To say that I really like tom yum soup can be an understatement. It’s a special story now that the climate’s so sizzling, although. Few issues can compel me to readily take pleasure in a piping sizzling bowl and sweat greater than I have already got within the sweltering warmth. Effectively, Northern Thai did simply that.
Particularly, I had salivated over numerous reels showcasing their distinctive speciality of creamy Northern Thai-style tom yum. I merely had to acquire myself a bowl, pronto.
Northern Thai sits inconspicuously on the primary ground of Berseh Meals Centre in Jalan Besar. Headed by a plain yellow signboard, the no-frills stall may very well be simply neglected if it hadn’t made its rounds by way of social media.
It has a easy menu of simply 2 objects: the famed ‘creamy’ N.T. Tom Yum (S$5) and common Clear Tom Yum (S$5). You possibly can add Noodles, Bee Hoon or Steamed Rice to your soup for an extra S$0.50.
On the reins of the range is a lone aunty who hails from Thailand. Name her a superwoman if you’ll; she single-handedly cooks each bowl to order. Simple because the menu is, that is no simple feat. She’s so busy that cashiering is self-service.
Unbeknownst to many, this not-so-hidden gem has been nestled in Berseh for 8 years and in Singapore for practically 2 many years. I chatted with the aunty about her stall’s current fame, to which she divulged that she will get somewhat wired by the every day queues as a lot as she’s heartened by the help.
I couldn’t assist however really feel a twinge of guilt about how I used to be there to take pleasure in her meals and write about it. However hey, how may I not share about good meals?
What I attempted at Northern Thai
For sure, I began with a bowl of N.T. Tom Yum with Noodles (S$5.50). A single phrase left my mouth the second I acquired it: wow. Its presentation alone was a sight to behold — curly immediate noodles immersed in a milky orange broth, adorned with a beneficiant portion of fried fish and an array of different elements that peeked out. It was nothing wanting a feast for my eyes and my urge for food.
In fact, I went straight for a spoonful of that engaging broth. I’d describe its consistency as a pleasant stability between broth and gravy — thicker than that of conventional tom yum soups we’re accustomed to, but runnier and lighter than zhup. It had a velvety texture that glided down my throat with a lot ease. Oh, simply think about how divine this might be on a cold day…
Style-wise, it supplied a well-rounded profile of tangy and umami flavours, complemented by zesty notes of lemongrass and fragrant makrut lime leaves. There have been additionally distinct undertones of coconut milk that lent it a creamy richness that wasn’t jelak within the least.
Nonetheless, the broth leaned in the direction of the milder facet as a complete. For one, it bore solely a muted trace of spice that was nowhere close to the fiery kick I so love in tom yum. That apart, it may undoubtedly do with a contact extra acidity, maybe from extra lemongrass or a spritz of lime. Nonetheless, not a single drop was left in that bowl.
“The place have I tasted this earlier than?” I puzzled as I took my first slurp of noodles. That they had a definite springiness and thinness in contrast to that of standard immediate noodles. After which it hit me; these have been none aside from the famed MAMA noodles from Thailand! Solution to keep true to their roots.
The noodles held up properly, every strand sustaining a satisfyingly agency chunk at the same time as they soaked up the wealthy flavours of the soup. Their wheaty undertones lent the tangy and creamy soup a sure depth that enriched its total flavour. In my view, the noodles actually tied the already-delicious dish collectively.
The bowl was loaded with a portion of elements so beneficiant that I may barely fathom the way it set me again simply S$5.50. No, actually — it was chock stuffed with fried and recent fish slices alongside a mess of different elements like tomato, tofu, prawn and onion slices.
Of all of the parts, I particularly loved the fried fish slices. Every hefty piece was calmly battered, providing a pleasant crisp that rendered a pleasant distinction to the recent, tender flesh inside. I used to be too engrossed in devouring them to depend, however there should’ve been no less than 4 items within the bowl — rating!
The recent fish slices weren’t shabby both, imparting a refined refreshing sweetness to every mouthful.
I figured it was solely truthful that I gave the Clear Tom Yum (S$5)a try to opted to pair it with Steamed White Rice (S$0.50). Based mostly on appearances alone, the clear broth struck me as significantly ‘calmer’ than its creamy counterpart. The aunty supplied to sprinkle in a spoonful of chilli flakes, to which I nodded enthusiastically.
A scoop and splash of the broth revealed it to be of a a lot soupier and runnier consistency.
To my dismay, it had a mellow flavour profile with current however muted notes of umami and acidity. This was admittedly perplexing, contemplating how I had anticipated that the absence of coconut milk would enable the broth’s ‘pure’ flavour to shine by way of and provides the dish its attribute tang and full-bodiedness.
The addition of chilli flakes additionally didn’t lend the soup as a lot of a kick as I’d’ve preferred.
Now, don’t get me incorrect; I do assert that it’s an okay tom yum soup, however undoubtedly one which paled compared to its creamy counterpart.
Regardless of the broth’s shortcomings, the plethora of elements inside proved to be a redeeming issue. Whereas I’ve already spoken sufficient in regards to the pleasurable fried fish and recent fish slices, it’s a great juncture to reward the addition of crispy battered bits, which added an eggy flavour and a enjoyable crunch to the dish.
I additionally appreciated the freshness and crunchiness of the prawn, the silkiness of the tofu and the piquancy of the onion slices, all of which added depth to every spoonful of broth. The Clear Tom Yum is unquestionably finest loved in its entirety.
Closing Ideas
The place private preferences are involved, my solely critique of Northern Thai lies with their base tom yum broth, which tended in the direction of a gentle flavour profile that didn’t fairly swimsuit my choice for stronger and punchier flavours. Nonetheless, this can be a minor problem that might simply be remedied with a contact extra acidity and spice.
Whereas I wouldn’t exaggerate and declare it the most effective tom yum in Singapore, I have to concede that the N.T. Tom Yum was the star of the present. Creamy, velvety and loaded with elements, it’s actually a dish which you can’t discover wherever else. On that observe, I’d say that it unquestionably lives as much as the hype and is well worth the queue.
Conversely, the Clear Tom Yum didn’t impress me as a lot. Nonetheless, I’d advocate it to these with lighter palates. In addition to, it does provide wonderful worth for cash as with its creamy counterpart — a enormous plus within the grand scheme of issues.
