MANILA -- Since opening at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Mango Tree Manila has kept diners coming back with bestsellers like Pad Thai, and Mango Sticky Rice.

Moreover, the Thai franchise, which has branches in Dubai, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Doha, besides Bangkok, continues to keep things exciting and fresh with additions to the menu. These dishes, made especially for the Philippines, change every so often with favorites remaining in the menu.

In a recent media preview, we tasted the new dishes, and drank our fill of Thai iced tea and Thai-inspired smoothies and cocktails, all created by executive chef Prapun Sangpumpon, only for Mango Tree Philippines.

Here are our favorites:

1. Prawns in Pandan

A play on the beloved chicken pandan, this aromatic dish gives us bouncy shrimp lightly seasoned with spices. Extremely easy to polish off in a jiffy. Jeeves de Veyra

2. Deep Fried Prawns in Tamarind Sauce

This had tempered sourness mixed in with garlic and salt, heat, and a bit of freshness from coriander, with frying bringing out a nutty flavor in the shrimp. Jeeves de Veyra

3. Thai Chicken and Pork Skewers

This is not satay (it has less to no coconut), and leans towards a more Filipino taste. Soy or fish sauce with some spices make for flavorful meats skewered with tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and pineapple, to be dipped into a sweet vinegar sauce. Jeeves de Veyra

4. Thai Crispy Rice Crackers

Something new as an appetizer. I will admit to liking krupuk, but these Thai crispy rice crackers are a tasty treat, especially when slathered with its accompanying coconut dip with morsels of shrimp and chicken. Jeeves de Veyra

5. Tom Yum Chicken Wings

There are things that become an instant favorite at first bite, and this was one of them. These crispy wings, seasoned with tom yum powder, taste simple and delicious. Sour, salty, crispy and crunchy— a must-try. Jeeves de Veyra

6. Pad Thai with Soft Shell Crab

How can you make something delicious even better? Add soft shell crab! The fried crustacean gives the lightest crunch—salty and delicious—to Mango Tree’s celebrated noodle dish. Handout

7. Homok Seafood Curry in Coconut

This dish will come to the table and wow you. Served in a coconut shell, its rich red curry sauce with mixed seafood begs for a cup of rice—it also offers just the right amount of heat. A must-try. Handout

8. Mussaman Lamb Shank

Voted as the best curry in the world, Mango Tree is one of the few places to get this sweet and rich dish in Manila. Tender lamb shank swimming in a sauce, joined by potatoes, punctuated with some crunch from peanuts. You get anise, coconut, Thai patis, and palm sugar. Pass the rice! Handout

9. Sweet Cassava

Think sticky rice, but with cassava, an interesting alternative. Handout

10. Tub Tim Grob

Red chestnuts with their unmistakable texture, plus ice, coconut milk, and coconut ice cream, this dessert hits the sweet tooth without being overly sweet. Handout