A little piece of Thailand in Brisbane: Chinpala Kitchen

A good friend introduced me to this local gem in Ashgrove, where service is as warm and friendly as a long-lost relative and every dish, inexplicably abundant with aromas and authentic Thai flavour.

The exterior is inconspicuous to say the least. On an average day, more people will be sitting outside than inside: they are waiting for their takeaways. It's easy, then, to see how people could be tricked into thinking the place isn't busy when in fact the loyal customers are there.

Inside the lights are dimmed to a cosy low, and calm Thai music plays in the background. The furnishings and decor are a vibrant concoction of colour and texture, all very Thai. Although not a designer, someone has lovingly picked these fabrics and carefully put them together. Friendly Thai phrases are scattered on the walls, a reminder of the low-key unpretentiousness of the place. You could be in Thailand for all you knew!

This time around, we are welcomed with open arms and a smile bright as the sun and ushered to a table for three. My friend {not here today} has tried every item on the menu and is content with letting Chef choose for her. We do the same, only saying a few characteristics of what we’d like to try today.

Sopha. A fantastic cook herself, and a friendly face.

Water and tea are brought promptly, followed by Golden Bags {$6.50 for 4}. These are meaty, crunchy and flavourful – each bite is a delight. Every item in the menu is freshly made in the kitchen, so these Golden Bags are nothing like those standard spring roll-type entrees you find in many Asian eateries.

Next comes the succulent Pork Hog {$18.50} or “Chinpala’s Khamoo Namdaeng”. This pork has all the fat it needs to make it taste superb, and comes with a fried egg on top and rice. No need for knives here, the meat is so tender it simply melts apart. The special sauce is reminiscent of an Asian BBQ, but not overly so.

Pork Hog

I should point out for the vegetarians that there are plenty of veggie options throughout the menu. In fact, there’s a whole section dedicated to vegetarian dishes including deep fried tofu {$6.50}, vegetarian Tom Yum {$6}, Panang Curry {$14}, sweet & sour vegetarian {$14} and vegetarian Pad Thai {$12} to name but a few.

We try the Green Chicken Curry (Gang Keow Warn) {$15}. I always order dishes spicy, so if you’re not a fan of heat you should clearly state this when ordering. The {spicy version of the} green curry isn’t for beginners, but despite the heat all the different flavours come through. The fragrant dish has it all for a spoonful of curry bliss.

Green Chicken Curry

We accompany the dishes with the slightly sweet coconut rice (Kow Ma Praow) {$4}, I favour this as it is a good way to balance the spicy flavours.

The third dish is ordered a bit later, as we decide to try some more dishes this night. A Panang curry {$15} is in order and we chatter for a while before it’s served. The Panang Curry is a somewhat drier curry in which the ingredients are fried in coconut milk instead of boiled. Not much goes into an authentic Panang curry other than meat itself, so this is a hearty dish. Again, the flavours are well-balanced; and the aroma of the lime leaves reach your nostrils before your taste buds get a chance to rejoice in culinary delight.

You would think that we couldn’t fit a singe rice grain more in our bellies after this feast, and you would be right. But I press on {I am brave} and I order fried ice cream. To compensate for my friend, who’s ordered a plain vanilla ice cream scoop, I decide that I will have mine with all the bells and whistles. I get a heart attack on a plate {see picture}, and I love it.

Heart attack on a plate

How fantastic! We’ve now spent nearly two hours at this little gem of a place, and as the kitchen prepares to close we gather our things and say our goodbyes. I will return later this week. Thai is one of my favourite cuisines and I have no reason to go elsewhere now I’ve discovered Chinpala. Like me, the rest of the customers are repeat diners who live locally.

All in all, although the place looks like your average takeaway, the prices truly reflect the quality of the food and ingredients. For example, pork dishes are exquisite and the pork is fresh and tender, a flavour unmatched by so many other Asian restaurants. The sweet & sour is a success – no clichés – it’s nothing like the sweet & sour dishes you’ve tried in Chinatown. The service is warm and the food is insuperable. Yes, they’re human. They’re a family running a business, not a rich entrepreneur with marketing strategies {not that there’s anything wrong with that}. I truly think this place deserves an accolade, some word-of-mouth help and most of all, your visit. 

Chef & team in the kitchen.

Chinpala is open Monday to Sunday from 11:30am till late. They're at 1/214 Waterworks Road, Ashgrove, QLD. Ph. 3366 2148. Mention you read them here and say hi from me!