Gyodong, Daegu Thai restaurant for a solo lunch: kai phrai, Thai Yami

Daegu Gyodong Thai restaurant Thai Yami: pad thai and kai phrai review

Today I'm sharing a review of a Thai restaurant. I was craving pad thai, one of my favorites, and while looking for a place to eat in Gyodong, Daegu, I found Thai Yami and decided to stop by.

It's less authentic Thai and more tuned to Korean tastes, so even people who aren't used to Asian food can enjoy it without any worry.

It's good for a light lunch, but the mood also seemed perfect for relaxing over a glass of beer in the evening.

Thai Yami location, exterior and parking

Thai Yami is at 222 Gyeongsanggamyeong-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu, behind the Novotel. Come out of Exit 19 at Jungangno Station, turn the corner at City Center and walk a little, and the modern exterior stands out.

The sign isn't on the front but sticks out small on the right side, and I thought it actually made good use of the alley's flow of foot traffic.

For parking, you can register for 1 free hour at the Hyundai Sun & Ville Jungangno officetel parking lot, so for the Dongseongno area it's less of a parking headache. Because it's an officetel building, though, the spaces themselves are rather narrow.

Open kitchen, bar seats and atmosphere inside

Inside, Thai Yami has an open kitchen where you can see the cooking, and no food smell clings to you, so it felt clean.

It's mostly 4-person tables, and in front of the open kitchen there are also bar seats, good for eating alone or coming as a pair.

With the soft lighting and interior, the space has a mood emotional enough to be called "a little Thailand in Daegu."

Thai Yami signature dishes and lunch set

The signature dishes are pad thai and kai phrai, and there were also poo pad pong curry (crab curry), stir-fried seafood, rice noodles, nasi goreng and more. At lunchtime you can get a set of sliced boiled pork shabu hot pot or kai phrai plus a main dish for ₩2,000 off.

It's a lineup that's just right for a light lunch in Gyodong, Daegu. Before the meal, a house-made cabbage pickle came as a side, and I ordered fresh-squeezed orange juice as my drink.

It wasn't sweet and kept the orange's natural tartness, so it went well with the food.

Opening hours and break time

Hours are Tue–Sun 11:30–22:00 (last order 21:00), with a break from 15:00 to 17:30, and it's closed every Monday.

Pad thai: a balance of sweet, salty and savory

Pad thai (ผัดไทย) means just what it says, "pad (stir-fry) + thai," Thailand's signature street food and stir-fried rice noodles.

It's considered the easiest Thai dish to enjoy. Thai Yami says it ages its pad thai sauce in-house, and maybe that's why the sweet, sour and salty notes blended in balance while still delivering a deep, rich savoriness.

The bean sprouts kept their crunch, and the rice noodles were nicely cooked and chewy.

Plump, juicy shrimp and the occasional bite of garlic flakes meant there was never a dull moment while eating.

When I squeezed lemon all over it, the freshness doubled and the savoriness came up even more.

Kai phrai: a Thai-style chicken salad

Kai phrai is, as the name says, a Thai-style dish of fried "kai" (chicken). Chicken tenderloin is fried crisp like karaage, grated cheese goes on top, and it's served with plenty of fresh vegetables and salad. It barely shows up in searches, so it seems to be this restaurant's own signature.

The chicken was clean-tasting rather than greasy, so I never got tired of it and kept reaching for more. The soy-based sauce was unusual, like bulgogi marinade with something extra added, and the flavor kept pulling me back.

A squeeze of lemon here made it fresher too.

With plenty of vegetables it was easy to eat without feeling heavy, and the charm was that with the cheese it felt like a high-end chicken salad.

My visit review

I was happy to have pad thai after so long,

and the kai phrai was delicious too. I think it would be great with beer, but I avoid daytime drinking, so I think I should go back in the evening.

In the evening it seems like a good spot for a glass of beer, like a Gyodong, Daegu pub.

If you're tired of Korean, Western and Chinese food around Dongseongno and Gyodong, try Asian food at Thai Yami, a Gyodong Daegu restaurant.