One of the hawker centres stalls that we had passed by fairly recently while going around the Chinatown neighbourhood that really intrigued us was PhrikThai KuaiTiaoKai. Located in the red zone of Chinatown Complex Food Centre, PhrikThai KuaiTiaoKai occupies one of the stalls that is at the same row as the outlet of Kueh Ho Jiak in the same food centre — PhrikThai KuaiTiaoKia having captured our attention with its blue signboard that gives the stall a really contrasting look against the area of the food centre that it is being set in. Being a stall located in the hawker centre that suggests its specialisation in Thai fare based on its namesake, it seems that PhrikThai KuaiTiaoKai is a Thai stall that has a heavy emphasis on their noodle offerings. One can easily find the menu served at PhrikThai KuaiTiaoKai just beneath the signboard itself; some of its offerings include Chicken Soup with Mixed Noodles and their Signature Noodles — those looking for rice offerings can also go for the Braise Chicken Rice. PhrikThai KuaiTiaoKai also offers side dishes such as Fried Chicken Sausage, Chicken Wings and Fried Chicken Skin that can be shared across the table.

Considering how they seem to feature quite a number of dishes that comes with chicken feet, there was quite a limited number of options that we could choose here that would go in-line with our preferences to say the least. We eventually found ourselves going for their Signature Noodles — both item no. 1 and item no. 2 on the menu are Signature Noodles, though it is noted that the former comes at $5 and the latter is priced at $6.90; the latter also seemingly featuring chicken feet at least based on the illustration of the item on the menu board. Both Signature Noodles dishes come with a choice of either going for the Dry or Soup variant, while patrons are also given the flexibility to opt for the choice of noodle type that they like — the choices of noodle type available at PhrikThai KuaiTiaoKia being rice vermicelli, thin Kuay Teow, (therefore its namesake, KuaiTiaoKai), Mama noodles and Mee Pok. Since the menu illustrated the Signature Noodles to come with Mee Pok, we stuck to opting for the Mee Pok for our order. Patrons can also help themselves to the self-service condiment bar at the counter which not only comprises of various types of chili and sugar, but also stalks of coriander, beansprouts etc. that patrons can help themselves with. PhrikThai KuaiTiaoKai does not describe the elements that come with their Signature Noodles, though it is observed that the Signature Noodles (Dry) at the $5 portion includes some beansprouts, coriander, a braised chicken drumstick and daikon. Giving the entire bowl a good mix, we went for the noodles that were slurpy and springy especially given the nature of the Mee Pok’s shape — the sauce mix here would be one that is more plain than what we are more familiar with in the local Minced Meat Noodle / Fishball Noodle; something more akin to that of the lightly savoury, but hearty herbal soup that likely comes with the soup variant of the same dish.

We were recommended to mix in the dark-coloured dry chili available at the self-service area into the noodles if we would like for it to be spicy; the dry chili almost being similar to the Lao Gan Ma-esque type of chili that gives a smoky, piquant kick of spiciness that would tickle the tastebuds even for those whom are tolerable to moderate levels of spiciness — we did feel that it wasn’t exactly necessary since we liked the clean notes of the sauce mix that felt especially warm and comforting as-is. The braised chicken leg came with flesh that was especially tender; juicy and fell off the bone cleanly without much effort — all that while the daikon was cooked till soft and bore a light sweetness that lingers at the back of the tongue. The coriander helps to cut through the meatiness of the chicken drumstick and the Mee Pok with its distinct flavour, while the beansprouts provided a good crunch. The lady at the stall also highly recommended their Fried Chicken Sausage — something which we had not come across in other Thai establishments (or we might not have paid attention to it); served in a portion size of nine (9) cubes per order, it almost akin to the Otah Tofu cubes that we have had but with cleaner flavours considering it comes with white meat (chicken) here instead with a slight peppery hint to match. Whilst most Thai food establishments tend to stick to serving the usual dishes such as Pad Thai and Basil Minced Pork Rice — mostly safe options to us locals here in Singapore, it is interesting to see how PhrikThai KuaiTiaoKai attempts to create its own character through the unique offerings that they have to offer; some being a little more exotic than others. Prices of the the noodles and rice dishes at PhrikThai KuaiTiaoKai range from $5 to $12; the lowest priced item being the Signature Noodles (without Chicken Feet), while the priciest item would be the Chicken Soup with Mixed Noodles. Overall, one of the more interesting options at Chinatown Complex Food Centre that is worth trying out especially for the more adventurous!