Affordable and Delightful Thaitations Thai

There are many areas of Winnipeg that I have not had the opportunity to explore. One of those is the Transcona area, a suburb to the East of the City. Starting as a small town and city separate from Winnipeg, I learned that the area was amalgamated in the 1970's to the City of Winnipeg. Similarly to St. Vital or St. Boniface, the culture and pride of being in Transcona has descended through the years such that it has its own vibe and culture. Wanting to explore more of this area I picked a highly rated Thai establishment called Thaitations Thai.

Located on Regent Avenue, Thaitations does a nice job of advertising itself. The purple lettering on a background of white stands itself out in the dolrums of other restaurants in the area. The interiors are unfortunately not as inviting with laminate table coverings on decidedly plain tables. Nevertheless comfortable seating and a caring and attentive wait staff help to ensure a positive dining experience.

Thaitations menu is classically Thai. The chefs did a smart thing by offering a small but varied offering of traditional Thai cuisine without trying to offer anything too fancy or unique. What diners get then are the usual appetizers including the ever popular Golden Baskets, Soups, Salads, an colorful assortment of curries, fun stir fries and the expected Pad Thai. I was impressed by the extreme affordability of the restaurant with almost every dish less than $10. Value indeed

Pad Thai Chicken is my usual marker of a Thai restaurant and the version here does not disappoint. Tamarind sauce is the key here as it envelops a helping of rice noodles and are topped with sliced peanuts and fresh bean sprouts. The chicken was nicely cooked, tender and cooked long enough to soak up some of the sauce.

Given how affordable everything was I treated myself to a new dish Khao Piek Sen, a Thai rendition of Chicken Noodle soup. The thick broth had a nice rich chicken flavour and was accentuated nicely by the addition of white pepper and garlic oil. The thick rice noodles, cooked perfectly, acted as a textural contrast to the slices of white chicken and the broth. A large portion perfect for a cold or rainy day.

Khaed Phed (Red Curry) Beef was my curry of choice. The thick and nutty coconut based curry broth covered an assortment of eggplant, bamboo shoots and green beans. The curry had a nice sweetness from the use of the coconut milk that permeated through the dish and went well with the accompanied steamed rice. Each slice of beef were tender and soaked in the cauldron of the other flavours. Tasty.

Thaitations gives a great rendition of traditional Thai cuisine at extremely reasonable prices. Their use of authentic cooking techniques and ingredients make this one of the standout Thai spots in town. While the interior decor could use some work, Thaitations is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a quick and cheap bite of Thai, especially if they are in the Transcona area.