For Mother’s Day lunch this year, I gave Mum two options: Good Bites or Galangal in Bishan. She picked the latter without hesitation. No surprise there—my folks have always been Thai food enthusiasts. Both restaurants boast eyebrow-raising 4.9-star Google ratings, which had me genuinely curious. Were those reviews legit? Only one way to find out. Bonus discovery: both spots are halal-certified and run by the same company behind Citrus By The Pool and Citrus Kitchen.
Finding Galangal Bishan: Tucked Inside the Clubhouse
Galangal Bishan sits inside Bishan Clubhouse, sandwiched between ActiveSG Bishan Sport Centre and Bishan Swimming Complex. We drove in and parked right at the clubhouse itself. The carpark is small, but there are plenty of outdoor lots nearby and sheltered parking within the Sport Centre. The restaurant is easy to spot on the ground floor.
Pink, Pink, and More Pink
Walk in and you’ll be hit with a wall of pink and artificial flowers. Honestly, it gives zero Thai vibes—more like a Korean café cosplay. But that flower wall? Jaw-dropping. The “my goodness, that’s a lot of flowers” kind of reaction. Instagrammable, for sure.
We were greeted by Mindy, an absolute sweetheart. Chatty, bubbly, and properly attentive. You can scan the QR code on the table to order, but Mindy walked us through recommendations herself.
Check out their full menu here.
Drinks at Galangal Bishan
- Long Black – Dad’s daily Kopi O Kosong fix, sorted.
- Coke Zero – Hubby’s pick.
- Iced Ginger Lemon Tea – Mine. Made with honey, beautifully balanced, not too sweet.
Mum asked for hot water. The restaurant doesn’t normally serve it, but Mindy went off and returned with a complimentary cup from the coffee machine. Small gesture, big impression.
The Food: What We Ordered
Green Mango Salad ($6.90)
Properly balanced. The shredded mango had a firm bite I really liked. The clever twist? Fried Dahfa cod fish strips on top—a childhood snack favourite of mine. Adds texture and a savoury kick. Mum asked about peanuts; there were none. But when she mentioned loving peanuts, Mindy returned seconds later with a small bowl of roasted peanuts on the house. Lovely touch.
Thai Prawn Cakes ($10.90 for 5pcs)
These looked like chubby little donuts. Crispy outside, bouncy inside, and surprisingly not greasy despite being deep-fried. The sweet chilli sauce on the side sealed the deal. Mum couldn’t stop saying this was her favourite.
Honey Garlic Fried Fish ($13.90)
Made with dory in thick, meaty chunks—no fishy or muddy aftertaste. Slightly sweet thanks to the honey. The garlic slices were generous but over-fried, making them a bit tough to chew.
Clear Seafood Tom Yum Soup ($17.90)
We went large, which arrived in a hotpot. The small comes in a bowl. Loaded with squid, prawns, clams, and mushrooms—but the frozen flower-cut squid was rubbery and flavourless. The prawns came shell-removed (easy eating, nice touch), but the meat was soft rather than that crunchy fresh-prawn snap. The soup itself, though? Brilliant. Well balanced, not too salty, not oily, genuinely refreshing.
Prawn Omelette ($9.90)
This one surprised me. I expected a standard fried omelette but got something light and fluffy. Apparently the chef uses an electric whisk on the egg mixture. The prawns were fresh and crunchy. Easily one of the standouts.
Thai Chicken Green Curry ($13.50)
Not the thickest or creamiest green curry I’ve had, but I rather enjoyed it. Strong basil aroma, not too salty. Came with chicken, baby corn, eggplant, carrot, and long beans.
Thai Grilled Pineapple with Ice Cream
Don’t sleep on this dessert. Pineapple grilled with honey—soft outside, sweet and juicy throughout. The ice cream was light, almost like whipped cream, and Biscoff biscuit crumbs added a satisfying crunch.
Including 4 portions of white rice, the damage came to about $100 after taxes (prices listed are before service charge and GST).
Final Verdict on Galangal Bishan
Was it the best Thai meal we’ve ever had? No. But did we walk out happy? Absolutely.
Here’s what stood out:
- Home-cooked feel – Nothing was overly salty or oily, so no heavy, cloying aftermath.
- Generous portions – Plenty for the family.
- Reasonable prices – $100 for a family feast is fair.
- Quick service – Dishes arrived fast.
- Top-notch hospitality – Mindy genuinely made the experience.
- Comfortable setting – Air-conditioned, clean, and nicely done up despite the dated clubhouse exterior.
Would I go back? Yes—especially for that prawn omelette and those donut-shaped prawn cakes. If you’re nearby and craving Thai with a side of warm service, Galangal Bishan is worth the visit.