Soi 38 Melbourne — Restaurant in Melbourne

Soi 38: An Unconventional Culinary Oasis in Melbourne's Concrete Jungle.

In a city where culinary adventures are as common as trams, Melbourne's Soi 38 stands out as a hidden gem that beckons the senses and promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of Thai street food. Nestled within a car park, this unassuming eatery transports you to the vibrant stalls of Bangkok's night markets. It's a place that would make even the most seasoned foodie like myself sit up and take notice.

As I walked through the gritty underbelly of the city, I couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue. A restaurant in a car park? Surely, this had to be more than just a gimmick. And indeed, it was.

From the moment you step foot into Soi 38, the aromatic symphony of sizzling woks, fragrant herbs and the distant hum of traffic becomes your new reality. The plastic chairs and tables might not be three hat material, but that's precisely the point. This is where authenticity thrives and pretentiousness takes a backseat.

The menu reads like a passport to Thailand's culinary wonders. What truly sets Soi 38 apart, however, is the authenticity it champions. This isn't a place for the Instagram-hungry hunting for fleeting moments of online fame. No, this is a shrine to the food, the experience, and the stories it unfolds.

Soi 38 serves it up with a fiery passion. We started our voyage with the Hamachi Kingfish Ceviche, a revelation of flavors and textures. The freshness of the kingfish, the spiciness of the sauce and the decadence of the salmon roe came together in a harmonious symphony that sang in my mouth. The garlic and dill added an unexpected twist, like a plot twist in a well-crafted novel.

Next up, the Raw Salmon sashimi in fermented fish sauce. This dish is not for the faint of heart, as the fermented fish sauce packs a punch that lingers on the palate. It's a love-it-or-hate-it experience, and I found myself on the love side of the equation. The boldness of this dish is a tribute to Thai cuisine's fearless approach to flavours.

The Crying Tiger, a Double cooked, marinaded Black Angus Brisket served with house dipping sauce, was a carnivore's dream. The brisket was tender yet charred to perfection, and the dipping sauce was an enchanting blend of smoky, sweet, and spicy. I could almost hear the sizzle and crackle of the grill in the back kitchen.

The Instant noodle salad, dressed with fermented fish sauce and topped with deep-fried pork neck, was a revelation. The crispy pork neck, a textural marvel, complemented the zingy fish sauce dressing. It was as if I was transported to a bustling street stall in Bangkok, the aroma of street food lingering in the air. And then, the pièce de résistance.

The Ultimate Bowl: Instant noodles in sour and spicy Tom Yum soup with Prawns, Japanese Scallops, Crispy Pork, seasoned minced Pork, and Egg yolks. This dish defies convention. It's a riot of flavors, a carnival in a bowl. The prawns and scallops added a touch of luxury, while the crispy pork and minced pork lent a hearty depth. The egg yolks crowned it all, adding a creamy, unctuous richness that tied everything together.

Soi 38 is more than a restaurant; it's a portal. A portal to a world where food is love, where every dish is a chapter, and every bite is a step deeper into the heart of a nation. Melbourne is lucky to have this humble gem, and I, for one, am forever grateful for the...

Update:

Today, we ordered :

Tum Korat - a variation of the regular Thai Green Papaya Salad (Tum Thai/Som Tam) - it was very spicy and very salty. It was also a little fishy due to the fermented crab and dried shrimp. The flavours here were a little overpowering for us.

Crying Tiger - Grilled Black Angus Beef. The fat cap was at least a 1/4 of each slice. I removed it initially but was told to have the fat with it. It made a huge difference to the dish. The char on the fat plus the marinade plus the sauce made this a delicious dish.

Tom Zap Kra Duk Aon - Pork Soft Bone Soup - liked it previously so we ordered it again except today the dish had quite a bit of fatty floaties on the top. Still delicious.

One gripe with the serving size of the glutinous rice- depending who serves you, you may get a smallish serve of rice or you may get a serve with 1.5 x more rice.

Still great authentic, enjoyable food. Service was friendly and food served promptly.

2% surcharge for all cards. 10% surcharge for weekends and 15% surcharge for public holidays. Seating/meal session is 90 minutes.

Previous Visit:

Got here early to avoid the never ending queues. Strictly a no frills place but so very busy.

Ordered Yum Salmon Zap( raw salmon dressed with fermented fish sauce), Moo Ping (grilled, marinated pork skewers), Tom Zap Kra Duk Aon (spicy soup with slow cooked pork soft ribs) and Crunchy Intestines (deep fried pork crunchy intestines served with chilli sauce) plus Glutinous Rice.

The salmon was very fresh and the fermented fish dressing was kind of fishy but tasty. My company like the salmon pieces drenched in the dressing whilst I liked it drizzled.

The pork skewers were very well marinated and went very well with the accompanying dressing.

The soup was very spicy and tangy and “oh so very delicious”. The meat was tender with subtle basil notes. It is almost like Tom Yum but with pork.

The intestines were crunchy initially then became chewy with “distinct offal notes” coming through - not a fan.

The glutinous rice was chewy and went very well with the soup and pork skewers.

On the order form, you can scan the QR code and you’ll get photos of each dish. Complete the form and hand it over to the staff. Self serve water. Pay at the counter. Service was friendly,...

Well its definitely an experience. My friend and I got into the long queue on a Tueaday night at 6:25pm and got into the restaurant at 7:10pm. We were hoping the food would be worth the wait and it definitely was. It is genuinely in a carpark or the front of one. The interior was so street food vibes. My friend described it as being on the streets of Thailand actually sitting there. The tables and chairs were colourful. There were piles cardboard boxes and rubbish around us and a parked tuk tuk for the vibes. We were basically in a storage garage with tables and chairs but was it absolute vibes. Yes. I loved it. It just worked. The menu is pretty simple but lots and lots of variety. The prices are a bit on the pricier end for the portion size we got. We ordered the tum plara salmon (papaya salad with raw salmon), kung chae nahm pla (raw prawns), larb moo, crying tiger, crunchy intestines and rice. For drinks we got a thai milk tea and thai coffee. The best dish for me was the crying tiger. The sauce was amazing. I also equally loved the raw Prawns. It was such an experience with the bitter melon and fish roe, chilli and garlic in one bite. The crunchy intestines were such a great snack too. The papaya salad was a little bit intense for me as it had fermented fish sauce which is exactly how it sounds. Really strong and fishy. Just a bit too fishy for me. Unfortunately we never got the Larb Moo and had to ask the servers multiple times where the dish was. We ended up finishing all our food and still without our last dish decided to leave. We cancelled it because we didn't want to wait any longer. It is super busy inside and loud but a homey vibe. The servers are really great and nice. The thai milk tea and coffee were equally delicious but there is so much ice and not much drink in the cups. Overall it was a good experience and good food. The highlight is definitely their raw food section. My friend and I decided that its a good place to have just those dishes as an entree and go elsewhere for a main meal. It did cost us over $40 per person. Would I go again? Yes I would, to try their...