NARA Thai Cuisine 泰式料理 新竹巨城店（SOGO）

Nara is located on the third floor of the giant city, with a spacious and bright branch. The decor adopts a refreshing Thai garden style, which is visually quite comfortable. However, the overall dining experience this time was somewhat inconsistent—some dishes were ordinary, while others were unexpectedly disappointing.

Grilled Matsusaka Pork
The texture of the Matsusaka pork is quite elastic, and the marbling is evenly distributed, but the overall seasoning is rather conservative. The amount of juice is acceptable, and it goes well with rice.

Yellow Curry Soft-shell Crab
The worst dish today.
The soft-shell crab is completely not crispy, with a moist and soft texture, as if it had been served after sitting out for too long. If the soft-shell crab loses its crispiness, the whole dish loses its soul. The yellow curry ruined the soft-shell crab, making the overall dish feel sticky and lacking in depth.
Conclusion: Don’t order it.

Signature Fried Rice
The fried rice is distinct, neither greasy nor heavy, but the seasoning is on the sweet side, with a strong presence of sugar. Some might interpret this style as “Thai sweet and salty,” but if you're expecting the flavor of a stir-fry restaurant, it might feel somewhat unsatisfying. Overall, it's acceptable but not a highlight.

Massaman Chicken Curry
Massaman curry is generally sweet with coconut milk, and Nara's version is quite palatable; the chicken is stewed to a tender texture. The spices are present, but it feels quite safe, lacking strong aromas or surprises. If you're looking for a dish that won’t disappoint yet isn't expected to impress, this can be included.

Coconut Chicken Soup
Rather than a coconut milk soup, it's more like "lemon juice soup." The acidity is very prominent, completely overshadowing the smoothness of the coconut milk; the first sip is quite shocking.
If you enjoy Thai sourness, you might find it distinctive; if you're expecting a warm coconut feel, you might frown. Personally, I can accept it, but it does feel a bit strange. 🍋

Eight-Fruit Coconut Ice — Today’s top recommendation
Four scoops of coconut ice, a very generous portion that shows sincerity in the dessert department. The coconut flavor is rich but not overwhelming, the ice texture is delicate with a natural coconut aroma, and the toppings can be freely paired without overpowering each other. This dish performed the most consistently and pleasantly at the table.

If you want to order a dessert at Nara that won’t disappoint, it’s this one.