Run by Cat, who grew up manning a food stall alongside her parents in Thailand, Nummun Thai Kitchen first opened at Thomson Imperial Court in 2020. After an immensely successful two years, opened their second location in Yishun. If the name sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because the restaurant made its way onto our guide to the best Thai food places in Singapore last year. Either that, or you’ve seen the TikToks recommending their crab meat omelette.
Seeing pictures of the dinner crowds and reading rave reviews of their original Upper Thomson location, my colleagues and I were excited to visit their new location to sample their fare.
The menu had all the usual offerings of a Thai restaurant, such as tom yum soup, stir-fried rice noodles, fried rice, pork and basil rice as well as mango and papaya salad.
Of course, we had to start with the dish that put Nummun Thai under the spotlight: Crab Meat Omelette ($28++).
Despite the high price tag, we could see why this dish is a fan favourite—the egg was well-seasoned, fluffy, and filled with a generous portion of chunky crab meat. The crab was just a tad bit overcooked, but this did not distract too much from the taste or pillowy texture of the egg.
Next was Steel Pot Vermicelli Prawn ($16++). Composed of a heaping pile of vermicelli and large prawns topped with coriander and black pepper, the dish was fragrant and slightly sweet. It also came with a zesty chilli and lime sauce that added some tanginess to the dish.
Overall, it was delicious but lacked the wok hei flavour that is typical of steel pot vermicelli. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the bounciness of the noodles and freshness of the prawns.
At first glance, the Grilled Pork Skewers ($10++ for four pieces) were plain and unassuming. But biting into it, I was greeted with a supple texture and harmonious blend of sweet and savoury notes.
The taste of the pork was elevated even further by the dip that was provided, which had strong overtones of spring onion and citrus that gave the dish a more full-bodied flavour profile.
The Tom Yum Seafood Soup ($14++) came piping hot and was kept warm by a burner underneath the pot.
Because we ordered the creamy version, the soup contained coconut milk, which lent it a touch of sweetness and balanced the acidity of its other components. Those who prefer a more prominent sour and spicy taste can order the clear version instead for the same price.
Our soup came loaded with prawns, squid, octopus and thinly sliced king oyster mushrooms. The seafood was noticeably fresh, with the squid having a firm but tender, distinctly QQ mouthfeel. Considering the flavour and quality of the soup and its ingredients, this was definitely one of the standout dishes of the whole meal.
The star for me, though, was their Thai Prawn Cakes ($12++ for five pieces). When the dish arrived, I was intrigued by the doughnut-like shape of the prawn cakes, as I was expecting more of a flatter, thick pancake appearance.
Although it’s made mostly out of ground-up prawn meat mixed with pork, the prawn cakes had a springy texture that’s similar to fresh, whole prawn.
This was coupled with the extra-crunchy breadcrumb coating, which miraculously remained crispy even after we’d left them to sit for more than an hour. They were so crispy, in fact, that my colleagues and I agreed that they tasted as if they’d been freshly fried.
While I find that Thai milk tea can sometimes be too sugary for me, Nummun Thai’s Thai Iced Milk Tea ($4++) was pleasantly sweet with a bold, spicy tea flavour that kept it from being jelak. Ultimately, it was a good accompaniment to the rest of the dishes and provided a sweet end to the meal.
Located at a 12 to 15-minute walk from Yishun MRT Station and bus interchange, Nummun Thai Kitchen occupies a small commercial space underneath an HDB block. Like its first location, its interior is simple, clean and no-frills—steel tables, chairs and stools are laid out in neat rows against a backdrop of neatly arranged food pictures and brand logos.
Perhaps because of its inconvenient location, it wasn’t too crowded when we visited on a Thursday afternoon. But many of the diners who were there were chatting cheerily in Thai, which is testament to the restaurant’s authenticity.
In summary, Nummun Thai Kitchen did not disappoint. Prices might be a little steep and its location is slightly inaccessible, but I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for classic and authentic Thai food. I won’t be surprised if their Yishun outlet attracts crowds on par with their Upper Thomson outlet in the near future.
If you’re looking for more legit Thai food, try visiting the new Thai supermarket at Aperia Mall! With their wide selection of Thai instant noodles, chips, spice pastes, drinks and more, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported right to Bangkok. Alternatively, check out Two Bake Boys for Thai-inspired desserts such as Thai Milk Tea Crepe Cake!
Address: 103 Yishun Ring Road, #01-85, Singapore 760103
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 9pm
Tel: 8866 9668
Website
Nummun Thai Kitchen is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Ke-ian Leong.
This was a media tasting at Nummun Thai Kitchen.
Summary
Pros
– Legit flavours
– Fresh seafood
– Good portion sizes
Cons
– A little pricey
– Inconvenient location
Recommended dishes: Crab Omelette ($28++), Thai Prawn Cake ($12++), Tom Yum Seafood Soup ($14++)
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 9pm
Address: 103 Yishun Ring Road, #01-85, Singapore 760103
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