Thai In A Box, Parramatta

Normally I'll avoid restaurants that use the word "Thai" as part of a not-so-clever pun for the name of the establishment. Example are 'Thai-tanic', 'Thai-namite' and 'Thai-riffic', and it irritates me to no end. However, some friends and I went to a thai restaurant in Parramatta for a catch up dinner, and so I had to brave the name.

Thai In A Box are well known for having a 4 step menu, in which you select rice or noodles, stir fry or soup, herbs and spices, and then meat and vegetables.

When we arrived we were shown to a table waaaaaaaaaaaaay in the back near the toilets, and the waitress was quite apologetic about it. Fair enough we thought, it was the only table available and we hadn't booked. The waitress handed us our menus and left us to make our decisions.

Fresh Coconut Juice - $3.00

Mary and Sonia ordered cokes, and I ordered the fresh coconut juice, which came fetchingly served in a drinking coconut. The juice was cool and refreshing, with a nutty flavour coming through from the shell.

Fish Cakes - $6.90
Marinated Chicken Wings - $6.00
Prawn Get Dressed - $6.90

The fish cakes were a little dry, but the flavours of coriander, curry powder and fish were perfectly balanced and a pleasure to eat. I couldn't taste the marinade in the chicken wings, but the coating was beautifully crispy and a tiny bit oily, and the chicken was tender and succulent. The 'Prawn Get Dressed' dish featured prawns with the heads removed, wrapped in crispy pastry and deep fried. The prawn was juicy, succulent and tasty, and the pastry, while a little thick, was surprisingly oil-free for something that had been deep fried.

Stir Fried Rice, Chinese Stir Fry, Crushed Garlic and Sweet Basil, Chicken and Vegetables - $13.90

This was a pretty good fried rice, with soy sauce, tender chicken breast, carrot, choy sum and egg. The rice was nice and fluffy, and not at all starchy or sticky. The sauce was light, not overpowering or too salty, and the entire dish really worked together.

Wheat Noodles, Clear Soup, Lemongrass and Kaffir Lime Leaves with Beef (no vegetables) - $13.90

The wheat noodles were deliciously silky and supple, and the soup was slightly salty and flavoured with the aromatic lemongrass and the freshness of the kaffir lime. The beef was very finely sliced, and just cooked, rendering it tender and with the ability to melt in the mouth.

Tom Yum Soup with Seafood - $15.90

This is a traditional thai hot and sour soup, and the potent blend of ingredients such as coriander, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, garlic, fish sauce and chili really enhanced the freshness of the prawns. The baby corn added some textural contrast.

Hokkien Noodles, Malay Stir-Fry, Crushed Garlic and Sweet Basil, Chicken and Vegetables - $13.90

These hokkien noodles were very soft, and not in a horrible, soggy way. The broccolini, carrot and capsicum were very crisp, which contrasted with the noodles. The chicken was very tender and juicy, and the sauce was peanut satay, very sweet and nutty, delicious!

This restaurant didn't end up being as bad as I thought it would be. The service was fast and efficient, although nothing stellar, and the food was very well executed. Maybe I'll rethink my policy on restaurants with silly names...

Thai In A Box

318 Church St
Parramatta, NSW
2150

Phone: 9633 3681