Are you in Goa, craving authentic Thai food while your friends on Instagram are savouring it in Thailand? Head over to Thai n Wok in the heart of Panjim, right across from Miramar Beach and the Goa Marriot Resort & Spa. Trust me, your search for real Tom Yum, Yam Yang, and other Thai food in Goa ends here at this Thai restaurant in Goa.
I have been visiting Thai n Wok for the last two years. It’s where I go when I’m thirsty for some hot soup on a cold rainy day. It’s where I go when I’m longing for a homely meal, even though I am not Thai. It’s where I go when I’m yearning for a guilt-free meal prepared with consciously picked ingredients. But how does this one spot manage to check off all my wants?
The founder of Thai n Wok, Warren Vaz, had travelled extensively, including to Thailand, and wished to bring Thai cuisine in Goa. With the help of Thai Chef Na Maie’s expertise, ten years ago, he set up the Thai restaurant in Goa. Thai n Wok is a quaint restaurant with outdoor seating overlooking the neighbourhood of Miramar, surrounded by tall trees. The indoor air-conditioned section is spacious and decked with Thai art pieces. It feels as though you’ve just set foot in a local restaurant in Thailand, yet it feels like home.
The vegetables and herbs needed for creating Thai dishes in Goa actually come from Warren’s home. He converted the area behind his home in Saligao into farmland. So, sourcing Thai Basil to Galangal and the recently popular Morning Glory to Thai Brinjal is local, accessible, and sustainable. He also grows Kaffir Lime, Thai Broccoli, Chinese Cabbage, Thai Spring Onion, Thai Kale, Pak Choy, Finger Root, Thai Turmeric, Thai Chillies, Chive, Lemongrass, Pandanus leaves, Red Lettuce, and Green Lettuce, all organically in small batches. These are freshly harvested every day based on demand and used to prepare the dishes. Even the curry pastes and sauces are made from scratch using these. This Thai restaurant in Goa is truly a farm-to-table experience and good for your health.
I usually start with a whole portion of the vegetarian or chicken Tom Klong Soup, or sometimes one by two. It’s loaded with vegetables like mushrooms, broccoli, baby corn, cabbage, and lots of herbs. It’s a clear soup with spicy and mildly tangy flavours. The tanginess comes from tamarind. It’s perfect for a cold or a rainy day.
For salad, I tried the Yam Woon Sen for the first time, and to my surprise, I loved it. It’s got thin, slippery glass noodles mixed with lots of fresh seafood. Again, it was mildly tangy but refreshing for hot days.
Thot Pla was my choice for an appetizer. They are basically fish cakes, crispy on the outside. They are soft, meaty, and flavoured with Thai herbs on the inside. Just dip those in the spicy sauce while they are hot and take a bite.
Next, I chose my other usual, Yam Yang. It’s especially a no-brainer when I want simple flavours, piping hot food, and lots of protein. It’s pre-spiced barbecued meat that’s placed on a grill above a bed of charcoal and is heated live on your table. I always turn it into a main by asking for a portion of sticky rice and my favourite spicy sauce on the side. The Asian flavours remind me of Yaki Niku Tabehodais (All you can eat, meat barbecue) in Japan. It’s delicious, nostalgic, and a highly recommended item.
The Chicken Phad Ka Pow is my other favourite. It’s like a set meal, apt for even a solo diner. It’s got some cucumber slices, rice, fried egg, and chicken cooked with Thai Basil and beans. The chicken is juicy, the egg is jammy, and the fish oil topped with chili that I always ask for goes well with the whole dish.
Only recently, I have been choosing a dessert here, and it’s always been Taptim Krop. It’s candied water chestnuts and syrup with some coconut cream on top. It comes with some crushed ice that you slowly add into the bowl as you take a bite of this crunchy, cold, and sweet dessert.
The food here at Thai n Wok really speaks for itself and is totally worth the price. Bring your friends, family, or even your date to this Thai restaurant in Goa. If Thai food is too adventurous for you, their Oriental menu has got your back. It’s the perfect pan Asian menu including the Chinese Man Chow soup, the Indonesian Nasi Goreng and the like. And parking is easy, even though it’s on the street, but always available right outside or in the lane beside.
Now, it’s no surprise why Thai n Wok is my primary choice for a mindful, homely, and delicious meal away from home, right? And if the meal inspires you to whip up some Thai food, you can pick up some of their extra Thai produce from their farm on your way out. You will find fresh salad leaves, morning glory, the bird eye chilli, galangal and even the Thai brinjal. Ready to take a culinary trip mentally to Thailand, right here in Goa?
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