There’s some kind of sorcery emanating from the kitchen of Chef Jorge Mendez. How else do we explain the acclaim and plaudits he’s been earning for his Quezon City establishment, the modern Japanese Modan? Then there are the casual restaurants that similarly dot the QC culinary landscape, adding to his reputation for culinary wizardry. One such outpost is his Some Thai on T. Morato. My eldest, Quintin, who lives in QC, has been raving about this eatery for months, but warns that it’s always full, and the best times to go are 11 a.m. or past 1:30 p.m.
With the daily traffic situation, I’m usually predisposed against being dragged to QC; but I have to admit, tasting his excellent Modan dishes at a Mazda-Balmori event that paired Jorge with Josh Boutwood had me super curious about his take on Thai cuisine. Seated with Issa and me during that dinner were Andie and Jugs Jugueta, and they were raving about Some Thai. So, the next time Quintin mentioned Some Thai for my weekly lunch date with the boys, it was a full-blooded "Yeah!"
Everything my son said about Some Thai is blessedly true, plus more. Jorge doesn’t reinvent his Thai dishes, but there’s some sorcery in how they’ve been enhanced and intensified. It’s not a departure from the original, and he’s not putting some Filipino twist; but somehow, he’s managed to give his dishes a richer, amplified flavor—and count me in as a believer!
If improving on the basics is one key to understanding why a kitchen is championed, then try Some Thai’s chicken satay and spicy beef salad. On these two, I’d venture to say that beyond the kitchen prep, sauces, and frills, the quality of the chicken and beef helps elevate these dishes. For the satay, you’re immediately given a choice of two distinct sauces: the peanut-based sauce and a clear, vinegary one.
The tom yum is another classic that’s been made more intense in Some Thai’s kitchen. I appreciate that this intensity isn’t just about making it spicier. Rather, it’s like a confluence of the ingredients, flavoring, and touches. I couldn’t even tell if there was some added magic ingredient, but this was one good tom yum, with an emphasis on the "yum!"
We ordered both the crab omelette rice and the oyster omelette rice. Easily good for sharing, you’ll love the thick morsels of crab and the size of the silk oysters. These are meals unto themselves, but the best part is how they can be quartered so everyone around the table can try both.
We were excited to try the less traditional dishes on the menu and spied the hamachi with nam jim sauce. While I have no idea what or who nam jim is, this dish is a real winner. It’s raw hamachi slices, topped with crispy shallots and mounds of ikura, swimming in this jim sauce that’s too good to be true. It’s subtly spicy, with just the right degree of sour, and super tasty.
There’s the usual mango sticky rice for dessert, but we were curious about the roti offerings and ordered the one with banana and Nutella. Winner! It’s like the roti is a thicker crepe, and the important thing is that it works. My other sons, Matteo and Luca, don’t usually have a sweet tooth, but they enjoyed this one.
Some Thai, given the limited number of seats, is a challenge during peak hours. But one dining experience had me understanding why it’s become so popular. It’s Thai cuisine honored in a good way by a Filipino chef: high quality, strong on taste and flavors, and keenly priced for what you’re getting. In sum, it’s great Some Thai!
