It’s official! The hugely popular Greyhound café from Bangkok has just opened its Singapore branch in town, with signatures like its fried chicken wings and Complicated Noodle
If you’ve ever been to Bangkok, Greyhound is probably a name you’re already familiar with. The café that both locals and tourists flock to is hailed for its chic style, Insta-worthy fusion food and, of course, the famous Greyhound Thai chicken wings. And now, this chic Thai eatery has opened its doors right in the heart of town, so you can save yourself a plane ticket to Bangkok if you’re craving its sticky rice mango parfait. We decided to go down to Greyhound’s new Paragon dwellings to see if it was worth the hype.
Deco, deco, deco…
Regulars of the café back at their home turf would easily recognise Greyhound’s iconic black and white-tiled bar. But what’s new in this Greyhound is the glass-less greenhouse where aerial plants hang overhead, adorned with butterflies made out of recycled materials from Thailand.
The salmon carpaccio in spicy hot sauce is a winner
If you’re looking for an appetiser that packs a spicy kick, then the salmon carpaccio in spicy hot sauce is the way to go. It’s a Thai take on the classic Italian entrée with raw salmon slices wedged between dollops of tangy-sweet, garlic-infused chilli sauce, and presented on an Insta-worthy platter that’s sure to get you whippin’ out your phones before digging in.
Tuck into famed Greyhound signatures
It would have been a travesty to visit Greyhound without having a go at its specialties, namely the Greyhound Famous Fried Chicken Wings and Complicated Noodle. The wings (marinated in fish sauce before deep-fried) were bite-sized and impossible to stop at just one. We also got our hands dirty assembling our own little Complicated Noodle – it comes with a few pieces of lettuce, sheets of rice noodle (think square-shaped kway teow), minced pork stew and tangy-sweet chilli sauce similar to the carpaccio. This dish is a tedious one, but the effort is worth it!
Other standout appetisers we liked were the refreshing pomelo salad, and Thai chicken green curry with chuck toast (fun fact: it’s made specially for Greyhound Singapore). However, the tom yum soup was slightly underwhelming – while the tom yum was served with an impressively big river prawn and a few pieces of ravioli (Hey! Twist!), the soup was just so-so.
Expect a no-frills Pad Thai
This street food staple is an oldie but a goodie that Thai food fans will love. But be warned: it’s the dish with the least of a twist. Expect a no-nonsense Pad Thai noodles with a generous heap of prawns and crunchy bean sprouts, crushed nuts and chilli flakes on the side – but it’s one you can find anywhere else, really…
Make room for sweet treats
The fresh coconut crepe cake was no doubt the showstopper and a perfect way to end your dinner. A crepe cake with layers upon layers of cream stacked with fresh Thai coconut flesh, it’s a chewy, light, saccharine dish for all you sweet tooths out there. Heavenly!
Though another must-try dessert is the sticky rice mango parfait. In line with the theme of Thai food with a twist, this is not your run-of-the-mill mango sticky rice. The twist comes in the form of a parfait – the sticky rice sits in the bottom of the glass with mango cubes and topped with a generous scoop of fresh coconut sherbet that is to die for.
We left the restaurant filled to the brim and wholly convinced that they’ve managed to bring what works in the Land of Smiles right here to our shores. Whether you’re ready to tuck into a full course meal or simply to share a Thai dessert with a friend and soak in the ambience, you’re sure to find something to love at this latest Bangkok import.
Greyhound Café, #01-25/25A, The Paragon, Singapore 238859. p. 6235 4078.