First Glance: Historia Thai Cuisine, 798

There never seems to be enough Thai food in this city to satisfy our cravings, but the addition of Historia Thai Cuisine in 798 may fix that and is easily coupled with visits to the art district. 

The restaurant is located in a building off Originality Square and laid out to feel like a transposed Thai living room. There are window-ledge seats for those who enjoy to sit cross-legged, comfortable leather seating lounge-like area in the back, wooden chairs and tables at the front, and cats roaming freely throughout.

 

The menu, disappointingly presented via an irritating iPad contraption with no English-language function, is not solely based around Thai cuisine: there are Vietnamese and Malaysian items available too. The chicken satay (RMB 28) for example, does not feel very Thai but was tender and full of Malaysian satay flavor, made by the fantastic sauce.

The Vietnamese spring rolls (RMB 38) were a little bit bizarre as they were filled with a curry-flavored filling, not in true Vietnamese style. The attack on authenticity fortunately did not take away from their taste, so they were still approved. The light beef curry (RMB 78) also hit the spot, although the price-to-dish-size ratio was rather misjudged. 

You may be wise to avoid the coconut stir-fried vegetables (RMB 48), the coconut sauce congealing while the vegetables cooled down, making for a sickly and sticky sight and taste. It didn't really help that there were two cats meowing aggressively under the table either, but apparently hungry animals in restaurants are no big deal in China.

All in all, not a cheap joint, but the pleasant environment and abundance of cats could make for a relaxing snack or coffee break (there's a café downstairs, serving up genuine Italian coffee) after a stroll in 798, unless, of course, you're allergic to cats.

Historia Thai Cuisine
Daily 1030am-9pm. Originality Square (south side), 706 Bei Yijie, 798 Art District (5626 4519)
798艺术区706北一街三匚创意汇南侧

More stories by this author here.
Email:
 margauxschreurs@truerun.com
Instagram: s.xuagram

Photos: Margaux Schreurs, Heather Mowbray