If you are a lover of Asian food as much as I am, you may have noticed new owners have taken over the premises of what was the Thai Bach on the outskirts of Swansea city centre.
Tongpan’s Thai Kitchen is a welcome addition to the vibrant Brynymor Road dining scene with its combination of magnificently presented and unique authentic flavoursome but healthy oriental dishes.
The kitchen is run by Nusara who has also run the popular Narberth-based Bee’s Thai Kitchen since 2022. Known as Bee because of her ‘busy bee’ nature, Nusara, whom I can vouch for firsthand is the perfect host.
Having used her name on her first establishment, Nusara has named her new Swansea restaurant after her mother – Tongpan, an inspirational figure in her life from whom she learned her culinary skills and gained her love of food from.
As with any country, there are different styles of Thai cuisine, depending on the region of the country. Bee’s cooking style is from the Esan region but if there is a particular style of cuisine her guests prefer, or even a dish not on her menu she cooks to requirements.
Her business model is to create restaurant-quality food, cooked to order, using fresh, and wherever possible, locally sourced ingredients for her guests.
“The food I cook is healthy and not too spicy, “says Bee.
“I cook with fresh vegetables and use the natural sugar that comes from them to make the Thai taste.
“For example, with a green curry, you would usually use eggplant. Here I use broccoli because it is easy to grow. I use the temperature to keep it crispy but also fresh and not too soft.
“I also learned how to work with different temperatures to bring all the sugars out.”
As soon as I entered Tongpang’s I had a lovely friendly welcome from Bee and her staff and was made to feel at home.
The first thing you notice is that the decor in the venue is simplistic whilst relaxing, providing an authentic feel that sets the scene for what is to come.
To accompany your meal there are various drinks on offer with a range both alcohol and non-alcoholic options including bottled traditional Thai beer and a selection of wines.
Soft drinks and a variety of teas can also be ordered.
Starters
I sampled tasters of different parts of the menu which I thought provided plenty of choice for meat eaters, fish lovers, vegetarians, and vegans alike.
I like to have a bit of everything sometimes. Especially when everything sounds scrumptious and looks so visually impressive.
The house specialty ‘Family Secrets Platter’ which lets you pick five dishes for £15 I thought was especially good value for money and something I would recommend ordering with friends.
The vegetable spring rolls were my favourite part of the dish. You could taste and smell the freshness of the ingredients used and a light crunch with a thin batter with a plentiful filling ticked all the right boxes. They were some of the nicest I have tasted.
The spring rolls along with the other starter options were all served with a mixture of well-balanced dips and catered to your taste in spice. If you do like something with a bit of a kick, make sure you ask about Bee’s mother’s special sauce which is a perfect accompaniment.
Pictured is a selection of vegetable Spring rolls, Thai buffalo wings, Thai sun-dried pork, vegetable gyoza, and tempura king prawns.
Also available are Calamari, Chicken Satay, Chicken balls, and Thai fishcakes. Each of these can be ordered as an individual starter.
“I make very simple Thai food but different,” Bee says to me. “I want people to feel special.” I certainly did.
“I don’t use things like Oyster sauce but if someone likes the taste, they can request, and I will add it.
“I serve medium taste, but you can ask for very spicy or very mild so everyone can eat my food.
“I say to people to try things and if they don’t like it that’s fine but a lot of the time they do, and it is so healthy.”
Main Meals
We eat with our eyes first. A saying that was been coined in the first century where the idea of how the visual appeal of food can influence how much we enjoy it.
Bee’s cooking epitimises this, you can tell it has been made with care and attention. Exquisite detail and thought has gone into every plate which is fantastically presented like a scene from her homeland. It looked almost too good to eat…almost!
Whether you fancy one of Bee’s made-to-order red or green curries, a unique noodle and stir fry dish, hearty and well-balanced soups, or a light salad there is something here for everyone.
All dishes are cooked with fresh, healthy, locally sourced, and economically priced ingredients made with Bee’s unique style and attention to detail.
I sampled a taste of first the Green Curry (priced £12-15) which is available in a range of chicken, pork, prawn, seafood, or tofu.
(Ingredients: Broccoli, mixed pepper, onion, carrots, basil, kaffir lime leaves, coconut milk)
I tried the chicken version which was a taste sensation! – I was slightly skeptical when Bee mentioned using the unorthodox option of broccoli, but it really worked and gave the dish flavour and body.
Bee mentioned that her Pad Thai noodles (£14-15 available in chicken, pork, prawn, seafood, or tofu) were her go-to dish. Like the curry, the pork dish served was plentiful with the meat tender and succulent to taste.
(Egg, spring onions, beansprouts, peanuts, rice noodles, tomato paste, tamarind, palm sugar)
“My specialty is Pad Thai. I eat it every day,” explains Bee. “I also love red curry. If you eat my food, you will be strong and healthy.
“I try not to use things that are unhealthy like bamboo or Oyster/Soy sauce and use a little bit of salt sugar and chicken powder instead.
“It isn’t a house secret, but the trick is how you prepare and cook and the heat you use. That is my secret.
“It comes with experience. You have to eat your own food, and I do that every day. I know also just the amount of time to cook each meat.”
For me, the Tom Kha soup (£14-15 – range of chicken, pork, prawn, seafood, or tofu) is a hidden gem and stole the show.
This was to die for on a cold evening. I had the prawn variation, and the mixture of flavours was like a delightful exotic explosion in my mouth.
Refreshing and lightly spiced, the soup was very light and tasty. It was something that perhaps I wouldn’t have usually ordered but I will definitely again. I rarely find something that is so healthy but so delicious.
(Ingredients: Kaffir limes leaves, coconut milk, onions, spring onion, galangal, lemon grass, mushrooms, tomato, coriander, celery, lime juice)
I highly recommend this hidden gem of a restaurant. If you like authentic Thai dishes with a healthy twist and want to be looked after with fantastic service and tasty food, Tongpan’s Thai Kitchen is where the weekend starts.
Tongpan’s Thai Kitchen can be found at 67 Brynymor Rd, Swansea, SA14JJ.
Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday 5-10 p.m
To book a table ring 01792 803793
