Lebua Thai at CHIJMES Serves a Seafood Feast

CHIJMES is usually where people head for drinks or a date-night dinner, but Lebua Thai gives you a reason to turn up hungry and bring a group. The restaurant sits at #01-31 in the historic complex, with a bright dining room behind its dark storefront and alfresco tables outside.

Lebua Thai restaurant storefront at unit 01-31 in CHIJMES Singapore — Lebua Thai is at #01-31 in CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street.Photo: Viral Asia

A seafood spread made for sharing

The table is anchored by a whole fish, large split prawns, oysters over ice and seafood curry served inside a young coconut. The spread shown here also includes a sizzling omelette and glass noodles with prawns. These are generous centre-of-table dishes, so ordering is easier with three or four people than on a solo visit.

Start with oysters and grilled prawns

The oysters arrive on ice with lemon wedges and green chilli sauce. Their cold serving makes a sensible first plate before the richer dishes. The large prawns are split open and served shell-on, with the head meat and juices left intact. They are the dish that catches the eye as soon as the plates reach the table.

Large split prawns and fresh oysters served on ice at Lebua Thai — Fresh oysters on ice and large split prawns are served with sauces and lemon.Photo: Viral Asia

The coconut curry earns the centre spot

The red seafood curry comes in a young coconut, topped with coconut cream, sliced chilli and fine-cut herbs. Seafood pieces sit in a thick sauce, while the coconut shell keeps the dish warm and gives it enough height to stand out among the plates. Order rice with it. There is plenty of sauce to go around.

Seafood curry served inside a young coconut at Lebua Thai — Seafood curry arrives in a young coconut, topped with coconut cream, chilli and herbs.Photo: Viral Asia

Whole fish and hot plates round out the meal

The whole fish is opened flat before serving and comes with green and chilli-flecked dipping sauces, plus shredded cabbage and carrot. A sizzling omelette and a pan of glass noodles bring two different textures to the table: crisp edges from the hot plate and springy noodles that pick up the juices from the prawns.

A whole fish opened flat and served with dipping sauces at Lebua Thai — A whole fish, opened flat for sharing, comes with two dipping sauces and shredded vegetables.Photo: Viral Asia

A useful CHIJMES dinner option

Lebua Thai is best suited to group dinners, celebrations and date nights when you want a proper sit-down meal rather than a quick bowl of noodles. The restaurant lists daily opening hours from 11:30am to 11pm. Friday diners may also encounter a short classical Thai dance performance, though it is worth calling ahead if the performance is part of your plan.