Thai dinner treat: Rung Rueng

Tucked away in a recessed corner in the middle of One Fullerton is this new Thai restaurant sensation that's preparing to redefine quality Thai food in Singapore.


The front door of Rung Rueng

A couple of nights ago, we received an invitation from the charismatic Ronnie Chia, owner and primary chef of Tatsuya at the Crown Prince Hotel, to a complimentary food-tasting session in his new Thai restaurant, Rung Rueng. Of the three available nights - Friday through Sunday - we picked tonight and made arrangements to attend.


Sawadee... welcome!

The restaurant's decor is understated, with dark-stained wood panels, bright but tasteful lighting, a bar counter and a split-level dining area. Table layout is good, not too packed but making good use of the available space. The clientele tonight seemed to be a mix of Japanese ladies and businessmen, all whom I assume would be regular diners at Tatsuya.


What it looks like inside

Now I'm not particularly enamoured of Thai food, but J does happen to be a major fan. And tonight's meal did not disappoint. From the mango salad (which I don't usually like) to the rice crackers (served with a creamy minced-chicken dip) to two varieties of green curry (pork and beef), I happily took hearty portions of each. The tom yum soup was strongly-flavoured and only a little bit spicy - definitely toned down for local taste buds. The grilled chicken, fish cake and kai lan were good too, as were the selections of fruits and Thai desserts that came at the end of the meal.

No complaints about the food from me; Ronnie, knowing how fussy my tastebuds are, breathed a sigh of relief.

Service, for the most part, was pleasant and efficient. Some raw edges did show though - spillage, nervous hands and uncertainty, and a floor manager quietly but audibly taking a waitress to task for standing around idle. The restaurant is still in its trial-run phase, though, and problems like these should be quickly sorted out under Ronnie's experienced and watchful eyes (and whip, but you didn't hear that from me).


This is the first time I've seen Ronnie wearing anything other than his sushi chef uniform.

Overall, Rung Rueng gets the thumbs-up from me.

If I remember correctly, Rung Rueng officially opens its doors on Nov 3.

Rung Rueng - Authentic Thai Cuisine
1, Fullerton Road,
One Fullerton #01-05
Singapore 049213
Tel: 6423 1063 / 6423 1073