Written by: Sadaf Shahzad
Posted on: September 18, 2019 | 
| 中文
Thai Green Curry (photo credits to the Veera5 on Facebook)
Located in DHA Phase 5 in Lahore, Veera 5 is the small eatery that has recently been making waves for its unique take on Thai and Chinese cuisine. Since it is close to my university, my friends and I have been frequenting Veera 5, and it has become one of our go-to places for filling and consistently good meals. The restaurant is small but cozy, a good place to go for an intimate lunch or for a night out with your friends. The simple wooden furniture and candles on the table give the restaurant a homely feel, and the staff is courteous and eager to help you decide what to order.
With our party of seven, we were able to order a variety of dishes from Chinese to Thai menu. The price range caters to average and slightly above average rates for Asian restaurants in Pakistan, but each dish comes with hearty side portions. Immediately after placing our order, we were served with a complimentary peanut and kimchi salad, and crackers with a special mango and chili infused sauce. The special mango and chili sauce is an absolute favorite of ours because of its spicy yet sweet flavor.
Tom Yum Goong soup (photo credits to the Veera5 on Facebook)
For our appetizers, we ordered three different soups. The first soup was the Tom Yum Goong, which is a hot and sour Thai soup with prawns. This soup is an all-time favorite of mine, and can be described as nothing short of comfort food, however, one must have a high tolerance for spices. I often order this, and the quality has remained consistent each time.
The second soup was the Tom Kha Gai, a creamy chicken soup with a coconut milk base. For those who can’t handle the spice level of the Tom Yum Goong, this filling soup is a good alternative. For the third soup, we decided to order Veera’s special Chinese Soup, with a rich broth and shiitake mushrooms.
Chinese Soup with Shiitake Mushrooms (photo credits to the Veera5 on Facebook)
Our first main course was the Pad Thai noodles, which can be served with either shrimp or chicken. The noodles also arrived with a side of peanuts, lemons and red chili flakes. The serving size at Veera is quite generous for one person, and I struggled to finish my portion. But while Pad Thai is traditionally supposed to be a prawn-based dish, both the chicken and prawn did not disappoint. The tamarind in the noodles contrasted amazingly with the peanuts and lemon juice, making this dish an absolute winner for us.
Pad Thai Noodles (photo credits to the writer)
The Green Curry is a must have for anyone who goes to Veera, and is either a long time Thai curry fan or a curious foodie. With the curries, Veera serves complimentary rice as a side, and you can pick between sticky rice, egg fried rice, vegetable fried rice etc. We chose a side of sticky rice for the Green Curry. The curry itself was flavorful, and the sharp taste of coconut and green chilies really complimented the sticky rice.
The next main we ordered was the Crispy Chicken in Veera Thai Sauce, one of Veera’s signature dishes. It consists of two deep fried chicken breasts with a special in-house Thai sauce served with rice. The fried chicken retains its crispy texture, and the tangy sauce really elevates the dish.
As a break from our chicken centric meal, the last main we chose was the Hot-n-Sour Fish with Oyster Sauce. However, this seemed to be just another fish in oyster sauce dish. While it wasn’t very unique or particularly experimental, the fish was seasoned and cooked well. The dish was still enjoyable, and can be ordered as a safe bet for good seafood.
Veera 5 offers a special combination of a cozy, casual atmosphere with exciting and adventurous Chinese and Thai food. It is a place that will make you feel right at home, and will inspire you to try all the versatile flavors it has to offer.
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