WHENEVER I see the word tuk tuk, I get visions of D’Angerous Dave driving a jerrybuilt scooter taxi in Thailand.

Me, the Thai driver and my 80-year-old mother laughed nervously in the back as we careened around the streets of Chang Mia.

It was one of several memorable holiday moments, including a kind local on a motorbike returning my mother to our hotel after she got lost at the markets.

There was also a trip to a Buddhist-run drug rehab centre where beatings and purges are all part of the treatment. The head monk was a massive African/American, a former mercenary, who converted to Buddhism after stumbling across the centre on his way to a war somewhere.

I’m happy to report the Tuk Tuk Cafe in Highgate is a much tamer affair.

It’s more takeaway than cafe, but there are tables inside and a small alfresco on Lord Street, where you can enjoy city views.

First up were the Thai fish cakes ($7.50), which were nice and chewy and had a great chilli zing.

For mains we shared the cashew nut stir fry ($17). The tofu was fantastically crisp and a good foil for the perfectly cooked, cauliflower, broccoli, carrot, capsicum, mushrooms and bok choy; while the tangy sauce was moreish.

We took home a green curry ($17) and a pad kee mow ($15) for dinner.

The noodles had a lovely rich, dark soy sauce and were packed with vegetables, while the generous lacing of basil gave it a real Thai punch.

I forgot to say “mild” when ordering the green curry and it was too spicy for me, but I can report that Dave was a happy as Larry as he polished off the last of the sauce.

By JENNY D’ANGER

Tuk Tuk Cafe
288 Lord Street, Highgate
Tues-Fri 11.30am-2pm & 5-9pm. Sat/Sun 5-pm