Ladyboy Dining
394 Bridge Road, Richmond
03 9421 3206
Thai
$$$
Food
- Sai Oue (Spicy Pork Sausage)
- Thai Ceviche (Lime Cured Salmon)
- Larb Chicken (Mince Chicken)
- Somtum (Papaya Salad With Prawns)
- Pad See Ew
- Lamb Shank Massaman
- Penang Curry With Great Southern Beef Rib
- Jasmine Rice
- Roti
- Coconut Ice Cream
- Steamed Pandan & Palm Sugar Pudding
- Smoked Coconut Cheesecake
The Good
The Lamb Shank Massaman was absolutely delectable. Beautifully presented with a whole lamb shank served within a bowl of flavourful and aromatic Massaman curry, it was definitely a sight to behold. Digging into the dish revealed exceptionally tender and succulent protein that simply melted away in your mouth. This was well complemented by the flavoursome and creamy curry sauce, though we could've done with more spices within to give it an extra kick in flavour. All served with soft and chunky cuts of potatoes, and pile on some fragrant rice, it was a dish no one could have enough of!
We also enjoyed the Penang Curry with Great Southern Beef Rib. Not dissimilar to the lamb shank, this curry definitely packed a greater punch in terms of spice. Unfortunately, we found the meat to be less tender than the lamb, though it remained exceedingly flavourful and bursting with beef aroma. The crunch components provided by the cashews were definitely a welcome addition to the dish, and it was perfectly accompanied by the still-warm roti.
We also enjoyed the Pad See Ew, which was a stir fry of thick cut rice noodles and pork belly. The pork itself was nicely charred and the fatty bits provided great flavour. This was well complemented by the soft rice noodles as well as the shallots. Although we would've preferred a drier, less wet version of the dish, the resultant dish remained quite enjoyable and tasty overall.
The Mediocre
The Smoked Coconut Cheesecake was not to our palate unfortunately. Unveiled with much theatrical factor, the smoke was not merely for show, but was also strongly infused within the cheesecake. While we are normally lovers of all cheesecake, we felt the smokiness overpowered and masked the taste of the cheesecake itself. Despite the sweetness of the Oreo crumbs base, the overbearing taste of smoke resulted in a savoury sensation, and definitely not what we were looking for in a cheesecake.
We also found the majority of the entrees rather unimpressive in terms of taste. While all had the common theme of strong spiciness, some dishes had such overwhelming hotness that it took away from the actual flavour of the ingredients. In particular, the spicy pork sausage packed a punch in terms of heat, yet lacked much depth in flavour.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
While we note that the dishes served tonight was definitely geared towards a more Western palate, LadyBoy undoubtedly offers a fairly tasty and modern rendition on traditional Thai cuisine.
With a large open garden and plenty of natural light, the venue is definitely well suited to those looking to grab something light and tasty when out for a drink.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
I'd be back for more of that tasty Lamb Shank for sure!
Penguineats would like to thank Ladyboy Dining for inviting us to sample their food.