Foodie Berlin: Pan Asian Kitchen

I am craving very often for Asian food, but still haven't found what I am looking for, especially when it comes to some specific dishes I am so much in love with - like pad thai, for instance. One of the last weeks, I was wandering around Zoo, hoping to discover a place to recommend for the exquisite cuisine. As any menu seemed to be very far from my requirements, the journalistic side won and decided to explore a new place full stop. Rolled the dices and entered the Pan Asian Kitchen a relatively new place on Ansbacher Strasse. It looks very youngish, with colourful decorations matching the bowls with fruits. 

It does not look as a big investment in design, but looks friendly, a good choice for Sunday brunch of families with children or for tourists tired and hungry after long walking around the Zoo. The service is friendly and very fast and we were able to order, enjoy the food and leave in less than 50 minutes.

 We started with a green tea, a healthy addiction I acquired during my Japanese time.

We started the meal with a delicious salad, with an unexpected and unique for me combination of veggies: edamame and waterchestnuts, plus tomatoes, soya sprouts and different types of cabages. Light, an impressive portion for one person and brings back the good energy.

Unaware of the size of the dishes, we ordered a (huge) portion of veggy noodles too.Compared to the usual wok experiences, it did not have too much oil, but for a second meal, it was obviously too much. At the end of the feast, we are treated with a small bowl of fresh fruits just not too feel too guilty after so much eating. The prices are moderate, and this first experience was friendly enough to give a chance to a second meal here. 

Foodie review: Araya Thai

A visit to Araya Thai restaurant was in the cards for over a year. Tonight, after a relatively uneventful 24 hours, I wanted to see something new and after a little walk around Ku'damm, I dared to enter. It was relatively quiet for a Saturday evening - the restaurant is open in the weekend till 23.00 - with only 2 other tables taken. Inside, an intimate experience, not overcharged by decorations, with a quiet pop Thai background music. 

The service was relatively fast, and in less than 10 minutes, my Tao Hoo Phad King (tofu, with champignons and Chinese mushrooms, ginger and carots) was brought, on a hot plate. The rice, delicious and good cooked accompanied the main meal. As drinks, I wanted a green tea.  

The meal was mild, with a good combination of tastes that didn't requested additional salt or pepper. Not spicy at all, with a natural flavour of ginger that was pleasantly surprising and very tonic. The green tea helped the digestion. In the corner of the main plate, a meticulous veggie installation, made under the gracious Thai art standards. One day, will learn how to do it, I promise myself. 

I ate with pleasure and enjoy the tastes but did not feel full so decided that the rambutan compote can be a good happy ending of my late meal. And I was right. It was brought with two icecubes - don't remember when I saw the last time icecubes at a German restaurant - and tasted delicious, although a bit too sweet. 

Compared with the cheap Thai restaurants fro the Eastern side, it cannot be considered very affordable, but adding the good and fast service, the delicious meals and the diversity of the menu, I can say it is a right price (and less than 20 EUR. anyway). It also has take-away service that, as far as I observed, is ready within 15 minutes.