Benjarong Chennai
Thai food might be behind Chinese in the popularity stakes in India, but it’s no longer the rarity that it once was. Proof that Thai food has truly arrived in Chennai is to be found at Benjarong, part of a range of restaurants by Oriental Cuisines which also brings Japanese Teppanyaki and a French boulangerie to TTK Road in Alwarpet.
Benjarong Chennai (Image: Facebook)
Many first timers of Thai cuisine, especially those with no prior knowledge of it, are surprised at its difference from Chinese food. Lighter and livelier in taste, with a wide range of curries, soups and salads, it could instantly become your favourite at Benjarong where the dishes are rendered faithful to the original recipe.
Tom Yum Goong at Benjarong (Image: Facebook)
The Tom Yum Goong (prawn soup) is tinglingly spicy and thoroughly warming yet coconut cool at the same time. The Kaeng Ped Gai (chicken red curry) is perfectly balanced between savoury vegetable notes and sweet, almost fruity, creamy gravy. Served with rice, the red curry can also be done with prawns or red snapper fish – a mouthwatering dish which well deserves the status of signature dish.
Red Curry at Benjarong (Image: Facebook)
Service is typical of this type of upper mid-range independent restaurant; initially formal but surprisingly (and refreshingly) relaxed as the meal goes on. Stuffy it isn’t, but nor are waiters hovering like they often are in top-end hotel restaurants.
Pad Thai at Benjarong (Image: Facebook)
Yellow, green and Massaman (Thai Muslim-style) curries are also on offer, along with the stock standard Pad Thai – the best Thai-style fried noodles I’ve tasted in Chennai! The spicy Som Tam (papaya salad) is another one worth trying, while keep an open mind for dessert, because the Khao Niew Mamuang (sweetened sticky rice with fresh sliced mango) is about as Thai as it comes. Wash it all down with coconut water, and you’ll see why people fall in love with this cuisine.
Sticky rice with mango at Benjarong (Image: Facebook)
If you’re trying Thai food for the first time, come to Benjarong with an open mind and a big appetite. And if you’re a long-time fan of Thai, welcome home.
Papaya Salad at Benjarong (Image: Facebook)
Details
Food: 8/10
Ambience: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Cost: Three courses should cost around INR 1,200 per head, depending on what you order
146, TTK Road, Alwarpet, Chennai
(044) 2432 2640
www.facebook.com/BenjarongRestaurants
Daily: 12:15pm – 3pm, 7:15pm – 11pm
Tim, my mouth’s watering right now. There is such a great variety of food here. Although Tom Yum Goong at Benjarong looks definitely like my kind of food, I would love to try other dishes as well.
These pictures are really great (I sourced them from the restaurant’s page), but it is really as good as it looks!!! Thanks for stopping by Agness! 😀
Reading food blog posts at lunch time is torture. I want this food in my belly now. I adore Thai food, its so fresh and delicious. Great review, willing a thai chef to appear and cook me some tikka. 🙂
Muahahahaha! Actually writing this review made me start craving Thai food, so I think I might need to go for that some time this week!! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
This is a very good article. Thank you for a great information.
Looks really yummy.
I like to eat papaya salad, I like Thai Food.
I love Thai food too! Thanks for reading! 🙂