Deliciously healthy Thai cuisine spills onto Brooklyn sidewalk this summer  

Simply Asia, Brooklyn, just happens to be the successful Thai restaurant chain’s most sociable newcomer; situated in amongst Pretoria’s most trendy sidewalk cafés and shops, this fabulous eatery is not only hip and happening but fun and festive, too.

“The location is perfect because it is close to all of Brooklyn’s hottest venues. It’s a place where you want to be seen and it’s in a class of its own,” states Stephan Ferreira, who is in charge of regional operations for the group.

For Brooklyn’s young and young-at-heart crowd, this Simply Asia, which is superbly managed by Padriso Bayraktar, provides the perfect balance of vibrant, sociable, upbeat attitude with a perfectly relaxed and comfortable atmosphere – it doesn’t matter whether you’re 20 or 60, as long as you have a flair for the exotic and enjoy good quality service and food, then this authentic Thai restaurant is where you want to be.   

Following on from their massive success in Cape Town, the award-winning Cape Thai Restaurant Holdings Group opened several franchises in Gauteng under the Simply Asia banner and, now with Brooklyn’s doors open, the Thai chain can proudly claim five branches in Gauteng with number six on its way. This is a total of 20 stores between the Western Cape and Gauteng.

Simply Asia is renowned for its sophisticated yet warm and vibrant interiors and with Brooklyn this theme holds true.  Patrons can experience Simply Asia inside or outside as this branch spills onto Brooklyn’s fashionable sidewalk.

“Simply Asia Brooklyn is designed around a specific lifestyle, one that is sociable and lively. The décor fits this theme with its bold reds fused with black and funky light-box menus exhibiting gorgeous visuals of food. Best of all is the large window between the restaurant and the kitchen that allows you to view the chef preparing wok favourites while flames leap dramatically around him,” explains Ferreira.

The comfortable seating and very friendly service welcome patrons to a relaxing experience, where the emphasis is on a lengthy and enjoyable lunch or dinner.

Apart from the exciting summer special - the Fried Rice Festival - which offers three fabulously tasty fried rice dishes at only R35; this Thai food & noodle bar has a diverse and affordable menu – eat a three course meal for around R120 – introducing a huge variety of flavoursome and spicy Thai dishes that are prepared to perfection and presented with absolute flair. In keeping with the style of simplicity, the somewhat unpronounceable dishes on the menu are coded, allowing guests to simply order by number. 

Only the freshest ingredients and exclusively imported Thai spices make their way into the kitchen, where the skilful chef conjures up fragrant and spicy creations that smack of Asia. The menu is a real delight with offerings of scrumptious starters like the delectable crispy sweet corn cakes, a selection of spring rolls, chicken strips with dipping sauce, as well as other mouth-watering temptations like the simply divine dim sum, which are also very popular on the menu and come in five different delicious flavours on one platter – all starters are very fairly priced between R24 and R33 per portion.

As main options go it’s the Gai Pad Med Prik-Phao - chicken stir-fried with cashew nuts, roasted chilli paste and vegetables, served on a bed of rice that is one of    Simply Asia Brooklyn’s favourites and has people coming back for more. The other         choices of main dishes are simply delicious, too! Try the Geang Phed Nua - beef red curry with rice or the perfect-for-summer Pad Thai Goong, a serving of traditional Thai noodles, stir-fried with prawns and bean sprouts for a taste sensation that is   known to get the toughest taste buds tingling. All easily affordable at only R47–R64.

Finally, it’s easy to commit death-by-delectable-dessert when you get to experience the heavenly choices on a Simply Asia menu - two that are very popular are the coconut cake and chocolate spring rolls, both for a mere R26.