Soi 38 Adelaide — Restaurant in Adelaide

I am quiet surprised to be writing the review for SOi38 that i am.

I had read so much about it, I had read how amazing and special it is.

I took my Thai girlfriend for lunch thinking it would be special for her being written about so highly. We had the Taste of Asia option where you pay $68 per person and they bring out a series of dishes to share with who you are with.

I added a couple of dishes to start with. I added the prawn spring roll and the miang khan. The prawn spring roll was perfect. The miang khan was ok, but being a blue swimmer crab lover i found the other flavours overpowered the blue swimmer crab.

The first starter of the taste of Asia was some pork crackle with a sauce.

The next round was buffalo tartare with betel leaf and papaya salad and some steamed rice. My gf loved the buffalo tartare but was turned off by the papaya salad, one of the reasons was the ingredients had just been cut and mixed for the salad, they had not been pounded in a giant mortar and pestle which is traditional to bring out all of the flavours and let them mix.

The next course was a surprise, I had never seen this before and it was actually really nice. It was the sago cracker with duck. Very nice guys.

Next dishes were prawn with glass noodles and pork belly also squid salad with banana blossom and chili jam. The prawns from this dish were amazing, they were cooked perfectly and tasted just right. The rest of the dish was a let down, the noodles were too wet and the flavour was lacking. This was the same complaint with the squid, there was just a lack of flavour, nothing punching out.

The last course was choo chii garfish in a nice red curry and water spinach. The garfish was nice, but again the flavours were sort of underwhelming. The water spinach on the other hand was lovely very nice.

I dont know if Soi38 had been over written about in the media leading to higher expectations, or it is a trend that my girlfriend and I think has happened around Adelaide. We eat at lots restaurants from different nationalities and we find that they Australian down the food. They dont stay traditional. I think they fear Australians will not like the traditional foods.

Soi38 needed more flavours, more of the sour, sweet and saltiness and heat that Thai food is known for.

It was an ok lunch, it may have been better if my gf was not Thai and both of us have eaten lots of traditional Thai food.

Total cost for lunch including the 2 extra entree's, and the only drink was sparking water. $175

I had to come back and edit my review, i forgot something that was very important and stood out at lunch. Our waiter, she was exceptional. Very friendly, knowledgeable, prompt and helpful. Thankyou for the...

🌟 * Dining Experience at @soi.38 Adelaide * 🌟

If you're a fan of authentic Thai cuisine or simply in search of a remarkable dining experience in Adelaide, look no further than Soi 38. From the moment we walked through the doors, we were captivated by the vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. The decor perfectly blends traditional Thai elements with contemporary design, creating a cozy and inviting space that immediately sets the tone for an exceptional meal.

Our culinary journey began with a selection of appetizers that were both visually stunning and incredibly delicious. Each bite was tender, juicy, crispy, and bursting with flavour, offering a tantalizing glimpse of the culinary delights that lay ahead.

For our main course, we indulged in a variety of dishes that showcased the rich, aromatic flavours of Thai cuisine. Crispy pork belly with vegetables was a highlight, featuring perfectly cooked pork belly and chilli spices with crispy vegetables is a harmonious balance of sweet, sour, and savory notes. Equally impressive was the chicken massaman, a symphony of flavours with tender chicken pieces, vibrant vegetables, and a creamy, coconut-infused sauce that provided just the right amount of heat.

The dessert was no less impressive. We couldn't resist trying the black Sticky Rice, a classic Thai treat that provided the perfect end to our meal. The sweet, ripe lagoon paired with the creamy coconut sticky rice was a match made in heaven, leaving us thoroughly satisfied and eager to return.

What truly set our dining experience apart was the impeccable service. The staff at Soi 38 were attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the food they were serving. They took the time to explain each dish, offered recommendations, and ensured that our dining experience was nothing short of perfect.

Whether you're a longtime fan of Thai cuisine or looking to explore new culinary horizons, Soi 38 promises an unforgettable dining experience that will leave you coming back for more. Highly...

We had heard so many great things about Soi 38, however we left thinking it was very average.

The quality of the ingredients used was good, however flavours were bland for Thai.

The main issue is that one of us had multiple allergies. We are aware this makes it difficult and the first thing when ordering is advise of the allergies and check which dishes are possible. Our server did not make any notes, despite us telling him he should be considering the number of allergies. His reponse was no, it’s all good. He even asked whether it was ok for some of the allergENS to be in things like sauces etc…no, they’re ALLERGIES.

The meals come out, and one of them looks like it has egg, one of the allergens. When questioned, he said No that’s just tofu. We insisted he check with the kitchen and we were correct. It was not tofu, it was egg. He did not even apologise, just said “Oh I forgot that one”… that’s why we asked you to write them down. He then asked if we wanted to keep it, with no offer of remaking or reordering a new dish. But why? When the person ordering it cannot eat it?? We asked for it to be remade without egg, by the time the new meal came the other people had already finished eating.

Once receiving the bill, we had also been charged twice for the dish despite not keeping the original mistake.

Yes, it was resolved with no hassle which was appreciated. But it was very disappointing that they were so flippant and dismissive about allergies in every single conversation that was had. Meanwhile one of the kitchen staff had their pants falling off their bum - we’re at a nice dinner and constantly seeing a plumbers crack. There was a decent wait once arriving before being acknowledged and seated.

All in all, it was an average experience. the food was nice but not great, the service had issues but...