Now Not Recommended Due to Decline 😔

Sawasdee Cafe | Update on Male’s Thai Eatery: Once a Southern Flavor Gem, Now Not Recommended Due to Decline 😔 This is a second edit. Recently, I’ve received many messages from friends saying, “I tried Sawasdee Cafe as you recommended, but was so disappointed” “The taste is bland, nothing like real Thai food.” To be honest, I was surprised—after all, half a year ago, I genuinely thought it was a “representative of southern Thai flavors” in Male 😮. I specifically asked a local friend who’s lived in the Maldives to revisit, and the reply was straightforward: “The kitchen staff changed, the sauce recipes were altered, even the signature curry is thin like soup.” After repeated confirmation, I must responsibly say: Sawasdee Cafe now is no longer worth a special trip 🚫. (The following is the original recommendation, for background reference only—current situation no longer applies) As someone who’s lived in the Maldives for three years and tried all Thai restaurants in Male, I once added Sawasdee Cafe to my “hidden gems list” 🌟. It hides in an alley on the west side of Male’s city center, with a faded wooden sign hanging above the door—easy to miss if you’re not looking closely. But stepping inside feels like another world: walls lined with posters of southern Thai beaches, small clay pots of basil on tables, even staff greeting you with a Thai “sawasdee ka” 🙏. What impressed me most was its “southern flavor”—unlike Sala Thai’s Bangkok street style or Thai Wok’s adapted taste, the dishes here carried the richness of Thailand’s Songkhla Province: Coconut Yellow Curry Chicken: Made with small-grain yellow curry powder unique to the south, coconut milk used sparingly, with more flavor from galangal and lemongrass. The chicken was stewed tender, with spices seeping even into the bone crevices—delicious enough to lick the plate with local long-grain rice 🤤. Basil Stir-Fried Seafood: Fresh shrimp and squid stir-fried with fish sauce, using freshly picked basil with a pungent aroma. The spiciness was “slow-burning”—mild at first, then tingling on the tongue, like eating at a night market stall in Phuket 🌶️. Green Papaya Salad: Added cherry tomatoes and raw mango, with little sugar—sour enough to make you wince but hard to stop eating. The final drizzle of fish sauce carried a hint of sea salt, a “bold” southern style 😝. Food, like the weather, is fickle. A once “treasured spot” can suddenly lose its charm due to a new chef or changed recipes 🌪️. Thanks to everyone’s feedback for helping others avoid disappointment—if I revisit and find the quality has improved, I’ll update this promptly 💬. #Maldives #MaleFood #ThaiFoodAvoid #RestaurantReviewUpdate #TravelTips