Jatujak serves up affordable Thai dishes

I've been craving Pad Thai for weeks now, going around the metro trying whatever Pad Thai I can get my hands on, all of them being failures (The high-end, mid-end, and low-end versions I’ve tried turned out to be all crappy). I usually head to Soms or Chariya when I want a Thai fix but they're both out of my way, which is why my friends have had to put up with my Pad Thai yearnings on all my social message updates. To stop me from talking about Pad Thai already, folks have been suggesting places where I can satisfy my craving. The one most mentioned that fits my criteria of conveniently located and affordable was Jatujak. So when I found myself in Megamall one day, I seized the opportunity to see if I could fulfill my Pad Thai craving. I don't know why I've never eaten here. Probably because Thai food is something that has to be shared to be enjoyed, and I'm either usually alone or with folks who aren't too keen on the cuisine. The trip was unplanned, so I don't have photos. Since I was alone, I only got to order two things: Pad Thai (Php185 for shrimp, Php175 for chicken)and Thai Iced Tea (Php78). The Thai Iced Tea came in a glass so tall its straw was forever threatening to Fall in. A good problem to have, I think. The drink was served cold (dapat lang!) and was refreshing, though the milk seemed already blended in instead of poured separately. The mix might be a bit too milky for some (I could taste a hint of evaporated milk) but since I'm quite fond of milk, I didn't mind it too much. Then came the Pad Thai. First of all, it was served hot. As in I could still see some steam rising. A good sign. Also, I could smell it as the waiter put it on my table. A wonderful aroma. Of all the conveniently located Pad Thai I have tried, this one came the closest to satisfying my craving. Sweet, with a sour undertone, a mix of textures; crunchy, meaty and full. It wasn't as flavorful as I would have wanted but that was easily solved by the addition of more Pad Thai sauce (I'm probably being a barbarian about it. Oh well.). The staff, by the way, was extremely helpful and courteous. I was there during off hours and everyone was on their toes, smiling, attending to the needs of the customers who dropped by, whether they were ordering one dish or five. I plan to go back, by the way. I still have the rest of the menu to explore, and the Thai Iced Coffee to try.