There is no immediate Thai vibe as you enter Krapow at the ground floor of MOA Square. That's not entirely a bad thing.

The interiors are modern, almost industrial in look and design. But as you sit down, you see a large display of Thai sauces and bottled seasonings hanging by the bar and a large back-to-back menu written in Thai script (with English translation, of course) on top of each table.

Clearly, it's not your typical Thai food joint, which is a good thing. 

The newly opened Krapow restaurant, its third branch in the metropolis, is unpretentious, simple and bright. With an open kitchen adding to its charm, it has a casual and cheerful atmosphere in spite of its modest furnishings. The space is comfortable and inviting, with indoor seating for 42 guests and 12 guests for alfresco dining.

"This design is exactly what we wanted," said Felix Assad, president of Krapow. "It's modern and minimalist. So far, this is our biggest store compared to our first two branches in Poblacion (Makati City) and BGC (Taguig City). Basically, we started small and just grew organically."