Cafe Isan - Relish uthentic Thai food in a quirky modern style
Cafe Isan is located in cluster 'M' in JLT, very easy to locate. As we entered we saw that the place is very colorful and has a quirky feeling to it. The chairs, tilings etc are in all different colors and add that zest to the cafe giving it a very earth feel. It is one of those carefree places where you go in shorts and kick your flip flops and enjoy the Isan food.
Isan is one of the largest regions in Thailand and the recipe and food is originated from there
Food :
We ordered the
1. Som Tum Isan (pla ra)- Papaya salad. Too spicy but we loved it. The addition of crab to the salad just gives the taste and tastes so fresh.
2. Nam Nua Isan Beef Sausage - Fried minced beef served with banana leaf. This a perfect appetizer to have with your drink if you're just at the cafe for snacks.
3. The Colonel's Beef Noodles- Our favorite! This is their signature soup noodle dish, they give you a special sauce in addition to the soup which adds flavor and substance to the dish. I was too full as this was the last dish at the table but still finished it all.
4. Green/Yellow/Massaman curries- We would pick the yellow curry out of the three. P.S. The green curry lacked a bit of flavor.
Desserts:
1: Mango Sticky rice: I don't think Thai restaurants or cafes can go wrong with this. This is the most safest dessert to order at any Thai place. I was in Malaysia for a year and my friends and I would just go to this particular Thai joint every weekend to have mango sticky rice after our dinner.
2: Chocolate Spring rolls: The chocolate used in the roll was perfect. I was expecting it to be Hershey's syrup but no, it was so different and rich, complementing the ice cream. Perfect dish to cool off in the summer.
Drinks:
1. Fresh Coconut Water :- A refreshing drink in this hot Dubai weather. Its fresh and cold!
2. Thai Iced Tea: A lot of people dont enjoy thai iced tea but we truly did. This drink gives you a tea taste rather than just sugar sold in supermarkets.
In total, I would totally go back to cafe Isan. It's a perfect balance of decor and food. They have live bands in the evening, adding a different Thai experience for people.
Food: 4/5 (Chef New and team, well done!)
Ambience: 6/5
Staff: 5/5
Recommendations:- Go for the beef noodle soup, Papaya salad and enjoy the live bands.
