Return to Songkran

On lazy Sundays, the default habit of the family is to eat out for lunch.  There is clearly no need to look further beyond our neighborhood, with Aguirre Avenue already a bustling food mecca.  Despite the seemingly endless options, there's something lazy cozy about coming back to that Thai joint just behind the rusty old gate.

As a testament to Songkran's longevity, the restaurant has remained under the radar yet keeps its loyal followers coming back for more.  Many joints have come and gone along the now famous avenue, yet Songkran has retained its spot tucked amidst the trees in a quiet corner.

We arrived ahead of the hungry BF Sunday crowd, and promptly ordered the Thai staples.  Nothing much had changed since my last visit, even the prices remained easy on the pocket despite a little inflation.

Crispy Catfish with Mango Salad, P215 

An all-time favorite, the Crispy Catfish Salad announced its arrival with a pungent zesty smell.  The shredded fish flesh was lightly fried to a crisp, a texture that was tantalizing to the tongue.  The mango hidden underneath the tangled mess rendered a sweet sour dimension of taste to the dish.  Highly addicting, it was good on its own - but often the case is to sprinkle this over piping hot jasmine rice.

Fresh Spring Rolls, P145

In keeping with a healthier theme, we picked the Fresh Spring Rolls over the fried version.  These rolls were stuffed to the core with fresh lettuce, carrots, and cilantro.  The near transparent wrap barely kept the burgeoning roll together.

Six fat pieces were more than a mouthful.  The greens were fresh and crisp, its flavors enhanced by the accompanying sweet chili dip.  A dash of chopped peanuts added a subtle nutty taste, reminding one of our own local lumpia versions.  I've tried a good variety of spring rolls, from the Vietnamese rolls to the Singaporean popiah, but it's the Thai version that comes out the winner.  Songkran's rendition is a good representation of authenticity.

Stir Fried Morning Glory with Tausi, P135

It seemed we haven't had enough of vegetables, as we added the Stir Fried Morning Glory to our order.  Chopped leaves and stalks of kangkong were sauteed lightly in savory tausi sauce.  The greens were crunchy and fresh, not soggy.  The sauce was not overpowering, mildly sweet and salty.  

Tom Yum Goong, P255

A big bowl of piping hot goodness, the ubiquitous Tom Yum soup was set prominently on our table.  Submerged in the spicy broth were plump shrimp, mixed with some sliced tomatoes, basil, onions, and lemongrass.

However, the vegetables seemed too scanty for the overflowing broth.  A little more greens would have been appreciated.  Also, the number of shrimps was also few, and some were not too fresh.  The broth this time was too sour and overwhelming, despite having the right amount of spiciness.  Still, for less than 300 bucks, the bowl was good enough for three to four persons.  The mere sight of the big silver bowl conjured memories of that Thai stall in Maxwell FC back in Singapore.

Green Chicken Curry, P285

No trip to any Thai restaurant would be complete without sampling the curry offerings.  I've tried Songkran's Green Chicken Curry before, and it was delightful.  Despite lacking a notable viridian hue, the scent of the curry spices wafted gloriously from the plate.

The slices of chicken were tender and moist, absorbing the curry gravy well.  This time out, there seemed to be enough vegetables than my previous experience with this order.  Ample cuts of succulent eggplant shared the mixture with chopped tomatoes and green chilies.  The spiciness was distinct but not too powerful.  The curry gravy was milky, mildly sweet and zesty.  This dish remained consistently good and thoroughly enjoyable.  The only qualm was that the smallish serving size, but one's complaints are easily calmed by the price tag it comes with.

In an avenue with numerous dining options almost like the entire United Nations, (yes there is Greek food finally in BF), Songkran remains the go-to Thai escape for hungry BF residents.  Prices are kept nearly dirt-cheap, although serving sizes are variable and might not be commensurate for some people.  Still, the perk of not needing to endure the worsening traffic of the metro have us homeowners simply strolling leisurely to this hidden gem.  In my case, it's just a hop, skip, and a jump.

Jones

Songkran Thai Restaurant

249 Aguirre Avenue, corner D. Tuazon Street

BF Homes

Paranaque City

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Break down that darn gate! Songkran: The Thai Behind

Gates are the proverbial opening to a world beyond.  But closed gates are a hindrance, a nuisance, an insurmountable border.  I remember back in my high-school days, that gate along D. Tuazon Street was wide open, a short-cut to Aguirre Avenue and its greener pastures beyond (okay, at that time Hen-Lin was the only restaurant nearest to that corner).  Sadly, in years past, the gate was closed permanently with no other exit through (of course, there were two other exits at our sector).  I therefore had to go around just to reach those joints that were practically just behind our house!

And so, lazy that I am, I didn't really bother much about what goes on behind those walls.  Until I read about Songkran in another foodie blog.  This blog however, talked about its original Makati branch.  And I was quite amused that a branch sprung up just at the corner of D. Tuazon, beyond that Berlin Wall.  So one Sunday after church, the family finally decided to try this restaurant.

Nestled nicely among lush coconut trees, Songkran peeks curiously with its purple signage and a homey vibe.  Located just beside a store that sells Asian vases (I think they own this too), you can never go more Asian than this.  On that lazy Sunday noon, the place was virtually empty and we had it to ourselves.

I browsed through their menu and snappily ordered my favorite staples.  No Thai food experience would be complete without any order of spring rolls, fried or otherwise.  

Fried Spring Rolls, P125

These spring rolls are fun to eat, each packing a generous filling of sotanghon noodles and a sprinkle of ground meat, tucked carefully inside a crisp wrapper.  That sweet spicy sauce is a perfect partner to this appetizer, which in fact, masquerades as a main dish as well.  Five medium-sized pieces for just more than a hundred backs?  A certain steal.

Crispy Catfish with Mango Salad, P200

The Thai seafood version of our pinoy favorite adobo flakes, I discovered these bundles of joy while eating in another restaurant.  This flaky treat combines the crunchy texture of the fried catfish and the sour-y goodness of half-ripe mango, a perfect and addicting combination indeed.  I could eat a whole bowl of this, but I think it was a bit overpriced.  Still, you would definitely love sprinkling these flakes atop a bowl of jasmine rice.  Just like our adobo flakes.

Tom Yum Ta Lai, P250

Of course, if you go Thai, you have to go Tom Yum! This seafood version packed a lot of punch (believe me, I did not do the dish justice with my crappy phone camera).  Beneath the murky broth lies the bounty of the sea: fresh medium-sized prawns, succulent and tender squid, and a whole lot of other stuff. The spice level got our lunch kicking. (Although I did order for milder, in hesitant deference to my parents.  I requested instead for chili powder for my own sadistic satisfaction).  I always believed that Tom Yum was a notch higher than our Filipino sinigang (crucify me, my fellow Filipino loyalists), and Songkran delivered a sure-fire hit.  And for that price, this was good for up to 4 people.  A definite choice when dining with your buddies.

Green Chicken Curry, P270

I fell in love with Thai curry ever since my first bite.  So, it's always a staple whenever I visit a Thai restaurant.  At first look, one might be disappointed with the lack of viridian in the sauce.  No matter, the taste more than made up for its looks.  Coconut milk was distinctly present, along with the spice of the curry powder and the precarious slices of green chili (I ate those actually).  The chicken was good, soft and chewy.  My only complaint was the small serving size (I could finish this up alone) for that price.  But hey, drenching the jasmine rice with that curry sauce was heaven.

I had been hindered by that darn gate from discovering the Thai behind.  We even asked the waitress, in jest, if we could order by phone and then they could just throw the stuff over the fence! To our amusement, she said they do accept such unusual orders, and they would simply reach over the fence to deliver their delicious food!  One of these days, I guess.

Songkran is a budget-friendly, family type of restaurant that BF homies would love.  No need to endure the traffic going to ATC or Southmall.  Just drive along Aguirre and stumble upon this Thai paradise.  In my case, it's just a leap over the fence.  Or perhaps breaking down that gate.  Now, if only I could find my wire-cutters...

Songkran Thai Restaurant

Aguirre Avenue, corner D. Tuazon Street

BF Homes, Paranaque City

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