Osha Thai Kitchen

10/672 Glenferrie Road
Hawthorn, VIC 3122
http://oshathaiglenferrie.com.au/

For a quick mid-week date, Chris and I met up for dinner at Osha Thai Kitchen. Having been stuck at Monash Parkville (what, there’s a Monash Parkville now?) for 4 years, I could only envy the plethora of cheap eats that surrounds Chris’ campus. What I wouldn’t have given to be able to take my choice from Mexican, Japanese, and a cute little cafe!

Though it mostly serves as a place for take-away for students living on campus, we found Osha to be a homely little nook. Soothing Thai pop music played in the background, the heaters were on full blast, and Adventure Time was playing on the TV. ADVENTURE TIME!!

Given that Chris hates the majority of strong-tasting Asian herbs and spices, his liking of tom yum never ceases to amaze me. So happily, I got to order a plate of Tom Yum Fried Rice with Seafood ($12.9). Even though the serving was on the smaller side, you couldn’t move your chopsticks without coming across some seafood. It was generously flavoured with tangy lemongrass and crushed chillies, and although the rice was a bit wet, the overall effect was good.

I first had Boat Noodles ($10.9, beef) at Jinda Thai, and the aromatic, nutty noodle dish really left an impression on me. Being a harder to get Thai dish in Melbourne, I leapt at the chance to have it again.

The dark broth was rich and fragrant, seasoned with the telltale sweetness of cinnamon and star anise. There were plenty of tender, pink beef slices, as well as a handful of pork crackling. Though the noodles weren’t the slippery, wide rice noodles I like, they were nevertheless slurpable and cooked to al dente. Overall, the flavours in this bowl of noodles wasn’t as complex nor as deep as the one I had at Jinda, but it’s a good choice if you want something a little different.

For a small take-away cafe near a university, Osha is definitely better than I had expected it to be. Although it doesn’t make the effort to mimic authentic Thai food exactly, you’ll do pretty well if you stay away from spring rolls. At any rate, you’re in Hawthorn – it’s not like you’ll be stuck for choice either way.

Rating: 12.5/20 – c’mon grab your friends!
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.