Thai Cuisine Goes from Strength to Strength

Thai food has come on by leaps and bounds in Beijing, with seemingly a new restaurant opening every week. Whether larded with chili or a comparatively bland spice, "harmony" is the guiding principle behind each dish. Thai cuisine is essentially a marriage of centuries-old eastern and western influences cleverly combined into something uniquely Thai, and versatile enough to satisfy virtually any palate. As with other cuisines, the quality is largely down to who cooks it. Those who prepare it are clear on whom they are cooking for, and they make allowances for the occasion. Here are some of Beijing's better-known Thai restaurants:

Borom Piman Thai Restaurant

Holiday Inn Lido Beijing was a market leader when it opened the capital's first Thai restaurant, Borom Piman, in April, 1990. Hotel guests and residents of Beijing loved it then, and still do, for here it can be enjoyed at its finest in a classic Thai environment. Specialties created by one new Thai chef use only the freshest of ingredients and a range of spices imported from Thailand. All traditional Thai dishes are available, and table settings and service are truly authentic.

Borom Piman Thai Restaurant has won several awards, including Restaurant of the Year and a Best Restaurant Design award.

Recommendations: Chicken in Pandan Leaves; Spicy Prawn Soup with Lemon Grass; Beef with Yellow Curry and Sago; and Honey Melon in Coconut Milk.

Golden Elephant Thai Restaurant

Thais treat elephants with great reverence, and regard them as bringers of good luck--which is why many Thai restaurants in Beijing as elsewhere include the animal in their name.

The decor at this restaurant is exquisite, thanks to a boss with a gift for design. All else is imported from Thailand, chopsticks and other accoutrements as well as ingredients. Of note is that the curries here are regarded as the very soul of Thai cuisine, and thus accorded a special reverence in the cooking.

Special recommendations: Thai Vermicelli Salad; BBQ Fish Paste and Deep Fried Prawn Balls stuffed with Mozzorella Cheese

Very Siam

Romantically located in a hutong, this restaurant somehow resembles a mini Thai exhibition hall, complete with a goddess statue at the gate, and with small artsy Thai ornaments displayed on virtually every flat surface. Waiters tell you that the sunlight streaming through the glassed roof warms both the room and your heart, a nice touch in helping you feel at home.

Although a comparative newcomer to the local restaurant scene, Very Siam has quickly gained a justified high reputation among fans of Thai dishes. The place is elegant without being fussy, and friendly in the laid-back manner you would find in Bangkok. A handy aid on your table in helping you choose a meal is a special menu which lists the most frequently ordered dishes during the preceding month. You can't get a higher recommendation than that, especially if you are a newcomer to Thai cuisine. Starting this month, Very Siam is offering something new--Thai-style hot-pot.

Special recommendations: Gold Corn Shrimp; Thai-style Hot-Pot.

Lemon Grass Thai Restaurant

The sweet herb Lemon Grass grows in abundance in Thailand, and is widely popular because it is both nutritious and medicinal. Thais use the grass as a main spice in all manner of dishes, all of which seem as popular overseas as at home.

Lemon Grass Thai Restaurant features typical Thai dishes, plus some that rate as exotic. The chef here says all the ingredients he uses are flown in from Thailand. If you are thinking of ordering a salad, you can sample it for free before actually ordering. A business lunch buffet is available at just 28 yuan on weekdays.

Special recommendations: Papaya Salad; Thai BBQ Chicken; Baked Rainbow Trout; and Steamed Egg-rolls.