Ryotai Review: Thai-Japanese Green Curry Omurice Under $10 In Paya Lebar

Ryotai has green curry omurice in Paya Lebar

Image credit: Ong Zhi Yuan

Eggs over rice dishes have been a popular concept this past year, with Danlao and Running Egg being notable examples. Joining the scene is Ryotai, a hawker stall located in Guan Guan Kopitiam, just a 15-minute walk from Paya Lebar MRT Station.

Originally from Malaysia, Ryotai is known for their green curry omurice—the lovechild of Japanese omurice and Thai green curry. As a big fan of the two cuisines, I was excited to see how their fare tasted, so we dropped by one afternoon to check it out.

 

Food at Ryotai

Ryotai’s green curry omurice dish swaps out the brown-tinted Japanese curry for their version of Thai green curry. But they still retain the blanket of eggs characteristic of omurice, which is twisted into a tornado-like shape and served atop a bed of rice. Swirling these eggs into shape as they are cooked requires a fair bit of skill and practice, so compliments to the chef for doing a good job with this. 

We opted for the Chicken Karaage Eggrice ($8.90) and Prawn Katsu Eggrice ($13.90), as recommended by the stall owners. Other options include the Oyster Mushroom Eggrice ($7.90), a good choice for vegetarians, and Tempura Eggrice ($9.90). All the dishes consist of the same components, and only differ in choice of protein. 

Upon first glance, the curry was tinted a shade paler than the typical green curry I was used to. My dining companion had also remarked that the curry lacked the usual scent of the Thai dish’s aromatics, which include basil, kaffir lime leaves, green chillies, and lemongrass. I did not let that faze me yet, as I was still keen to find out how it fared flavour-wise. 

True enough, the spices took the backseat here, with the taste of cream being the most prominent. Though I did appreciate how it made the usually fiery green curry significantly less spicy, I would have preferred it to be more fragrant. We found that the curry had a sweetness that was more similar to the flavour profile of Japanese curry.

The chicken karaage was nothing to shout about, and paled in comparison to its more flavourful counterpart: the prawn katsu. The prawn katsu, which had a nice crisp exterior that wasn’t too oily, was filled with a sweet-savoury prawn paste. They did include a generous amount of meat though, which together with the egg, made for a pretty substantial and protein-heavy meal. 

I was a big fan of the tornado eggs—they were silky, smooth, and well-seasoned. Swimming in the curry were also chunks of boiled carrots and potatoes, which provided a clean break from all the cream and grease. 

Ambience at Ryotai

The new stall is located within Guan Guan Kopitiam, which is a relatively far walk from the nearest train station, Paya Lebar MRT Station. The hawker centre is surrounded by industrial and residential buildings, so it can also get pretty crowded during lunch hour. Aside from that, the space is clean and well-ventilated, making it a comfortable area to dine in. 

The verdict

The omurice dishes, albeit unique, missed the mark as we found the green curry aspect lacking in terms of aroma and spice. Nevertheless, I liked that they did not skimp on the portion sizes, making the dishes value for money. Plus, they’re pleasing to the eyes too! 

For more good eats in Paya Lebar, check out Hideout Coffee Bar for tasty sandwiches, coffee, and more. Otherwise, read our MODU review to see if the new Korean Samgyetang restaurant is worth a visit! 

 

Address: 1015 Geylang East Avenue 3, Guan Guan Kopitiam, Singapore 389730
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9:30pm
Tel: 9220 6166
Website
Ryotai is not a halal-certified eatery. 

Photos taken by Aruni Nair and edited by John Lery Villanueva.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg