Basil and Curry Thai Kitchen

160 days later.

It’s not a really poor attempt at naming a Danny Boyle zombie apocalypse spin off. How long the HMRC keep you waiting on hold? Not quite. The amount of time I’ll spend in disbelief at The 1975 headlining Glastonbury? Not that either.

It’s the last date I published a blog post.

I can only apologise for my long term absence, my personal life has been exceptionally busy and I’ve been focused continuing my career on an upward trajectory. After the Christmas period, spending a personal break in Seville at the end of January, and half of February on a project in Manila, the blog is back.

Basil and Curry Thai Kitchen sits at the former Malai Thai site, on Caroline Street.

The critically acclaimed Malai Thai was always on my list of places to visit, but unfortunately I never made the trip. Fortunately, Basil and Curry Thai Kitchen has taken their place, and after traipsing through town on a gloomy February Thursday lunch time, and recently reading positive thoughts from Jon of The Plate Licked Clean, I decided to pop in.

It made me feel slightly sad sitting in the window and viewing swarms of diners making their way in and out of Five Guys and Wingstop, both located opposite. There was a suspicious amount of Trapstar tracksuits on show in Wingstop, possibly swinging by after fashion week in Paris.

Their lunch time menu offers great appeal with a variety of curries, stir fries, and noodle dishes available for only £9.99 a hit between 12pm-1:30pm through the week. I’m unsure why the menu states 11:30am if they open at 12pm.

My first impressions are good. The two ladies working have bags of character, one manning the hatch to take orders as FOH, who I’ve since come to know is called On, and another cooking on the line BOH.

I order a Tom Yum Noodle Soup, and am asked by the lady BOH if I would like this hot. When my response is “yes” On discreetly suggests I may prefer it medium, or else it will be “too hot”. I accept her kindly advice.

Not long after ordering at the hatch and taking my seat back in the window, On frantically runs out asking for help. She leads me into the kitchen where a pipe has burst and water is gushing everywhere - after several unsuccessful attempts to fix the issue, I end up taking my seat wetter than a 20 something old at a Harry Styles concert.

The aftermath of the kitchen incident.

After my pathetic attempt at becoming a plumber, I’m offered a handful of pound coins from the till as a thank you, which I politely decline.

The soup arrives and it’s well worth the tenner I’ve paid. Hot, sour, and packed with noodles, vegetables, and chicken.

I greedily slurp my way through the entirety of it’s contents and leave with a big smile on my face, partly because of my lunch, and partly because the staff have brightened up my day.

My return trip at the start of March sees another empty restaurant at lunch time and more Trapstar tracksuits in and out of Wingstop. On is now working BOH on the line, and a lady named Tip is FOH.

Tip worked at Malai Thai from the beginning of their residency, and states the menu hasn’t adjusted much since the ownership changed hands. Interestingly - or perhaps conflictingly - On also works part time at Giggling Squid, which Tip describes as “more for white people”. It’s hard to disagree with her. Those who keenly follow my Instagram will know my feelings towards places like Giggling Squid - who are more focused on the aesthetics of their restaurant chains than the quality of their over-priced food.

The Pad Ka Prow is another hearty portion, spiked with Birds Eye chilli for a pleasant kick, alongside a mountain of rice. On describes it as “European hot” - I’ll be bold (or stupid) enough to attempt the Thai hot next time.

Cardiff city centre isn’t short of on-the-go affordable lunch time options, Fresh are likely top of that pile, plus with the sustained success of stalls in Cardiff Market which include - amongst many others: Dirty Gnocchi, Tukka Tuk Canteen, Ffwrnes, Pierogi, and Bao Selecta. I’d recommend adding Basil and Curry Thai kitchen to that lunch time list.