Thai food isn’t really something that’s easily accessible to
common Filipinos. And it’s not because it’s expensive, but rather it is the
lack of restaurants serving the cuisine that’s making Thai food very hard to find.
So it is very interesting to know that there are now restaurants that let
common people give their taste buds that rare Thai food experience.
Jatujak is one great example of these kinds of restaurants. The
brand currently has 3 branches in the Metro, all of which are located inside SM
malls. There’s one in SM North EDSA’s The Block, one in Mall of Asia and in SM
Megamall.
We went to their SM Megamall branch and tried out some of
their dishes. Fortunately, I’ve taken some notes to help you guys out in case
you want to check out their store and have a taste of the Thai recipes they are
serving. So without further ado, here’s a list of what you can expect at
Jatujak restaurants when you decide to dine there.
The Ambiance
The
over-all look and feel of their branch in SM Megamall is very mild and
unassuming. It’s probably because the store is located in the far end of
Megamall A. The store is also quite small. There are only a few tables inside
the store (which can probably sit less than 20 people comfortably) and even
fewer tables outside.
The tables are also quite small, so if you’re planning to
order a lot of food, be prepared to have a somehow cramped table. When it comes
to décor, it’s a little bit surprising that the restaurant doesn’t have that
unmistakable Thai feel. For someone who’s’ not very familiar with the Thai
culture, it’s really easy to forget that you’re dining in a Thai restaurant
just by looking at the design of the store.
And the background music playing in the store isn’t really
Thai, so all in all, if you’re really critical when it comes to having that
unique and genuine Thai experience, you might be better off finding another
restaurant, otherwise, Jatujak’s just fine.
The Menu
Unlike its
Chinese and Japanese restaurant competitors, Jatujak has a menu that is
slightly more affordable. So those who are on a tight budget would be delighted
that they can spend less when eating at this restaurant. However, the slightly
cheaper price is reflected in the also slightly less serving size. And this is
most evident in their rice platters.
A normal rice platter in a Chinese restaurant would easily
cost P200 and would feed a group of 2 to 3 heavy rice eaters. The one in
Jatujak costs less than P200 but would only fit for 1 to 2 heavy rice
consumers.
When it comes to the variety of the menu, this restaurant
does offer a number of choices to consumers which includes barbecue dishes
(their so-called “sate” dishes), curries, salads, rice and noodle variants,
soups and of course their iced teas.
Customer Service
Customer service is probably Jatujak’s saving grace. Even if it lacks the
proper ambiance and an excellent selection of food, the restaurant makes up for
great customer service. Its waiters are very accommodating and very
knowledgeable with the store’s menu, even recommending which dishes are best
combined with each other.
Serving time of the food we ordered didn’t take more than 10
minutes and waiters and waitresses will immediately refill your bottomless
drink with just one call.
THE VERDICT
To
sum it all up, Jatujak is a pretty average store offering a considerable amount
of food choices for those food trippers out there. However, it does fail to
give that unique overall Thai experience to consumers specifically in terms of
the environment and the food.
Also, the small food serving size also doesn’t make it an
exceptional choice if you want to get more bang out of your buck. So it’s
probably better to recommend Jatujak to those casual food trippers who don’t
pig out so much and those who just want to have something a little bit different
every once in a while.
If you've ever tried dining at Jatujak, tell us your experience by leaving a comment below. You might also want to add TFL on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus or subscribe to our blog if you want more Filipino Lifestyle stories.
