Spicy Squid Steals the Show, But I Miss Chinese Thai Food Stalls 😂

Wandering around Malé, I ducked into a Thai restaurant figuring I’d just grab a quick bite. Turns out, a few home-style dishes won me over—not amazing, but in a city with limited options, it’s a decent “upgrade” from basic meals. Though when I saw the bill, I suddenly missed those Chinese Thai joints where you can eat your fill for ¥50 per person, and couldn’t help laughing. 🍳 Food Review: Surprises and “Not My Taste” 🌟 Must-Praise! Spicy Squid and Egg Rolls—Clean Plate Alert Spicy Stir-Fried Squid: The star of the meal! The squid was cut thick, coated in a thin layer of starch, fried to a crispy edge but still chewy inside. The sauce was sweet-spicy, mixed with the aroma of onions and scallions—just spicy enough to whet the appetite. I mopped up every last drop of sauce with rice, it was that good. Egg Rolls: Plain-looking but clever! The egg wrapper was golden and crispy, rolled with glass noodles and carrot shreds. One bite, and it “crunched”—the filling had a faint fish sauce scent, not oily or heavy, like a childhood “egg roll snack”—simple but tasty. 🌶️ A Bit of a Letdown? Tom Yum and Curry Chicken Signature Tom Yum Soup: The spices were way too bold! The first sip hit me with a strong lemongrass and galangal kick, with whole kaffir lime leaves floating in it. The sour-spicy was intense, but the spices overshadowed the seafood’s freshness—by the end, it tasted more like a “spice soup” than tom yum. Maybe too “authentic” for my palate. Curry Chicken: Mediocre, like it came from a “assembly line.” The curry sauce was thin and coconutty, the chicken was a bit dry and tough, and the long-grain rice was hard and dry. Even mixed with curry, it didn’t save the dish—“edible but not worth reordering.” 🍚 Seafood Fried Rice: Small Portion Feeds Two I asked for a “small portion,” but was shocked when it arrived—a huge plate piled high with shrimp, squid pieces, and fish chunks. The rice was fried to separate grains with a smoky wok aroma, though the seasoning was mild. We split it, and there was still half a bowl left—generous to a fault. 💰 Price Shock: Service Charge + Tax = Double the Domestic Cost I froze when I saw the bill: a few dishes plus two drinks, with 8% service charge and 10% tax, came to over ¥600. Suddenly, I thought of the Thai restaurant near my home in China—¥50 per person gets you tom yum, pineapple rice, stir-fried veggies, plus free sago dessert. Haha, Male’s prices really are full of “surprises.” 🌧️ Rainy Male: No Gift Shops, Stuck at the Airport After eating, it suddenly poured. I’d planned to pop into some gift shops, but Male’s streets have poor drainage—puddles went past my ankles, so I gave up. The city gets dark early at night, with dim streetlights and few open shops. I just hailed a taxi back to the airport—¥8 from the restaurant, not cheap but manageable. At the airport, I wanted to rest, but luggage storage was $7 per bag. I ended up dragging my suitcase to a corner and waiting for my flight. The rain kept falling, and I stared at the wet streets outside, suddenly missing China’s lively night markets and ¥5 iced Thai milk. All in all, this Thai spot can satisfy a “Thai food craving,” but the value is so-so. If you’re stuck for options in Male, give it a try—but if you’re price-sensitive, maybe a convenience store sandwich isn’t that bad. Haha. #MaleFood #MaldivesThaiFood #TravelEats #MaleRestaurantHopping