Tucked away behind a high-rise condo building on Prince of Wales Drive near Meadowlands is the restaurant Thai Coconut.
The space was previously occupied by another restaurant called Oriental Palace. It can be a very daunting task to open a restaurant in a space previously occupied by another especially if that previous restaurant offered a similar cuisine. Thai Coconut had a lot to prove to local die-hard lovers of Asian cuisine.
The setting is simple yet spacious, comfortable and attractive and the service was very friendly.
Our orders came quickly and we were surprised by the generous portion size. As we took our first bite, we were hooked. With fresh natural ingredients and a wonderful blend of Thai spices, the food was simply amazing. We ordered the Yum Ma-Muang (Mango Salad) and the signature dish, Thai Coconut Chicken. The mango salad was a delicious blend of fresh mango, noodles, carrots, cashews and tender well-spiced chicken. This dish (also available with shrimp) had a tantalizing balance of softness, sweetness and peppery spice, but it was their signature dish that scored a homerun. A large plate with small chunks of chicken in red curry and coconut milk sauce. The chicken was crispy on the outside but surprisingly tender inside. Served with a large bowl of rice, this dish was deceivingly spicy. At first bite you don’t feel the heat but then it quickly mounts. Thankfully, our attentive server kept our water glasses full.
This hidden gem convinced us to come back not only because the food is delicious and the service friendly, but also because the price is hard to beat. The restaurant also offers a lunch buffet, which was music to our ears.
Thai Coconut, 1390 Prince of Wales Drive
located in the Chateau Royale office building
(613) 225-1238 www.thaicoconut.ca
