Farang Box set is a must have and comes with steamed sticky rice, Thai green papaya salad plus your choice of protein. We suggest you get your hands on the Sai Oua - a Northern Thai style spicy pork sausage which is amazingly rich in both flavour and spice. The chicken satays are similarly delicious having been liberally marinated in coconut and turmeric, grilled and served with a fresh cucumber relish and the most luxuriously spiced satay dipping sauce.
And then there's the fried chicken wings. Oh baby these are seriously addictive. An absolute showstopper, each meaty morsel is crusted with a flavoursome spice mix of coriander root, white pepper, fish sauce, rice flour, and then perfectly double fried to achieve a moorish crunchy exterior before being tossed in laab seasoning. Oh and if you like corn on the cob, then please get the corn. You won't be disappointed. Think grilled corn basted with salted coconut cream, pandan, lime and their housemade chilli jam. It's a thing of beauty.
Farang Thai impresses with a concise menu that is well thought out and delightfully delicious. Perhaps most importantly, everything is prepared with the utmost care and attention to detail. And it makes a hell of a difference. You'll have to taste it to believe it.
Location: Level 3, IN: TRANSIT Precinct, Highpoint Shopping Centre, 120-200 Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong
Phone: 0478 959 182
