Cape Town: 5th May 2008: Zevenwacht residents and Capetonians on a weekend drive out of town can now put the newly opened Zevenwacht Mall on their radar for a visit. The Mall is situated on the corner of Jan van Riebeeck and Polkadraai Road in Kuilsriver and features the latest Simply Asia noodle bar as a resident. This new, trendy eatery will give locals a taste of simplicity, style and affordability – perfect for the laid-back and relaxed winelands crowd looking for healthy and nutritious meals on the go.

Says franchisee owners Rafiq and Rasheed Baderoen , “ Our goal is to always offer our patrons a refreshing and delicious range of Thai and Asian meals in a fresh, trendy setting without compromising on service and ambience.” These are the key differentiating factors that have made Simply Asia the award-winning restaurant chain that it is today, with 17 nationwide outlets and a further five planned for opening in the first half of 2008.

The first Simply Asia Noodle Bar opened in Heritage Square, with others following in Tygervalley, Cavendish Square, Park Road, Somerset Mall and Lakeside, in Cape Town, and Clearwater Mall and Gift Acres, in Johannesburg and Malibongwe Drive in Pretoria, to name a few.

The menu is a winning combination of authentic Thai and new-age fusion Asian cuisine, with familiar pasta and noodle variant options for the less adventurous eater and masterful renditions of old Thai favourites for the seasoned Asian diner.

Tantalising starters, priced R24 – R27 per portion, include prawn tempura, crispy sweet corn cakes, chicken satay skewers, and vegetable and chicken spring rolls that tease the taste buds and keep you craving for more.

Main courses are generous, elegantly presented and are priced at a mere R49 – R62 per serving. The menu caters for all, ranging from vegetarian to seafood dishes. Highlights include the Pad Thai Goong, a serving of traditional Thai noodle stir-fried with prawns and beansprouts, the Gai Pad Med Prik-Phao, chicken stir-fried with cashew nuts and roasted chilli paste served with rice, and the Ba Mee Nua Pra-Ram, succulent beef simmered in a spicy peanut sauce to enliven a bed of yellow noodles.

Owner and developer, Thai cuisine doyen Chaiphorn Lekcharoensuk, better known as Chai to his many colleagues and friends, is well known for his long career in Asian restaurateuring and his pivotal role in the introduction of Asian and Thai dining to South Africa.

Chai has been in South Africa for twenty years and is one of the pioneers of Asian dining in the country. His well-known chains, Wang Thai, Chai Yo, and, of course, Simply Asia, has helped to diversify the dining-out options in South Africa’s cities.

Simply Asia Holdings is busy franchising countrywide, with a focus on the Western Cape and Gauteng. Simply Asia has seventeen outlets countrywide with new stores opening before year end. For further enquiries regarding Simply Asia franchising please contact: marketing@wangthai.co.za