Magic Thailand, wonderful Thai

Winnipeg is blessed with a litany of good Thai restaurants. Luckily for me, a large number of these places lie within a stones throw from the Health Sciences Centre. Unfortunately for my pocket and bank account, this means lots of lunchtime dining. I am currently on a rotation where I have some half mornings off to read. After spending the morning doing some work I ventured out to Magic Thailand to meet a fellow resident for lunch.

Magic Thailand is located on Logan Avenue approximately five minutes north of the hospital. A small brick building with a brightly coloured sign greets you as you approach. An ordinary looking building which houses extraordinary food.

Magic Thailand's menu is small but capable. Featuring the basics of good Thai cuisine, it avoids the common mistake of trying to do too many things. One can flip through the menu quickly and can be trusted to have a tasty dish no matter what they order. And quickly you must order, as the restaurant filled to the brim for the lunch hour.

We started off with a Crab Rangoon. Crab and cream cheese filled in a wonton wrapper and fried to a crisp, this was a delectable way to start a meal. The key is in the sauce: a mixture of soy sauce, hoison and peanuts, it adds depth and flavour to the deep fried wontons. The filling itself was nice but was overshadowed by the sauce.

The Green Curry Chicken arrived within a few minutes of ordering. Allowing you to pick from a spice level from 1-10, we opted with a 3 for the curry. Thin slices of chicken breast with vegetables in a rich green sauce, I have to commend Magic Thailand on making a mean curry. The key is the rich and creamy coconut milk that ties all the ingredients together.

The Three Mushroom Panang Beef arrived equally fast. We went with a spice level of 5 here. Button mushrooms, straw mushrooms and white mushrooms are fried with green beans and beef in a panang curry base. The panang had a more tart flavour compared to the smooth green curry that contrasted well with the beef. Well done!

As with all Thai food, a bowl of rice is a must. Fragrant and moist, Magic Thailand offers large bowls of rice served in traditional Thai bowls.

Overall Magic Thailand makes a strong pitch for the best Thai in Winnipeg. Featuring bold flavours, fresh ingredients and good portions, one should definitely check it out if in the mood for Thai, especially in the Health Science Centre area.