TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Som Chai in Seminyak, Bali, can be considered to be one of Bali`s Thai restaurants that serve halal menus. The chef of this restaurant uses accepted food ingredients and spices in the halal diet.
During Tempo`s visit in early February, we ordered multiple foods such as a crispy whole piece, Panang curry, and grilled prawn and pomelo. “Those are all halal,” said Mayang, a public relation staff at the restaurant.
The chef did not just adjust most of the foods to be halal but the distinctive Thai cuisine was also readjusted to cater to the Indonesian palate or appetite. For example, the Panang curry or beef curry that is cooked with rich coconut oil but was married with spices that are not too overpowering.
Read: Sandiaga Explains Halal Tourism Concept for Jakarta
Meanwhile, the crispy whole piece is a crunchy deep fried carp presented with extra crisps, which acts similar to Indonesian krupuk or light taste crackers as the side dish to many Indonesian foods.
We ended our halal Thai food dinner at Som Chai with well-done grilled prawns and pomelo. The freshly grilled prawns are really complemented by the addition of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
The Thai food restaurant theme also caught our eyes which was distinctively Thailand fine dining with the combination of gold, yellow, and black filling the whole dining room that also opens for lunch. “We also serve lunch,” said Mayang.
Som Chai is open from 12:00 to 15:30 for lunchtime and for dinner, it is open from 18:30 to 23:00 Central Indonesia Time (WITA). The menus sold here start from Rp70,000 up to Rp190,000.
Francisca Christy Rosana
