NOW that I’ve had some scrumptious dishes at Sukniyom Thai Restaurant, I’m raring to go for another lunch there. There are lots more on the menu that we have not explored in this hidden gem of a place in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

From the clear seafood tom yum to the mango salad, seafood otak otak in coconut, green pork curry, deep-fried chicken tendons and casseroled shrimps with glass noodles, there was nothing we didn’t like that was served to us.

The friend dining with us was absolutely delighted with the deep-fried chicken tendons, scattered with deep-fried kaffir lime leaves and Thai basil (RM20).

The tendons were served with a spicy tamarind sauce. They made tasty, crispy bites, touching the soft cartilage beneath the skin and were perfect with the tangy dip.

The clear seafood tom yum (RM35) came lukewarm instead of hot, so we fiddled with the flame beneath the pot and got it to the right temperature for us.

The flavours opened up then, with the fragrance of the kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, sawtooth coriander, lengkuas and other herbs coming through. It was hot and sour enough, laced with the sweetness of prawns, squid, fish slices, tomatoes and chunks of eringi mushroom.

The main event was surely the seafood otak otak in coconut (RM59). The creamy and spicy coconut sauce spilled over; the prawns peeped out from the coconut.

We dug in, pulling out the prawns together with the mousse-like filling scented with herbs and roots. Inside, too, were squid and chunks of fish.

Altogether it was so delicious. We scraped the sides of the coconut clean with a spoon, turning out sweet young coconut flesh.

Well-balanced sweet, sour and hot flavours kicked in as we savoured the mango salad (RM20). It had a generous topping of crispy, tiny dried shrimps and some peanuts.

It was one of the best Thai mango salads I have had.

I’m always in search of a good green curry, and I found it in Sukniyom.

Our Thai green pork curry (RM30) looked deceptively light and diluted but it packed some awesome flavours.

The meat was tender and there were lots of small eggplants in it. The scent of kaffir lime leaves and Thai basil was significant and delightful. The leftover curry was even better when I heated it up for another meal at home.

Another dish that I would order here again would be the casseroled shrimps with glass noodles (RM49.90). Wonderful aromas wafted up from the claypot as we helped ourselves to the glass noodles.

We turned up whole fried garlic and peppercorns, and the noodles were soaked up in the sweet juices of the prawns tempered with a little fish sauce, and scented with roots and herbs. A generous sprinkling of fresh Chinese celery added to our enjoyment of it.

An afterthought order was the grilled pork neck with Thai spicy sauce (RM30). The meat was smoky and moist, and delicious with the spicy tamarind sauce.

On my next visit, I would like to try the shrimp sashimi with spicy fish sauce served on a spoon, tom sab pork rib soup, green curry fried rice and pad thai.

Sukniyom Thai Restaurant is at 23-2, Jalan PJU 5/18 Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya. Call 03-6150 3353 for enquiries. It is closed on Wednesdays. – August 13, 2022.

* Eu Hooi-Khaw has been writing about food for the longest time, covering all aspects, from restaurant reviews to cooking and recipes, as well as the healthy side of it. She has written for major newspapers and magazines, published the cookbook Fresh Ingredients, and also writes for her website hooikhawandsu.com.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.