Latest news with #ChoppChop
Calgary Herald
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Hum: Thai food gets a street-style upgrade at these new Ottawa restaurants
Article content Panang curry with beef ($22) was especially rich with dollops of coconut cream. Rather than the more usual yellow chicken curry, we chose a yellow curry-based chicken stir-fry ($22) that won us over. Article content I've never had room for dessert at Khao, although mango with sticky rice and crème brûlée are available. Article content Article content Much further east, Chopp Chop Thai Street Food opened in an unassuming Orléans strip mall in August 2024. Taking its name from Thai slang for 'I love it, I really love it,' Chopp Chop is a more modest, unlicensed eatery of just a few tables. Takeout orders likely account for a lot of its sales. Article content While I didn't love everything I had at Chopp Chop, its best dishes were good enough or interesting enough to make me look forward to return visits. Article content Article content Of Chopp Chop's large, single-serving soups, khao soi ($20.95), which starred a chicken leg in its vibrant broth, was fine. Less impressive were the tom yum soup with fish balls and barbecue pork ($20.95) and the wonton soup with barbecue pork ($19.95). I wanted more comforting vibes and better pork from both. Article content Article content Of two chicken appetizers, I preferred flavourful satay skewers ($12.95) to fried wings ($14.95), which, while massive and juicy, were under-seasoned. Article content Better was Chopp Chop's rendition of 'Thai railway fried rice,' dubbed 'Crazy Train Fried Rice' ($18.95), which took its earthy flavour from dark soy sauce and was packed with chicken, egg, Chinese broccoli, tomato and onion. Article content Chopp Chop's Thai basil stir-fry ($18.95), made with ground pork or chicken and served with rice and a fried egg, was one of its most satisfying dishes thanks to big flavours and an umami punch. Pad Kee Mao ($18.95), my preferred Thai noodles, also delivered the thrilling combo of spicy, savoury and salty flavours I craved. Article content While I preferred Khao's street food to Chopp Chop's, I hope that both inspire imitators. We need even more of those Thai dishes that, for now, are more easily seen on YouTube than in Ottawa. Article content
Ottawa Citizen
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Hum: Thai food gets a street-style upgrade at these new Ottawa restaurants
Article content Panang curry with beef ($22) was especially rich with dollops of coconut cream. Rather than the more usual yellow chicken curry, we chose a yellow curry-based chicken stir-fry ($22) that won us over. Article content I've never had room for dessert at Khao, although mango with sticky rice and crème brûlée are available. Article content Article content Much further east, Chopp Chop Thai Street Food opened in an unassuming Orléans strip mall in August 2024. Taking its name from Thai slang for 'I love it, I really love it,' Chopp Chop is a more modest, unlicensed eatery of just a few tables. Takeout orders likely account for a lot of its sales. Article content While I didn't love everything I had at Chopp Chop, its best dishes were good enough or interesting enough to make me look forward to return visits. Article content Article content Of Chopp Chop's large, single-serving soups, khao soi ($20.95), which starred a chicken leg in its vibrant broth, was fine. Less impressive were the tom yum soup with fish balls and barbecue pork ($20.95) and the wonton soup with barbecue pork ($19.95). I wanted more comforting vibes and better pork from both. Article content Article content Of two chicken appetizers, I preferred flavourful satay skewers ($12.95) to fried wings ($14.95), which, while massive and juicy, were under-seasoned. Article content Better was Chopp Chop's rendition of 'Thai railway fried rice,' dubbed 'Crazy Train Fried Rice' ($18.95), which took its earthy flavour from dark soy sauce and was packed with chicken, egg, Chinese broccoli, tomato and onion. Article content Chopp Chop's Thai basil stir-fry ($18.95), made with ground pork or chicken and served with rice and a fried egg, was one of its most satisfying dishes thanks to big flavours and an umami punch. Pad Kee Mao ($18.95), my preferred Thai noodles, also delivered the thrilling combo of spicy, savoury and salty flavours I craved. Article content Article content While I preferred Khao's street food to Chopp Chop's, I hope that both inspire imitators. We need even more of those Thai dishes that, for now, are more easily seen on YouTube than in Ottawa. Article content
