Must-try Thai cuisine in Yilan: The mildly spicy and incredibly flavorful "Spicy Chicken"

Text and photos byPurple Smile

Thai? is a very well-known Thai restaurant in Yilan. Although new Thai eateries keep popping up, Thai? has managed to stay strong and even opened a second branch next to Yilan Sports Park. This location near Yilan Sports Park has been around for a while, and it’s very convenient for parking. I originally thought the prices here might be higher, but that wasn’t the case — it remains as affordable and satisfying as the previous Luodong branch.

The dining atmosphere here is really great. Meeting up with friends for a meal here would definitely be an enjoyable experience. This time, I dined with friends, and besides the usual à la carte options, I also discovered they offer Thai hot pot in winter — I’ll have to try that next time. In addition to the hot pot, they also serve business lunches. It’s a top choice for anyone looking for a good meal during lunch break in a comfortable and pleasant setting.

As you enter, there’s a screen with an image of the Four-Faced Buddha.

The quality of the environment is really impressive — it’s beyond expectations.

The interior decoration is stylish and modern. My friends and I joked that if it were turned into a café, it wouldn’t look out of place at all.

The overall vibe is really nice, isn’t it?

The music selection in the restaurant is also great — soft and gentle, just like a café. Even the tables and chairs are thoughtfully chosen.

The arrangement of tables and chairs in the restaurant is also well done. There are square tables for two as well as traditional round tables for larger groups.

Business lunches are around 250 NTD, and Thai hot pot costs between 250–300 NTD.

Other à la carte dishes are only a little over 100 or just over 200 NTD — really not expensive. Plus, Thai jasmine rice is served free of charge — how generous. The à la carte menu includes steamed dishes, crispy-fried items, soups, curries, grilled dishes, vegetables, staples, and specialty drinks.

If you’re dining in a group and not sure what to order, there are also combo meals available.

When you want to try a bit of everything but don’t know where to start, the staff recommended the combo meal.

Elephants are one of the sacred animals in Thailand. That’s why there are quite a few elephant statues in the restaurant. I visited Thailand a few months ago and had my first close encounter with an elephant — it truly felt like a spiritual animal.

Cold Seafood Salad
This cold seafood salad was a fantastic starter — it has a refreshing texture with a slightly sour and spicy flavor that’s perfect for whetting the appetite. Really satisfying. It’s definitely a classic Thai dish.

Shrimp Paste Water Spinach
This is another must-order classic Thai dish. Shrimp paste is usually a very strong condiment, and the smell alone can be overwhelming. But when it’s cooked into the dish, it’s a different story — the flavor remains rich but elevates the dish to another level. It’s truly an amazingly versatile ingredient.

Thai Jasmine Rice
It’s filling enough, though it depends on how much the restaurant serves.

Yellow Curry Coconut Shrimp
This is also a very satisfying dish that pairs perfectly with rice. The yellow curry is aromatic and delicious, and it goes well with all kinds of meat.

Generally speaking, seafood should highlight its natural flavor, and the combination of Southeast Asian curries with seafood feels amazing — truly a treat for the taste buds.

Thai Milk Tea
It’s a pity that the flavor is relatively mild. It would be amazing if I could enjoy the same rich and fragrant taste as in Thailand here.

Spicy Chicken
The mildly spicy flavor is also very rice-friendly, with chicken that’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It’s also a great drink-pairing dish.

● ET News Cloud reminds you: Don't drink and drive, and don't drive after drinking.

Moon Shrimp Cakes
Classic Taiwanese Thai dish!! Crispy and fragrant moon shrimp cakes have always been our favorite!! It’s a pity that the springy texture of the shrimp isn’t very noticeable here, but the texture is still great, and there's a satisfying crunch when you bite into them.

Dipping them in the sauce is also delicious.

Hot Thai Milk Tea.

Crab Vermicelli Pot
The vermicelli is well-seasoned—so much so that it might even taste better than the crab, haha. It feels like the essence of this dish is all in the glass noodles.

Can only say the noodles really stole the show, but the crab meat is still quite good.

Steamed Lemon Grouper
This is also one of the must-order signature dishes at Thai restaurants. The grouper is very fresh, with delicate and delicious flesh—even friends who aren’t big seafood eaters liked it.

The sour and spicy soup is also super flavorful and pairs perfectly with rice. Just the sauce alone could make you eat several extra bowls of rice.

Lemon Grilled Pork

The grilling on this pork is well-controlled—not dry or tough, and it’s very flavorful.

Dipped in the sauce, it has even more Southeast Asian flair.

Green Papaya Chicken Soup
This soup is also very refreshing, with lots of ingredients inside—cilantro, tomatoes, shredded carrots~~ Since some of us can’t handle spicy food, we asked the restaurant to adjust the flavor in advance. Although it lost a bit of the sour-spicy kick, maybe it’s the tomatoes!! It still gives off a very refreshing feeling, and the taste is rich.

Each spoonful offers a different texture too.

This time, having a meal with friends, chatting away, I really felt the atmosphere here is wonderful. It was also a very satisfying meal. The highlight is the great vibe of the restaurant, which even gives off a bit of a high-end dining feel—but at very affordable prices. Next time we want to find a restaurant with nice lighting and a lovely ambiance with friends, this place is definitely a great choice.

Thai? Thai Cuisine - Yilan Branch
Address: No. 483, Park Road, Yilan City, Yilan County
Phone: 03-925 2880
Business Hours: 11:30 - 14:00, 17:30 - 21:00

We are Purple Smile Ben & Jean, lovers of food, travel, photography, and 3C.