CEBU, Philippines - The Cebuano palate was introduced to authentic Thai dishes when Pongpoj Hiranpruck and his Cebuana wife Carol opened Krua Thai nine years ago. In preparation for their 10th year of serving authentic Thai dishes to Cebuanos, the restaurant now sports a new name, Royal Krua Thai, a new menu, and a new look.
Jim Hiranpruck, son of Pongpoj and Carol and manager of Royal Krua Thai in SM and Banilad Town Center, said the restaurant chain may have a lot of things upgraded, but their prices have remained the same.
“My parents thought of upgrading our name, our menu and the ambiance at the restaurant as an added value to our loyal patrons who have been with us for 9 years,” he said.
The word “krua,” Jim explained, is Thai for “kitchen” and “Royal Krua Thai” means “royal Thai kitchen.” The restaurant’s new look, he said, is patterned after the palace of the King of Thailand. “Yellow is the color of the King of Thailand and purple and blue is the color of the Queen. Our interiors are patterned after the royal palace. The wallpaper is almost the same as what is in the palace,” he said.
Royal Krua Thai’s menu, too, is fit for royalty. Jim said that aside from using 95 percent authentic Thai ingredients for the dishes they serve, some of the dishes that are created by the restaurant’s brilliant team of four Thai chefs are really what the royalty in Thailand eat.
Among the new things in Royal Krua Thai’s menu are Fried Fish in Fish Sauce, Fish Mouth in Gravy Sauce and Three Musketeers with Mango Salad, which is composed of fish mouth, salmon skin and Thai chicharon. For desert, Royal Krua Thai’s latest addition is the Thai Coconut Ice Cream with Sticky Rice. Jim explained that the coconut ice cream they serve is homemade.
For authentic Thai cuisine that is fit for royalty, Royal Krua Thai at SM City Cebu and the Banilad Town Center are the places to be.