Why would you eat at a food court in Cabramatta?
Noodlies, Sydney food blog finds many reasons to sample the delights in the No 1 Cabramatta Shopping Centre food court.
Yes, it’s true, food court eating is frantic, competitive and bewildering… at first. Fighting for a table, deciphering busy menus, beating the queue, there are many reasons to avoid a food court. But get past all that, and there’s a lot to like about food court eating.
Pick the right dishes and you’re on a triple winning streak of great food, cheap prices and cheery, no-nonsense service.
Firstly, if you’re in a group, each of you can choose a different Asian cuisine as opposed to being stuck in an eatery that only specialises in pho. It’s quick and fast. And if you feel like something other than Viet, there are some great Thai-Lao and Chinese options in the two Cabramatta food courts in BKK and No 1 Cabramatta Shopping Centres.
BKK food court is currently being renovated so today, noodlies is perched in the No 1 Shopping Centre. Thai Spicy is the longest operating stall in the centre, we’ve eaten here over a decade and a half ago. The picture menu says it all, a range of colourful stir fries, soups, curries and salads.
Plus a mouthwatering display of jerky shining brilliantly under the heat lamps in one of the bain-maries.
The sheer range of dishes on offer might be hard to choose from, but today the punters’ verdict is almost unanimous. Boat noodles (kuai tiao ruea) is on just about every table. Ours included. There is a crazy number of ingredients lurking underneath that dark, mysterious soup.
Stir it all up and you’ll start to sea the wealth of treasures buried under; so many different types of pork, offal, fish balls, vermicelli, just to name a few. It’s a substantial bowl. The soup is earthy, flavoursome, though neither too salty or sweet. Add side chilli and sauces to taste. It’s the sheer volume of meat and vegetables that drives additional taste and texture.
You just can’t visit Thai Spicy without ordering a bowl of boat noodles.
noodlies likes the boat noodles.
Most will like the Penang pork, a stand alone curry dish that’s very easy to swallow. It’s creamy rich, and spicier than you’d expect from Penang curry. The pork is tender soaking in all the flavours.
Chicken larb sadly didn’t live up to the sexy #foodporn look. Dry and plain, devoid of any strong flavour; fish sauce, sourness, spiciness. The last dish to arrive, it left a disappointing after taste to an otherwise brilliant experience.
Unlike other food courts, they do deliver food to your table. Which might sound like a good thing, though in reality, when it’s busy, the staff have trouble remembering who ordered what. So be warned things are haphazard, but the staff themselves are sweet and eager to please.
Plus, bonus free tea. Just help yourselves. Tissues and condiments are stored under the huge tea pot.
Putting aside the disappointing larb gai, Thai Spicy has survived the cut-throat Cabramatta scene for over 15 years, so you know the food is competitive. Pick the right dishes and you’re on a triple winning streak of great food, cheap prices and cheery, no-nonsense service.
Thai Spicy Cabramatta is highly recommended.
Thai Spicy
No 1 Cabramatta Shopping Centre
47 Park rd, Cabramatta, NSW
0416 737 347
