Ok Seab

Special thanks to Ok Seab for extending this food review invitation.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Restaurant Ok Seab is a new Thai restaurant near Queensbay Mall. The eatery occupies an intermediate shop at the same road as J-Garden.

Ok Seab has a family-style dining area with air conditioning. Thai pop songs in the background give this place a homely feel. Since both the owner and the chef are ethnic Thais, OK Seab's food recipes are as authentic as the ones in Thailand.

Nam Tok Mu (น้ำตกหมู, RM18.00) is a meat-based salad from northeastern Thailand. Influenced by Laotian cuisine, the dish is made of minced pork, pork liver, ground roasted rice, lime juice, fish sauce, shallots, mint leaves and chili peppers. "Nam tok" means "waterfall" in Thai. This is because the dish appears dripping in meat juice.

Red Tomyam Soup (ต้มยำแดง, RM18.00) is probably the most popular Thai dish in the world. The sour and spicy soup is infused with pungent spices and herbs. Also included is seafood like prawns and squids.

Like Malaysians, Thai people are very fond of petai (stink beans). This fact is exemplified by the next dish, Petai Fried Rice (ข้าวผัดสะตอ, RM12.90), where petai plays a unique role in terms of aroma and mouthfeel. The dish also contains chicken and prawns.

If your prefer something non-spicy, Pineapple Fried Rice (ข้าวผัดสับปะรด, RM12.90) is the right choice for you. Fragrant jasmine rice is cooked with pineapple chunks, carrots, raisins and eggs. The dish is best enjoyed while it is hot.

Pad Ped Gai (ผัดเผ็ดไก่, RM18.00) is a stir-fried chicken dish. Two types of eggplant are used: makhuea suai (มะเขือเสวย) and makhuea phuang (มะเขือพวง). The egg-sized makhuea suai is commonly used in Thai cuisine. Meanwhile, makhuea phuang resembles green peas and is slightly bitter in taste.

The key ingredient in Somtam (ส้มตำ, RM15.00) is papaya, which has a crunchy texture and tastes tangy when unripe. Other ingredients are cucumber, yardlong bean, red chili, bird's eye chili, fish sauce, palm sugar, lime and more. This classic dish combines sour, spicy, sweet, savory and salty elements to create a harmonious finish.

Moving on, Thai Pork Leg Rice (ข้าวขาหมู, RM7.90) was introduced by the Thai Chinese community in Bangkok. Stewed pig's trotter is served with pork rind (skin), soy egg and blanched vegetable. The rice dish also comes with a bowl of soup.

As for drinks, Cha Yen (ชาเย็น, RM6.90) is Thai black tea sweetened with condensed milk. Meanwhile, Nom Yen (นมเย็น, RM6.90) is made from salak syrup, condensed milk and brown sugar. There is a honeydew version too. These iced drinks are hugely popular in Thailand and are often sold by street vendors.

Besides the à la carte menu, Ok Seab also serves set meals for large groups. For instance, a 5-course meal for 7 to 8 people only costs RM99.00 (including rice and drinks). Furthermore, the proprietor of Ok Seab also owns a Thai food stall in Sungai Ara Food Court.

Name: Restaurant Ok Seab
Address: 40-G, Persiaran Bayan Indah, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-688-6300
Business hours: 11:30am-12:00am
Website: https://www.facebook.com/OK-seab-Thai-food-694343617654243
Coordinates: 5.33612 N, 100.30708 E
Directions: Ok Seab is located next to Queensbay Mall and behind Eastin Hotel. There are parking spaces in front of the shop. Alternatively, you can also park at Queensbay Mall's multistorey car park.