A Visit to Sala Thai in Male

On the evening of our layover in Male, we dragged our suitcases past Sala Thai’s green sign. Remembering the "must-visit" tags we’d seen on Xiaohongshu, we pushed the door open. Wind chimes tinkled, and a waiter led us to a window seat, where Male’s streetlights dimmed outside. The menu, a mix of Thai and English, looked "authentic enough." But this much-anticipated Thai meal ended up feeling underwhelming—not bad, but far from worth its price or fame. 💰 The Price List Hits Harder Than Tom Yum Soup The first glance at the menu made us wince. A watermelon juice cost 6.5 USD (about 47 RMB)—street vendors in Male sell fresh-pressed juice for at most 3 USD. Tom yum soup was 12.5 USD (about 90 RMB), barely bigger than a mug. Seafood pad thai, 16 USD (about 115 RMB), with only a handful of shrimp. The most absurd? "Stir-fried shrimp with egg crumbs" for 23.5 USD (about 170 RMB)—when it arrived, there were just 7-8 shrimp on the plate, coated in oily egg crumbs, with unremoved veins. With 10% service charge and 12% tax added, four items (two juices + three dishes) totaled nearly 70 USD (about 500 RMB). My travel buddy, holding an empty watermelon juice cup, chuckled: "This price would get us two meals of the same in Bangkok—plus mango sticky rice." 🍲 So Salty, We Chugged Water Like It Was a Mission As a die-hard Thai food fan, I’m strict with tom yum soup: it should sting with sourness, burn with spiciness, and balance coconut cream with shrimp freshness. But the first spoonful of Sala Thai’s tom yum made me frown—its dark broth had shrimp flavor drowned out by heavy salt, with barely any coconut milk. By the third sip, my throat felt tight, and I had to chug watermelon juice to cope. The seafood pad thai looked decent—noodles stir-fried to separate strands, with plenty of peanuts and bean sprouts. But the sauce was over-salted; after two bites, I craved plain rice ( no plain rice on the menu, just 10 USD lemongrass rice). The "shrimp with egg crumbs" was worse: the shrimp were fresh, but the seasoning was just salt and oil, with egg crumbs charred black—no hint of Thai spice layers. The only winner? Watermelon juice—freshly squeezed, perfectly sweet, with fine ice. I wanted a refill, but the price made me put the cup down. 🧐 All Three Tables Were Chinese—Thanks to Xiaohongshu? During the meal, there were only three tables occupied, and all guests spoke Chinese. A girl at the next table snapped photos, saying: "Xiaohongshu says it’s a must-eat. We’re here, so we have to check in." Chatting with the waiter while paying, he laughed: "Chinese love this place, every day." I get the "check-in mindset"—in an unfamiliar city, following popular guides feels safer. But Sala Thai felt like a spot that "gets tourists": visible location, Thai-style decor, easy name, hyped by platforms—naturally becoming a "layover favorite." But in terms of taste, it’s no match for local joints in Male; in terms of price, it’s clearly marked with a "tourist tax." Leaving the restaurant, the sea breeze carried salt, and the lingering saltiness in my mouth wouldn’t fade. Suddenly, I realized "not recommended" in travel is sometimes more useful than "must-eat"—it reminds you that places hyped by trends don’t always live up to your expectations (or wallet). If you must eat Thai in Male, walk a few more blocks for a crowded local spot. At least there, tom yum won’t be so salty it makes you question life, and the price won’t make you want to slap your thigh after paying. #MaleRestaurants #MaleThaiFood #MaldivesLayover #TravelPitfalls