Mango Moon: A Trip to Bangkok, Without a Map

It’s worth a quick trip to Manayunk just to marvel at the Mango Moon menu.

Chef Nongyao “Moon” Krapugthong creates magic at this restaurant, which opened in 2008 on the main strip of the popular Philly suburb. Mango Moon specializes in foods found in the street stalls of Bangkok, Thailand, where Krapugthong was born. She still visits several times a year.

In the last few years, Bangkok has become renowned for its smorgasbord of innovative dishes that modernize the classics with a mouth-watering twist. Now, foodies don’t have to fly – they can get a taste of Bangkok delightfully close to home.

Considering this eatery “experimental and challenging,” Krapugthong blends authentic herbs and spices in small plates, entertaining guests with adventurous dining. On our recent visit, after meeting the chef, my dining companion and I put our odyssey in her hands.

Starting with build-your-own Meang Khum, we pieced together pan-roasted coconut in leaf wraps that we accented with fresh ginger, sun-dried rock shrimp and palm sugar sauce. We  chatted with the in-house mixologist, Mike Burlieght, over our first cocktail. Known for blending everything from Thai basil and aloe vera juice to lychee puree and chile-aged tequila, Burlieght’s cocktails match the attraction of Krapugthong’s creations.

The evening’s show-stoppers arrived one by one. The spicy baby octopus, drizzled with a house-made chili-lime dressing, packed a sweet-and-savory punch that signed off with a slightly smoky farewell. The beautifully prepared Thai sausage, the Sai Klog, will forever be imprinted in my memory as the most marvelous construction of minced pork I ever had.

Main courses — like the herb-rubbed duck breast with pineapple and fresh basil leaf, and the spiced Krapao frog legs with oyster and fish sauce — showcased the fine-tuned capabilities of the chef. Let’s not forget the crispy mussel fritters, either.

You can’t exclude your sweet tooth on this journey. Opt for the egg custard, served warm with rice milk and grilled shallots. The sweet symphony of creamy perfection is topped with a snappy finish.

Krapugthong’s recommendation before we departed was to sip on the Sex Panther, the house infusion of roasted Thai chiles in tequila with a splash of pineapple juice. This beverage proves you can have a close-to-home rendezvous with Bangkok without having to bring any sort of map.

Want to pay a visit to Mango Moon, too? Find Chef Moon and her team at 4161 Main Street in Manayunk, or online at www.mymangomoon.com. For reservations, call 215-487-1230.