DoDee Paidang Thai Bar and Cafe – “Underground” Tom Yum Noodles in Melbourne CBD
February 13, 2019
My friends in Melbourne were raving about this underground restaurant along Collins Street that serves authentic Thai food. As they walked me down the stairs, I felt like I stepped into another paradise (or maybe another Zouk). There were loud chatters, with Ronan Keating and Celine Dion tunes blaring over the speakers. The first question I asked, “You are bringing me to a club before dinner?”
We sat near the kitchen and we could smell the aroma of Thai soups, skewers, and desserts. Dodee Paidang is pretty known in the local food scene. They have won the hearts and stomachs of many locals in Sydney before starting out in Melbourne. Many of the dishes are inspired by Isan cuisine, but they also showcase flavours and plates from all over Thailand.
One of the signatures is the tom yum noodle soup which has 7 different spice levels. The hot and sour broth is served with crispy wonton strips. You can choose from a range of noodles, and pick the toppings such as seafood, salmon, and pork. I think I only went for Level 3 because I didn’t want to have sexy swollen lips at the end of the meal. Order at your own risk!
Not all the dishes are that spicy. Apart from the classics such as papaya salads, curries, seafood platters and pad thai, you should also try the barbecue meats. The grilled pork neck which was served with their signature nam jim dressing, was excellent. The gelatinous tendon that is stir-fried with chilli and basil leaves also came highly recommended. The Laab Chicken was simple but flavourful — the mix of lime juice, fish sauce, chilli powder, ground rice and Thai herbs was addictive!
Almost every table ordered the fried bread with pandan custard. To put it simply, it is like you tiao with kaya. This was good! The you tiao was freshly fried and the pandan custard was not too sweet.
This is a good find, the Thai dishes are authentic. They don’t hold back on the seasoning, and prepare their dishes in true Thai fashion. Order a few dishes and share them with your friends! Service is slower during the busy periods and it may be harder to catch the attention of the servers who are mostly Thai, but I’m very sure that you’ll enjoy your time here!
DoDee Paidang Thai Bar and Cafe
Address: Basement, 353 Little Collins Street, CBD, Little Collins Street, CBD, VIC
Phone: +61 3 9602 4968
Opening Hours: 6.30am to 1am
MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.
