RIYADH: Located on Riyadh’s Tahlia Street, Thaiya is one of the city’s newer Thai restaurants. With five-star reviews circulating on social media, we stopped by to see whether it lives up to the hype.

The menu is concise, focusing on Thai staples including tom yum soup, curries, pad Thai and mango sticky pudding.

For those starting with soup, the classic seafood tom yum is the better choice over the creamy version, which leaned too heavily on coconut cream and dulled the soup’s signature tang.

Among the starters, the shrimp dumplings stood out. Light, well-seasoned and neatly portioned, they worked well as a shared opening dish before the mains.

The mango avocado salad, however, was less successful. Heavy on raw onions and lacking textural contrast, it proved difficult to recommend.

For mains, the chicken satay was fairly standard and nothing to write home about. The fried rice emerged as a highlight, while the shrimp pad Thai was generously portioned and well-suited for sharing, with a noticeable amount of shrimp.

Presentation was polished and portions moderate. Overall, the food was solid but less flavorful than other established Thai restaurants in the city, particularly when compared to favorites such as Thai Soi and Phet-Phet.

Service was a strong point with staffers knowledgeable and attentive throughout the meal.

The atmosphere was warm and cozy, featuring dim lighting and quiet background music that made for a pleasant dining experience.

In terms of value, the prices are reasonable when compared to other Thai establishments in the area. But when the time comes to settle the tab, hold back on reaching for your wallet.

What truly sets this restaurant apart is a unique game of chance. One person per table can participate, with outcomes ranging from a complementary bill for double sixes to smaller perks such as free dessert or discounts on a future visit.

So, is Thaiya the best Thai restaurant in Riyadh? It shows promise, but greater consistency and bolder flavors would be needed to claim that title.