Poon (centre) and Lin (right) became friends when they were lingerie models for a Thai label many years ago. Melissa (left) is aso a regular customer of Jane Thai.

It was the first time in my life I was distracted from food. Instead of salivating over the mouthwatering spread of Thai fare in front of me, I was ogling at my dinner companions – two gorgeous ladyboys whom I was tasked to interview about their favourite midnight makan place.

“Thai ingredients are very good for the body. Like tomato, very good for the skin,” says one of them. (They indeed have flawless complexion.) “The red chilli has more Vitamin C than many fruits.” (Is that how she gets her swinging mane of glossy hair?) “And Thai food doesn’t make you fat. You see any fat Thai people before?” (They have such voluptuous figures. But I don’t think all Thais are thin.)

One of Lin’s favourites is the prawn cake. The restaurant uses fresh prawns and sotong to make the paste.

Lin and Poon are not your typical seedy ladyboy stereotypes. Like the transgender Muay Thai boxer Nong Toom, they are professionals in their own arena. Lin was a lingerie model but now has a restaurant in Nong Kai, Thailand, while Poon is a catwalk model who has been staying in Singapore for eight years.

When Lin is not working, she comes to Singapore to let loose with Poon, her party partner and friend back from her modeling days. This is translated as going to the clubs, often at Orchard Towers because it is known to be receptive to the gender-benders, and dressing up to show off their convincing curves.

But before they get high and hit the dance pool, the girls will pay what is almost a ritualistic visit to Jane Thai, a restaurant they claimed is the only one in Singapore selling authentic Thai food. In the restaurant, I observed two tables of “normal” non-partying customers who were willing to brave the endless sex touting happening outside in order to eat at the restaurant.

But for Lin and Poon, Jane Thai is more than just an eating place. The Thai lady boss, Jane, is also their confidante who protects them like a mother hen. Shortly after being seated, a man came over to chat the girls up. Jane did not hesitate to walk him out of the restaurant.

No wonder the girls have so much loyalty for the restaurant. Even before our food came, they enthusiastically promoted it as well as Thai cuisine as a whole. But instead of taking notes, all I could do was to sneak glances at their pretty faces.

The Tom Yum soup at Jane Thai is red hot spicy.

Still frozen in the state of admiration, I absentmindedly stuffed a spoonful of Tom Yum soup into my mouth which resulted in me tearing in regret. The burning sensation was like someone dousing a candle flame with my tongue. This might be what they meant “authentic”. “We drink this to wake ourselves up, if we drink (alcohol) too much,” Poon comments.

A supper snack favourite, tuck into the Thai Chicken Wings

Not everything that they ordered was fiery though. The deep fried basil pork was lightly spiced but the meat was tough like how the Thai like it. The chicken wings were crispy and flavourful, and the prawn cakes, shaped like onion rings, are a refreshing take on the usual Thai fish cake.

The Prawn Cakes are a must-try here.

Noticed that coconut milk is absent from their dinner repertoire? Even though the ladies claimed that Thai food is generally non-fattening, they avoid dishes that have coconut milk in them to keep their shape. But other than that, they eat pretty much everything, unafraid that the spices will stink up their breaths, spoiling their chances of a romantic rendezvous. “We have candy,” Lin reassured me.

On my way home, I noticed my hair reeked of fish sauce and cooking oil. It struck me that the ladies didn’t fret about it at all, even though they were heading to local club Zouk with the intention to charm everyone there. Looked like they loved their tom yum more than they cared about how they smelled.

Jane Thai

400 Orchard Road

#04-30 Orchard Towers

Opening Hours: 5pm to 4 am (Mon – Thurs)

5pm to 4.30 am (Fri – Sat)

5pm to 3 am (Sun)

Tel: 9174 1616