Determined to serve customers hearty Thai dishes just the way they should be but in a modern setting, OchaFresh Thai is a no-frills Thai eatery that dishes out healthy Thai food without the use of MSG.
This 10-week-old establishment features a cosy yet modern dining experience, serving quality Thai cuisine at affordable prices.
We managed to speak to the owner of the restaurant before he went home to fulfil his daddy duties and realised that their restaurant caters mainly to the lunch crowds as it was located right smack in the CBD area—which explains why there wasn’t a single soul when we arrived at dinner time.
He went on to explain that they do not believe in taking shortcuts, which is why their food takes longer to prepare so be prepared to wait a good 15 minutes before your food arrives as everything is prepared from scratch. Their menu boasts a modest selection of Thai favourites as well as healthy rice bowls, of which all do not contain any MSG.
First up on our table was the Grilled Chicken And Basil Rice Bowl (S$10.50++), which came with grilled chicken stir-fried with holy basil and long beans that sits atop a bowl of healthy whole grain rice.
We could tell that the chicken was flame-grilled due to the robust smoky aroma but it was a tad too dry for our liking. However, the minty basil and long beans tossed in chilli padi added a punch to the dish, which definitely made up for it.
You can also choose to add on an appetiser for just S$3 and we got ourselves the classic Papaya Salad. It came with a decent amount of thinly sliced papaya, carrots and long beans, which adds a crunchy bite to the dish.
However, we found the salad to be pretty bland, which was rather disappointing.
For those who can’t take spice but still want to have a go at an authentic Thai curry, try their Magic Masaman (S$12++), which features a non-spicy curry that comes with tender chunks of slow-cooked beef, potatoes and peanuts.
The smell of curry instantly filled the air as it was being served to us, arousing our appetite. The tender beef was pull-apart-tender and the addition of crunchy peanuts added a textural dimension to the dish.
Ocha Fresh Thai
182 Cecil Street, #02-16/17
Frasers Tower Tanjong Pagar
Singapore 069547
Tel: +65 63043292
Mon to Fri: 10am – 8pm
Closed on Saturdays & Sundays
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar