PETALING JAYA, Jan 8 – Popular Thai-style eatery Surisit Thai Kopitiam has spread its wings to Petaling Jaya.
According to Rivon Gill, 40, who runs the restaurant, they started business at their Paramount Gardens outlet on December 14. The restaurant is located on the same row of shophouses as O&S Restaurant and Restaurant Choon Prawn Mee House; eateries famous for their Penang eats.
Opened since 2011, the casual eatery located at Taman Tun Dr Ismail specialises in southern Thai home-styled non-halal dishes. Rivon explains that the chefs at Surisit come from Phuket.
Popular dishes from their menu include moo thod kapi or crispy pork belly marinated with shrimp paste and served with fried kaffir lime leaves, crispy pork knuckle, green curry and tom yam soup (a choice of clear or the reddish version).
In 2012, they had ventured into opening a pork-free outlet, also within the Taman Tun Dr Ismail area, but closed it soon after.
Their choice to open a second outlet at Paramount Gardens was two-fold, as explained by Rivon. “We were looking for a place within the Petaling Jaya catchment area and since Paramount Gardens is well known for its eateries, it made sense. Moreover it's not close to Taman Tun Dr Ismail or too far for us to manage both places.” Since Surisit serves non-halal dishes, according to Rivon, most of their customers are Chinese.
Regulars of the Taman Tun Dr Ismail outlet will not feel out of place here, as this outlet carries the same menu and prices. Even the eatery's look is similar – decked out in the same grey hues and decorated with black-and-white photographs of Southern and Central Thailand taken by Rivon's friend. “We're building a brand here,” explains Rivon.
Even though there are two Thai restaurants within the vicinity, Rivon believes Surisit holds an edge over the others. “Our dishes are different like our signature moo tod kapi with its unique shrimp paste taste. Moreover some of the items are based on family recipes. For instance, our fried rice does not use any turmeric but we prefer using Thai belacan.”
Later in February, there are plans to introduce monthly specials in both outlets.
This weekend, they will be serving specials like BBQ pork leg and grilled marinated pork neck. During the weekdays, the restaurant also offers a set lunch for RM11.90 nett. The set is inclusive of your choice of beverage and the soup of the day. Pick from a selection of items that include beef soup noodles, pad thai noodles, green curry chicken or pork with rice, or Thai fried rice with a choice of belacan, tom yam, pineapple or petai.
Surisit Thai Kopitiam, 3, Jalan 20/14, Paramount Gardens, PJ. Tel:03-78657507. Open: 11am to 3pm, 6pm to 10.30pm (Mondays to Fridays), 11am to 10.30pm (Saturdays and Sundays).
