Those who have been to King Albert Park at Bukit Timah should know of the spot where the old giant McDonald’s used to be.
In its place, a KAP shopping mall has long been up and running, with many establishments on its ground floor.
In one of its alfresco restaurant spaces is Royal Thai Boat Noodles & Bar, a Thai eatery that aims to serve up authentic fare.
And right next to the eatery is a Bpang Thai Minimart where you can get many Thai snacks, drinks and ingredients (like fermented fish sauce) which are specially imported from Thailand.
Its kitchen is helmed by Thai chefs with years of experience, using produce from Thailand itself.
They have been around for almost two decades, having started out as a small food stall in Bugis.
Royal Thai has dining space spread over two levels, in addition to an alfresco area.
The menu is considered wide-ranging with starters, salad, soup, vegetable, curries, fish, noodles, boat noodles, rice dishes, fried meats, desserts and more.
All the usual suspects are in the menu, with offerings of Boat Noodles ($3.90, $6.90), Pig Trotter Rice ($8.50), Pineapple Fried Rice ($8.50), Grilled Pork ($12.50), Green Curry Chicken ($10.50), Massaman Curry Beef ($12.50), Pad Thai ($8.50) to Tom Yum Noodles ($8.50).
Their Boat Noodles come with an herbal base. They are in two sizes: Small ($3.90) and Normal ($6.9)). The Normal one is good on its own, while the Small bowl is really more of a side dish.
With the more traditional beef version, you get plenty of beef balls and beef slices in the fragrant broth.
In the pork version, pork balls, pork slices, and pork liver can be found. You have an option to exclude the liver if you want.
The soup was thick enough to coat the thin strands of noodles, although it was on the much sweeter side – which was not what I preferred.
Also, as the dining area is upstairs and kitchen downstairs, I wondered if the long waiting and sending time would have affected the food quality much.
The soup was considered lukewarm at most, and customers would probably wish for a more piping hot bowl.
Strangely, the same could be said about the Pig Trotter Rice ($8.50).
While the meat was succulent and fall-off-the-bone, the overall temperature (including the rice itself) could have been much hotter for a more satisfying meal.
Available desserts are the Red Ruby ($4.50), Sweet Tapioca ($5.50) and Mango Sticky Rice ($10) which uses a part-sweet and part-tart variety of mango to go with the slightly savoury sticky rice.
After your meal at Royal Thai Boat Noodles & Bar, you can head next door to Bpang Thai Minimart. While it is a small shop, there stock up many Thai favourites (in case you paiseh to ask your friends buy back for you from Bangkok).
Some of the top-selling products include the Vitamilk Soy Milk ($1), Lays Potato Chips in assorted Thai flavours ($1.60 onwards), Taro Fish Snacks ($1.20), Little Farm Crispy Bread ($3.90), Oishii Green Tea ($3.15), Bento Squid Seafood Snack ($5.50), Mama Cup Instant Noodles (10 flavours available).
One of my current favourite-to-get-snacks is the Chao Sua Rice Cracker with Pork Floss ($4). Don’t finish buying them up – leave some for me!
Royal Thai Boat Noodles & Bar
9 King Albert Park, #01-01/02, Singapore 598332
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)
Bpang Thai Minimart
9 King Albert Park, #01-04, Singapore 598332
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)
Other Related Entries
Khao Hom by Rung Mama (Katong Square)
Sabai Sabai Thai Private Kitchen (River Valley)
Soi 47 Thai Food (Clarke Quay Central)
Warm Up Café (The Star Vista)
Siam Square Mookata (Upper Thomson)
* Written by Daniel Ang and Dean Ang. Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
