Nung Len – Mackenzie Road, Little India [Permanently Closed]
When the atmosphere of Thailand gets transported to Singapore with a hipster vibe, you get Nung Len, a Thai eatery in Little India. A white tuk-tuk parked outside the restaurant along with wooden benches, auto rickshaw wall art, non air-conditioned space (which you don’t mind on a rainy evening) and Singha beers immediately remind you of Bangkok. Helmed by a Le Cordon Bleu chef, the hints of Western and Thai fanfare that form this fusion menu are quite evident.
The Orders
For the vegetarians, there are limited options on the menu. Since they did not have a menu online, I called them and asked for their veg-specific items while making a reservation. They have some starter and rice options but they were kind enough to accommodate my Green Curry request since I had inquired about it in advance. With Thai cuisine being vegetarian friendly on the whole, I really wish Nung Len adds vegetarian curry options on their menu.
What better way to start a Thai meal than to order ‘Fried Spring Rolls’ for a crunchy and crispy experience. Brimming with vegetables and lot of flavor, these spring rolls made an excellent appetizer.
The Thai signature dish presents itself on the menu in the form of ‘Pineapple Fried Rice’. It was loaded with Thai flavors, pineapple and some Asian vegetables to make it a wholesome offering. The taste was quite decent and it helped that the rice grains were separate.
After tasting so many ‘Veg Green Curries’ across Singapore, I have to say this was different. It was not loaded with veggies, and I could only notice eggplant in the gravy which was topped off with huge pieces of grilled tofu. So I had a mixed reaction since I am a fan of veggies in Thai curries. The curry was also thinner than usual and it seemed to have no body. Having said that, the taste was mild but flavorful.
They have a variety of sweet dishes – from the standard Thai ones to cakes and ice cream. We ordered the ‘Mango Sticky Rice’ with a lot of hope and it lived up to the expectation. It was presented beautifully and the blue rice made it visually more appealing. Though this dessert also depends highly on the mango season, I would say it is highly recommended.
Another interesting item on their menu was the ‘Mango Lassi Ice cream’. It looked delicious and had a great fragrance. Unfortunately, the taste didn’t live up to expectations. It’s good, but not great.
Though I am normally not a fan of cheesecake, the ‘Nutella Cheesecake’ looked tempting. It’s a well balanced dessert with the richness and sweetness of the Nutella coming through every spoonful. The toppings add a pleasant contrast to the smoothness of the cheesecake.
Since it was a humid evening, we ordered the ‘Thai Pink Milk’. This drink turned out to be absolutely fantastic. Cold and refreshing with the right notes of sweetness – this drink had it all. Recommended.
On the whole, there was a wait for at least 30 mins for our orders to appear. I feel this can be improved. There can be more vegetarian options on the menu since what they had to offer did have traditional flavours. The desserts are worth trying. If you are in the area and in a mood for eating Thai, then Nung Len is just a stone’s throw away from Little India MRT.
| In a Nutshell | Deelightful Rating |
| Cuisine Type: Thai | ★★★ |
| Nearest MRT: Little India | |
| Address: 33 Mackenzie Road, Singapore 228686 | |
| Timings: Mon-Sat: 10.30am – 10.30pm | |
| Website: https://www.facebook.com/nunglensg/ |
I think it is a bit pricey as well.
Yes, by a bit for the quantity to price ratio 🙂