R Harn

R Harn is the second Thai restaurant from Soi 38’s Chavalit “Top” Piyaphanee and partner Phawinee “Tang” Suwankamnerd. While Soi 38 is known for its boat noodles and Thai barbeque, this restaurant on La Trobe Street opposite Melbourne Central is all about southern Thai dishes, which are less common in Melbourne.

According to Piyaphanee, R Harn’s dishes take a lot of influence from Malaysia, which borders southern Thailand. For example, familiar noodle dishes such as pad thai are made with coconut milk, and pad see ew swaps the usual flat rice noodles for round Hokkien egg ones.

Other opening menu highlights were stir-fried king prawns, served with pentai beans (nicknamed “stink beans” for their strong flavour) dressed in a house-made shrimp paste. A colourful kao yum (rainbow salad) of cabbage, carrot, bean sprouts and spring onion was artfully plated around rice and dressed in house-made fish sauce.

The team wanted R Harn to feel easygoing and inviting. White marble tables are paired with mismatched, retro chairs, while olive-green panelling and an orange feature wall – adorned with the restaurant’s name in gold – adds a splash of colour to the space.