Checked out the new HUE restaurant along Tyrwhitt Road — the F&B establishment that focuses on serving up modern iterations of Thai cuisine is located along the same stretch of shophouses as The Tiramisu Hero, Druggists and Black Fairy Coffee just right across Jalan Besar Stadium. From the outside, the restaurant bears a rather raw and industrial look, but the interiors reveals a really refreshing space where modern contemporary style meets an Asian theme; somehow very soothing, zen and stylish — fits into their character very well. Expect familiar Thai dishes being spruced up in their own style for that touch of modernity here, with funky names such as “Not a Tom Yum”, “Mamasan”, “Three Little Pigs” and “Padthai Remix” for their dishes — there are sections on the menu dedicated for starters, mains and dessert, while beverage options include a wide range of alcoholic options, with a small variety of non-alcoholic drinks available.

Green & Curry is pretty much a word play on the Thai Green Curry — while the Thai classic usually features seafood, chicken and beef options, here they have interestingly done one up that features an assortment of chargrilled vegetables; think items like zucchini, corn, king oyster mushroom, cherry tomato, long bean and garlic. Truth to be told, this rendition, despite sounding pretty vegetarian, was especially delicious — we wouldn’t have expected how the green curry was still as flavourful, and also appreciated the fact how the rendition here didn’t come too creamy so it did not turn into a jelak affair; instead, it was pretty delightful and easy to finish as the green curry just keeps one going for more. We also loved how the produce featured here were fresh; each carrying a texture of their own that helped to keep things interesting — that crunch from the baby corn that gave the dish a bit of sweetness, the juicy cherry tomatoes which gave a good bite and a refreshing zing that cuts through the flavours the green curry, soft bite of the zucchini, and the chewy king oyster mushroom. Needless to say, the Green & Curry would have worked best with rice on the side, but we still mopped up the plate clean nonetheless.

Thai cuisine is something that is rather difficult to justify in the realms of casual dining and fine dining establishments — especially considering how such establishments often end up using premium ingredients for their dishes, resulting in being seen as “less authentic” to the “true spirit of Thai cuisine” to some. HUE restaurant manages this aspect especially well; their touch of the modernity retains some part of the dish in it’s original form; all that whilst switching up the items for a hint of unfamiliarity that seemingly works. Having tried the few dishes that we have ordered, HUE Restaurant’s food definitely left an impression — a spot that is recommended for family gatherings, date nights or even a night’s out for those looking to spend the night with drinks and modern Thai cuisine in a swanky yet relaxing setting. Looking forward to returning to this spot to try out more items soon!