So, after nearly two years from our first venture to Soi Polo, we revisited this favourite of ours, and this time, stuck to the basics.

Aside from its insanely fantastic chicken, tender on the outside and dangerously crisp on the skin with those crunchy garlic bits, Soi Polo is known for its papaya salad. My partner and I hardly ever order this dish as we’re bigger fans of the Thai glass noodle salad. However, we thought to have this solid dish from Soi Polo this time round.

We also sat at its air-conditioned area instead of the open area next to its kitchen (where we sat the last time). This side of the restaurant has been around since the last time we ate here, but I have to say I favour the other side more for a more traditional feel. I can’t deny that the atmosphere gives rise to a more authentic Soi Polo meal on the other side.

We also ordered sliced pork with their special sauce, which is kind of the same as the squid we had the last time round, but with sliced pork. My partner favoured the pork while I favoured the squid, for the piquancy and texture it lent to the meal overall.

An undeniably good mix, however, is still the papaya salad with dried prawn, sticky rice, and chicken with heaps of chilli. The papaya is tantalisingly tingly and crunchy and lends both sweetness and tartness to the fiery spiciness of the chilli. All this cuts into the vibrantly popping crunchiness of the chicken and deep fried garlic bits.

To piece together my perfect meal from Soi Polo: sit in the non-air conditioned area, grab yourself some sticky rice, hot chilli sauce, half a chicken, papaya salad with dried prawns, and squid in their special sauce. And some lime juice or beer to round off the whole meal.

137/1-2 Soi Polo, Th Withayu, Lumphini (near Wireless road)
+66 2655 8489
BTS: Ploenchit