Thai Express

The very friendly prices help explain why the Thai Express chain continues to be so popular – especially in these cost-conscious times – with teenagers, young couples and families. The quick-fix street-food menu is (for the price) competent and consistent in quality. There are over 130 items in the menu, with many new dishes introduced in early 2013. The Thai-style roasted chicken thigh ($9.90) uses a classic Pattaya recipe and is a best-seller, but we can't get over our addiction to the very flavourful Tom Yum crispy chicken wings ($8.30), pictured above, whose perfect balance of salty and spicy we can imagine goes perfectly with ice-cold beer. For drama points, Kway Teow Lui San ($9.90) is a winning dish – minced chicken and dry kway teow salad that you wrap with fresh lettuce and eat with your hands. Old favourites include their thickly gravied laksa crayfish and the massaman chicken curry served with Thai pancake (though we always have it with steamed Thai rice). For dessert, try the very colorful Lod Chong Singapore ($6.30), worm-shaped, pandan-flavoured rice sweets served with jackfruit and red ruby in coconut milk.

With 24 outlets nationwide, visit www.thaiexpress.com.sg for the full list.