Ying Thai

Ph: (03) 9419 1225; 235 Victoria St, Abbotsford 3067

thai, $
Open mon-Thu 4.30-10pm fri-sun noon-10pm; Licensed, BYO, Corkage $3 person; No Cards

Mietta's Review
A hospitable Thai eatery amongst a plethora of Vietnamese and Chinese flavours served along Victoria Street. As most are, this is a family run business, with Mum cooking out the back, so the food is very homely and with a predominantly Asian custom, the extent of the chilli hit suggests that this food is not modified for the Western palate, so be warned. There are a range of fascinating dishes that compliment those that Australians have become familiar with and the staff here take great pleasure in introducing Anglo clients to Thai food traditions. A second restaurant, Ying Thai 2 has recently been opened at 110 Lygon Street Carlton.

Other published opinions

The Age Cheap Eats 2008 "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of Ying Thai. Nothing's toned down for wimpy western palates but if you're feeling courageous, give your sinuses a workout"

The Age Cheap Eats 2006 Attention practical jokers. Once seated inside Ying Thai's brightly coloured interior, steer your dining companion towards the som tum salad. The green pawpaw and salted crab combo sounds innocuous, but As, in fact, satanically spicy

The Age Cheap Eats 2005 "YING THAI is a firecracker, from the retina-burning fluoro walls to the incendiary dishes. A nostril-scorching seafood tom yum is the perfect start for hotheads, but if you can't stand the heat, tell the staff."

The Age Cheap Eats 2004 "JOHNNY CASH would dig this joint. Ying Thai is a burning ring of fire and we don't just mean the chillies stencilled on the colourful walls."

The Foodies' Guide 2004,Allan Campion & Michele Curtis,'In a strip that mostly offers Vietnamese food,you may be glad of another cuisine option.What's really good here is the variety of dishes on offer and they definately get 10 out of 10 for originality.Try the peasant noodle soups,pork and lemongrass sausage or liver salad.'

The Age, Agenda, 4/7/04,Roslyn Grundy,'Ying Thai's tom yum could become a patented cold remedy.Sliced button mushrooms,chopped tomatoes,lemongrass,coriander,chunks of chicken and insane amounts of chilli flavour the bright,light broth.It's guranteed to clear the sinuses and kick-start the immunce system.'

The Age, eat streets, 22/2/04, John Lethlean,'Ying Thai goes closer than most to authentic Thai food.If it's on get yourself som tom,the essential Thai green papaya salad and wait for the heat to envelop you.'

The Age, Epicure, Espresso, 13/5/03, John Lethlean. Has opened a Lygon St branch.

Cheap Eats 2003, Chilli Hit of the Year - Larb Ped

The Age, Epicure, Unexplored territory, Matt Preston, 30/4/02. "Ying Thai has new experiences by the bucket load, accept some, reject others."