myElephant Happy Mansion

September 2011

There’s nothing not to like about Thai food – the only problem has been where to find it. Answer: myElephant in PJ. It isn’t easy to locate: it occupies a spot in the car park of a decrepit-looking apartment block on an anonymous suburban street. It doesn’t matter; you will do yourself a service by seeking it out. Inside, it is a white, modern, rectangular-shaped space, filled with utilitarian tables, clothed in paper. A cutesy corner is decorated by a huge orange lanternlamp, replete with small stuffed elephants and portraits of elephants adorning the wall. Hence, the name.

The service is individualistic – one engaging waiter points out the merits (‘this is very tasty, very sour’) and pitfalls (‘don’t try this, it’s not nice’) of the menu although we can honestly find no fault with it. The two of us order enough for three and love just about everything.

Dishes are mainly curries and salads. Phet yeang nam tok, a roast duck salad with mint leaves, red onion and Thai coriander, was dressed with a good helping of tangy salad dressing. The duck was the star, marinated in a sweet sauce that we couldn’t discern but was delicious all the same. The inevitable tom yum soup – a majestic broth laden with prawns, squid and oyster musrooms – was an ideal blend of sour and spicy. Even a more familiar dish, like the deep-fried prawn green curry (goong tod geang kiaw wan), is a cut above with a creamy yet spicy curry that you couldn’t help spooning straight from the bowl.

The one letdown was the jasmine and brown rice that accompanied everything – slightly hard and stuck together – which made the fact that it was unlimited disappointing. You wouldn’t want to choose a dessert, which is just as well as they’ll only have one on offer (it was red ruby when we went). And we couldn’t possibly have another mouthful of food, more’s the pity. Syazlynia Rahim

Awards

myElephant was shortlisted in the Best Thai/Indochinese category of the Time Out KL Food Awards 2011. Our food awards are 100% voted for by the people of KL. This way, we guarantee that popularity and consistent performance is rewarded.