Chalawan adds fresh flavors of Southeast Asia to Porter Square. Thailand is well represented on Chef Palm Amatawat’s menu, but you won’t see pad thai or noodles among the main courses. The cuisine draws inspiration from his travels to Indonesia and Vietnam.
The Aunty Wang steamed snapper dumplings ($11) were an exquisite appetizer, with four dumplings dressed in black vinegar and slivers of chili. My companion declared the snapper dumplings one of her favorites.
The seared Alaska scallop with green nahm jim, ginger, scallions, shallots and caramelized crispy duck ($4) was a fabulous spoonful. My scallop was fresh, with the duck heightening the scallop’s sweetness and the crunch of the fried shallots.
Chalawan’s red duck curry ($24) combines lychee, apple, eggplant, okra, limeleaf, cherry tomatoes and Thai basil for sublime flavor. It’s fiery and soulful curry, complementing the unctuous roast duck. The curry is a generous portion, ideal for sharing.
Crispy pork hock ($27) is served with nahm pla prik, a fish sauce, and tamarind chili sauce. The skin was crackly, while the meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender. You can adjust the spice level to your liking, with the sauces on the side.
The soft shell crab ($14) was deep fried yet light, paired with chilies, shallots lemongrass and noc charm.
Javanese Gule kembing of lamb shank curry ($30) was flavored with lemongrass, lime leaves, chili, cinnamon and cardamom. The rich broth was excellent with roti canai ($4). This lamb curry has bold flavor without being too spicy.
For dessert, the Asian banana cake ($8) was moist with cinnamon, palm sugar caramel and coconut ice cream.
Another hit was the Thai black sticky rice with taro, lychee and mango ice cream ($8). It was decadent without being sugary.
The staff is happy to suggest wine pairings with the succulent dishes. Chalawan focuses on food flavors and beautiful presentation, making it an elegant addition to the greater Boston restaurant scene.
Chalawan Asian Eatery
1790 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 547-8888
