Stopping by Sen Lek Thai Noodle house in Pavia

Hidden in plain sight along the highway in Pavia is a little snack shop specializing in Thai fare. Aptly named as Sen Lek Thai Noodle house, it serves a limited number of items on the menu mostly noodles, soups and rice meals. It’s located among one of the new commercial strips that have mushroomed these past few years, standing out with its purple motif inside out.

Quite a literal stopover, as I noticed a lot of vehicles stopping by the area during that afternoon when we also dropped by. It’s a bit cramped inside due to the limited space so we opted for the al fresco ambiance.

On the menu, one can choose from wanton, meatball, beef or mix Thai noodle soups to Pad Thai, Pad See-ew Rad Na and Tom Yum Goong. Or rice meals those not familiar with the Thai names – like Kao Pad, Khaw Krugkapi, Khang Kew-wan Khai and Pad Kra – Prao; would just point on the menu board.

At least we chose a familiar one – Beef Thai noodles that had beef on top of the staples of any Thai noodle dish. I particularly love the “glass” noodles (just like in any Thai resto) for I find it refreshing – not too heavy for me. The soup was the signature hot and sour with sprouts, herbs and spices for good health as they advertise.

But it was the unassuming Thai Iced tea I really raved about (and crave ever since). Nothing extra ordinary – just a mix of tea and milk, but the taste see-saws between the familiar and the “exotic”. Its milky orange hue makes it more appetizing plus the aroma too that I wish they had a bottomless option for that. But for only PhP35 a glass, one can make it “bottomless”.

It is another hole in the wall in the making, at least for me, for the place is situated outside the city limits though very accessible. It’s just one should make an effort dropping by even for me, as I always pass by the area and it took friends who live in the city and seldom pass by the area to point that there’s a something new in the area worth checking out.

Sen Lek Thai Noodle house is located along the highway between Iloilo City and the town of Pavia. Accessible from both Jaro Plaza and Diversion Road via Pavia Lapaz and Sta. Barbara Highway PUJs, respectively.

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FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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