Cheap And Satisfying Thai Food At Took Lae Dee

Every spoonful of this traditional vermicelli salad mixed with minced pork, black fungus, prawns, coriander, chilli padi and shallots, is a party of flavours in your mouth. Don’t be fooled by how innocent it looks, though. The spice level in this will have you downing mugs of Thai milk tea to douse the fire.

This hearty Thai staple with minced pork (or chicken) and a fried egg over fluffy Thai jasmine rice packs a wallop of flavour. Specially imported Thai holy basil is used here, which gives it a pungent but fragrant herby hit that accentuates the saltiness of the juicy minced pork cooked with fish sauce. The strong basil flavour may not be for everyone, though.

We were warned that this green papaya salad was off-the-charts spicy, but it was actually more tolerable than the Yum Woon Sen (above). The delicate flavours of sweet, sour and spicy seeping through the thin shreds of fragrant papaya, crunchy peanuts and crisp green beans are refreshing and addictive.

This plate of locally-sourced Thai morning glory looks plain, but is oh-so-flavourful. Kissed with wok’s breath and perfumed with the aroma of sweet Thai garlic, it’s smoky, delicious and utterly satisfying.

Often regarded as Thailand’s national dish, this version here with tamarind pulp, lime juice, bean sprouts, egg and peanuts, is a bit anemic-looking and sweet. Not bad, but not great.

The steamed glutinous rice doused in coconut cream has a good bite to it without being beady or mushy. Unfortunately, the Thai Golden Honey mangoes are a tad unripe and sour.

A large open kitchen with copper hoods and counter seating takes centre stage in the simply furnished dining area accented with wood and patterned white tiles. With Thai pop songs streaming overhead, the rapid-fire chatter of Thai staff and the familiar smells of Thai spices wafting around, the place makes you quickly forget you’re not actually in Thailand.

This is the place to go for good, authentic Thai grub at wallet-friendly prices. We’re rather jealous of the people who work at this industrial hub.


Took Lae Dee is at #01-34/35/K9, 18 Tai Seng Street, S539775. Tel: 6272-2000. Open daily 11am to 9pm, last orders at 8:30pm. www.facebook.com/pg/TLDSingapore/