Gai by Darren Chin

Darren Chin is as much a culinary storyteller as he is a celebrated chef. At Gai, meaning chicken, his interpretation of Thai cuisine is a family affair; his Thai wife, Nana, and her parents, Papa Suwit and Mama Nuanta are the heart and soul of the restaurant. In a charming little space above Darren’s existing eatery Bref, his narration translates his in-laws’ homely Northern Thai recipes into contemporary, elevated dishes, such as Papa Suwit’s tom saeb oxtail stew; a sour-spicy broth with chillies, Chinese celery and fresh lime juice. 

Other recommended dishes include Mama Nuanta’s Thai green curry chicken; Lady Boss Nana’s signature tom yum seafood featuring Sabah river prawns, Hokkaido scallops, jumbo shrimp, fresh crab meat and baby cuttlefish; and Darren’s reimagining of Jay Fai’s crab omelette, featuring onzen ivory eggs with 150gms of chunky fresh crab meat, served with signature seafood nam jim dipping sauce.