Porn’s (The Star Vista) – Delicious Thai Food At Affordable Prices (CLOSED)

UDPATE: THE RESTAURANT HAS CLOSED PERMANENTLY.

Porn’s is a popular Thai food restaurant chain. The first branch opened at Liang Seah Street (Singapore) in 2010. Four years on, the successful franchise has expanded to four branches.

Porn’s is the brainchild of popular Singapore celebrity Pornsak. After graduating from the Singapore Management University (SMU) with a degree in Business Management, this multi-talented individual has been trailblazing his career to ever greater heights. Not only was he a UFM 100.3 radio DJ, he is also an actor and a Mediacorp host.

Somehow, he also finds time to study Traditional Chinese Medicine and will be getting his Bachelor Degree in TCM by Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine next year. And did I mention he has a Masters in Education (Monash University) as well?

Pornsak’s youthful facade truly belies his fervent ambitions. On top of the aforementioned achievements, he is also a successful entrepreneur. Along with co-owner Foo Tuan How, he runs Porn’s, which has seen great success since it opened its first branch four years ago.

Video of the Amazing Food at Porn’s!

Check out this video to find out why we are big fans of Porn’s Sexy Thai Food! *Best Watched in HD*

Vibrant Ambience!

Porn’s cheeky logo is the first sign of the restaurant’s youthful and fun vibe

We visit the Porn’s branch at The Star Vista, just beside Buona Vista MRT Station. As we travel up the escalator from the train station, we spot the cheeky logo of Porn’s restaurant from afar – a cartoon elephant playfully wriggling its butt as us. This is the first sign of the restaurant’s youthful and fun vibe.

Porn’s at The Star Vista has futuristic automated glass doors

As we walk towards the restaurant, we see that it has large automated sliding glass doors, which is pretty cool. We step through the futuristic glass doors and are promptly led to a table at the corner.

Porn’s branch at The Star Vista exudes a youthful and fun vibe which makes my dining experience an enjoyable one.

The restaurant decor is strikingly vibrant and definitely unlike the typical Thai restaurant. Instead of the usual dark wood furnishings, Thai-style ornaments, and Buddha statues, the joint has light coloured furnishings and vivid graffiti-sprayed walls. A colourful life-sized tuk-tuk (Thai-style taxi) hangs in mid-air prominently – perhaps a metaphor for Pornsak’s challenging but fun ride as he navigates through the difficulties of managing a restaurant in Singapore’s competitive food scene. The animated rocket adjacent to the tuk-tuk probably alludes to Pornsak’s insatiable ambitions.

With it vibrant colours and playful design elements, Porn’s at The Star Vista exudes a youthful and fun vibe which makes my dining experience an enjoyable one.

I browse through the menu and order my favourite Thai foods quickly. After having read many rave reviews online, I am hoping not to be disappointed.

Thai Prawn Cake

Porn’s Thai Prawn Cake ($8.90) is hot and savoury with succulent bits of juicy prawns – great starter!

First to arrive is the Thai Prawn Cake ($8.90). I take a small bite. The thick prawn cake is hot and savoury with succulent bits of juicy prawns. I quickly finish the entire piece. Great starter!

Green Mango Salad

Porn’s Green Mango Salad ($7.90) – The mango slices are tangy and fresh, with the piquant taste balanced by the salty peanuts and shrimp slices.

Next is an appetizer dish that we always order at Thai restaurants: mango salad. Porn’s Green Mango Salad ($7.90) is served with roasted peanuts and slices of dried shrimp. Using my spoon, I scoop up a good mix of peanuts, mango slices, dried shrimp slices, and put the little spoonful of goodness in my mouth. Man, it tastes good. The mango slices are tangy and fresh, with the piquant taste balanced by the salty peanuts and shrimp slices. The dish is a little spicy as well, so I’m glad I have a glass of iced water at hand.

Thai Green Curry Chicken

Porn’s Thai Green Curry Chicken ($10.90) is delicate and yet gutsy, with a smooth texture that is punctuated by the coconut milk fragrance.

My eyes light up as I see the waitress coming towards our table with my favourite Thai Green Curry Chicken ($10.90) and a plate of fragrant white rice. What better way to eat a plate of steaming Thai Jasmine rice, than to douse it with savoury green curry sauce? Porn’s green curry is delicate and yet gutsy, with a smooth texture that is punctuated by the coconut milk fragrance. I chew on the warm green-curry-doused rice slowly in enjoyment. The chicken in the curry tastes decent as well. I would have preferred a less strong coconut milk taste, but that’s just my personal preference.

Stir-Fried Minced Pork with Basil Leaves

Porn’s Stir-Fried Minced Pork with Basil Leaves ($7.90) is a good mix of spicy and salty.

I continue with another great rice-compliment: Stir-Fried Minced Pork with Basil Leaves ($7.90). This classic Thai dish is perfect for going along with steamed rice too! I love it that the dish comes with lots of gravy so I can douse it on my rice. Overall, this dish is a good mix of spicy and salty – a culinary combination that most Singaporeans will enjoy!

Pad Thai

Porn’s Pad Thai ($9.90) – The impression is one of balance in the four flavours of salty, spicy, sour, and sweet.

I stop myself from eating too much rice because I need to start on my next dish: Pad Thai ($9.90)! I squeeze some lime juice over the Thai-style fried noodles and use my spoon to scoop a good mix of ground peanuts, sugar, chili flakes and noodles. I’m feeling good as I put the little spoonful of goodness in my mouth. The impression is one of intricate balance in the four flavours of salty, spicy, sour, and sweet. Great classic Thai dish!

Steamed Whole Fish with Thai Spices and Lime

Porn’s Steamed Whole Fish with Thai Spices and Lime ($32) – the fish meat is soft and tender, and goes well with the piquant lime sauce

The Steamed Whole Fish with Thai Spices and Lime ($32) is served steaming hot on a metal platter with fire beneath keeping the fish warm.

Full marks for first impression!

I douse the fish with some lime sauce and put a piece in my mouth. The fish meat is soft and tender, and goes well with the piquant lime sauce. Thanks to the fire, it is pretty warm too. Perhaps by popular demand, the restaurant provides an additional bowl of lime sauce.

Sticky Rice with Mango

Porn’s Sticky Rice with Mango ($8.50) – the luscious mango and sweet sticky rice come together nicely to form a delightful dessert.

We end our Thai feast with Porn’s Sticky Rice with Mango ($8.50). The bright mango slices look ultra-tantalizing. I eat a small piece along with some sticky rice. The mango is luscious and sweet, and I like it that the sticky rice (speckled with sesame seeds) is slightly warm and not overly sweet. The two ingredients come together nicely to form a delightful dessert. What a pleasant way to end my meal!

Weekday Set Lunches at just $9.90!

Click on the menus to enlarge!

Porn’s has super value-for-money set lunches too! At the low price of $9.90+, you get to enjoy one main course along with a drink of your choice (Thai Iced Tea, Thai Ice Coffee, Nam Ga Jaeb, Nam Takai & Homemade Barley). The set lunch is available at all Porn’s branches, on weekdays from 11.30am to 4pm (excluding Public Holidays and Public Holidays Eve).

A Wonderful Meal

Pornsak has managed to capture the essence of authentic Thai food while catering to the tastebuds of Singaporeans.

This was a great lunch. All the dishes we tried were delicious and we simply can’t wait to go back again. Pornsak has managed to capture the essence of authentic Thai food while catering to the tastebuds of Singaporeans. For example, we like that the Stir-Fried Minced Pork with Basil Leaves is served with lots of gravy so we can douse it on our rice. In addition, Porn’s at The Star Vista exudes a youthful and fun vibe which makes your dining experience an enjoyable one. This is probably the best Thai restaurant in Singapore for its price range. Do not miss out and make your way to this great Thai restaurant soon!

Porn’s is looking for Franchisees!

Porn’s is expanding! In a quest to provide great Thai food to more people, Pornsak is now looking for franchisees to expand the Porn’s restaurant chain, both locally and overseas. Ideally, the candidate should be a determined and passionate individual who shares Pornsak’s vision of offering delicious Thai food to the masses.

Speaking to co-owner Tuan How, we learnt that many people had doubts about Porn’s when it first opened 4 years ago. This is because back then, Thai food was not as popular in Singapore as it is now. And the suggestive restaurant name didn’t really help. However, Pornsak believed in his vision and persevered. Four years on, he has built a successful restaurant chain from scratch and silenced all his critics.

Therefore, this is a great opportunity to ride on Porn’s existing success and build a successful franchise branch of your own! Interested parties can apply through this link.

*This was an invited media tasting*

Porn’s @ The Star Vista
(just beside Buona Vista MRT station)
1 Vista Exchange Green, #02-09 Singapore 138617
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun – 11am to 10pm
Website: www.porns.com.sg

Porn’s @ Liang Seah Street
28 Liang Seah Street Singapore 189049
Opening Hours:
Mon to Thurs – 1145am to 3pm, 6pm to 1030pm
Fri to Sat – 1145am to 3pm, 6pm to 1130pm
Sun –  1145am to 3pm, 6pm to 1030pm

Porn’s @ Mount Faber SAFRA
Mount Faber SAFRA
2 Telok Blangah Way #01-10, Singapore 098803
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun – 1130am to 1030pm

Porn’s @ J10
Junction 10
1 Woodlands Road Singapore 677899
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun – 11am to 10pm